Even the Best of Us

Swaggert, Hybels, Page, Haggard, Bakker, Farewell, McDonald—all names of famous ministers who over the past thirty-five years have fallen from their platforms of significant ministry and brought hurt and confusion to their families and followers due to sexual failure. Even the Best of Us is written by two veterans of the church whose combined professional ministry experience spans more than sixty years. In addition, Perry and Pierre write from both the perspectives of two persons of color and from the perspectives of difference in gender. Both have seen firsthand the pain of clergy sexual failure and want to see their book help not only congregations and clergy who have experienced the devastation of a clergy sexual failure, but those who could experience this in future, for as they say, even the best of us can succumb to the devastating lies of the enemy of our soul. Whether you are a pastor, parachurch leader, lay leader, or parishioner within a congregation you will thoroughly enjoy this clear and revealing entry into a conversation that few in the church address—the reality of clergy sexual failure and how we can prevent it.

Dwight A. Perry serves as provost at the Moody Bible Institute (the first African American to hold the position in its 135-year history). A practical theologian and teacher, he is the first African American to earn a PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity. Perry has been in full-time vocational ministry for over forty-one years. He is the author of seven books, including Breaking Down Barriers: A Black Evangelical Explains the Black Church

Elizabeth O. Pierre is assistant professor of pastoral care and counseling psychology at North Park Theological Seminary and North Park University. An emerging scholar/practitioner, Pierre is a graduate of Gordon Conwell Seminary, Boston College, and Wellesley College and earned her PhD from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. She is a licensed professional counselor and her research focuses on the intersection of trauma, race, and faith