About the Book
Vicky Beeching, called "arguably the most influential Christian of her generation" in The Guardian, began writing songs for the church in her teens. By the time she reached her early thirties, Vicky was a household name in churches on both sides of the pond. Recording multiple albums and singing in America's largest megachurches, her music was used weekly around the globe and translated into numerous languages.
But this poster girl for evangelical Christianity lived with a debilitating inner battle: she was gay. The tens of thousands of traditional Christians she sang in front of were unanimous in their view - they staunchly opposed same-sex relationships and saw homosexuality as a grievous sin. Vicky knew if she ever spoke up about her identity it would cost her everything.
Faced with a major health crisis, at the age of thirty-five she decided to tell the world that she was gay. As a result, all hell broke loose. She lost her music career and livelihood, faced threats and vitriol from traditionalists, developed further health issues from the immense stress, and had to rebuild her life almost from scratch.
But despite losing so much she gained far more: she was finally able to live from a place of wholeness, vulnerability, and authenticity. She finally found peace. What's more, Vicky became a champion for others, fighting for LGBT equality in the church and in the corporate sector. Her courageous work is creating change in the US and the UK, as she urges people to celebrate diversity, live authentically, and become undivided.
About the Author :
Vicky Beeching is a writer, keynote speaker, and equality campaigner. Formerly, she worked as a Christian recording artist, writing and performing religious music for two decades. With a background in theology from Oxford University and a PhD under way, Beeching approaches faith both academically and personally. She often appears on BBC News, Sky News, and BBC Radio as a commentator, and writes for national newspapers. Beeching has won awards for her equality campaigning work in the church and in the corporate sector and is a vocal advocate for mental health awareness. She lives in London.
Review :
"Undivided is brilliant - as is the book's author! Vicky Beeching is a persistent champion for LGBT equality and also for mental health awareness" - The Right Hon. Lord Cashman, politician, actor, and co-founder of Stonewall
"A powerful story of overcoming years of inner turmoil and fear. Having established herself in the Christian music world, Vicky has taken big risks to come to terms with being the person God made her to be. The courage and clarity of her personal testimony is deeply authentic and inspiring." - Right Rev. Dr. Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham, U.K.
"This book is so brave, not just because of the level of detail Vicky goes into, but because of her bold argument for the church to examine its heart again and to open up." - Isabel Hardman, Assistant Editor of The Spectator and presenter for BBC Radio 4
"Beeching is arguably the most influential Christian of her generation. . . . Long admired by evangelicals on both sides of the Atlantic, Beeching can hopefully bring about an acceptance of homosexuality among Christians." - The Guardian
"Powerful. Beeching's new mission: keeping the faith while embracing herself." - NPR's On Point
"If the prize of Christianity is the testimony of those who know abundant life, then we are compelled to let Vicky Beeching sing light into our hearts!" - Jennifer Knapp, author of Facing the Music, musician, and LGBTQ advocate
"I know of no better witness to the power of God's radically inclusive grace than Vicky Beeching. Her writing is passionate, her perspective is well grounded, and her faith is contagious: one of the most important additions to LGBT+ Christian conversation in the past decade." - Brandan Robertson, Activist and Author of True Inclusion: Creating Communities of Radical Embrace
"An incredibly powerful, moving story about reconciling faith and sexuality. This inspiring account will bring hope to so many struggling in a world still so riddled with homophobia." - Owen Jones, columnist for The Guardian
"Whether you have faith or not, are gay, straight or neither, in a relationship or not, this is a must-read book. Brave, fresh and honest it will help humankind become more humane." - Clare Balding, BBC Sport presenter
"Stories like Vicky's change the world. This is a wonderful book: it's compelling, moving and profoundly important. It is a beautiful story of personal triumph over the toxic nonsense of religious homophobia" - Nicky Campbell, BBC presenter and author of Blue-Eyed Son
"This book is an invitation to all of us to understand Vicky Beeching and her faith better. It is an inspiration to a Church. This is a book that helps us distil our faith. It is a call to migrate without apology towards love." - The Rev. Canon Mark Oakley, Chancellor of St. Paul's Cathedral, London
"Undivided is a thought-provoking page-turner. Vicky is both a brilliant thinker and a talented storyteller. Rarely have I seen anyone address this subject matter with such grace and nuance." - Justin Lee, author, Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate
"Undivided is a profoundly important memoir. Vicky shares her story with such grace, empathy and power that many Christians who do not affirm same-sex relationships will be moved to reconsider their views." - Matthew Vines, founding executive director of The Reformation Project and author of God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships
"There is so much vulnerability in Vicky's writing. Her story - of pain, longing, and hope - is equal parts a love story to the church and an intervention." - Dan Haseltine, Lead singer of the band Jars of Clay
"This is why Vicky Beeching is so inspiring - she's not just commentating, or offering theological perspectives, or timely opinions here, she's showing us in flesh and blood what hope looks like." - Rob Bell, New York Times bestselling author of What Is the Bible?
"This powerful, moving memoir is the story of Vicky's journey from fragmented to undivided. It's a journey we all need to make, gay and straight alike, and Vicky gives us a roadmap." - Bishop Gene Robinson, human rights activist and author of God Believes in Love: Straight Talk about Gay Marriage
"This powerful and moving memoir is the story of Beeching's journey -- from 'disordered' to whole, from self-loathing to self-respecting, from fragmented to undivided. It's a journey we all need to make, gay and straight alike, and Vicky gives us a roadmap." - Bishop Gene Robinson, human rights activist and author of God Believes in Love: Straight Talk about Gay Marriage
"This is a life-changing book. Vicky's blisteringly honest account of her painful journey through a world of prejudice challenges us all to look again at 21st century society." - Dr. Brian May, Lead Guitarist from the band Queen
"Undivided is a searing indictment of the heartbreak and suffering caused by homophobia and one women's battle to overcome it. What Vicky Beeching has faced is tragic, depressing and enraging -- but her ultimate triumph is inspiring." - Peter Tatchell, Human Rights Campaigner
"A touching, inviting and inspiring journey of faith and self-acceptance. In particular, her chapter on her acceptance of her own sexuality, based on an experience with a passage from the New Testament, was surprising, beautifully written and deeply moving." - James Martin, SJ, author of The Jesuit Guide and Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity
"UNDIVIDED radiates warmth, humanity, vulnerability, honesty, and love on every page. It will help all who read it to see they don't need to pretend or hide." - Brian D. McLaren, author of The Great Spiritual Migration
"UNDIVIDED radiates warmth, humanity, vulnerability, honesty, and love on every page. It will help all who read it with an open heart to see they don't need to pretend or hide. And I dare to hope it will touch many church leaders... to feel how much they're missing by driving away wonderful, amazing, genuine human beings like Vicky Beeching." - Brian D. McLaren, author of The Great Spiritual Migration
"Get ready. This book will pull you in, shake you up, pierce your heart, and leave you changed. A stunner of a debut memoir, Undivided is vulnerable and unflinching, tender and brave." - Rachel Held Evans, author of Searching for Sunday and Inspired.
"Beeching has experienced a struggle, a persecution, that few of us will ever know. Powerful, moving, and compelling, this book makes the reader extremely angry about intolerance, but provides hope to those of us who believe that genuine Christian love knows no boundaries. A vital book." - Michael Coren?, columnist and author of Epiphany: A Christian's Change of Heart & Mind over Same-Sex Marriage
"A heartfelt, honest debut. Christian young adults with questions about sexual identity in relation to their faith will find Beeching's memoir illuminating, and all readers will relate to her earnest struggle against the pressure to conform to impossible expectations." - Publishers Weekly
