William G. Britton

William Britton grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio and lived in Philadelphia and Portland, OR for college and seminary (Cairn University, Western Seminary). In his college days he married his high-school sweetheart, and while in seminary he climbed mountains out West (Hood, St. Helens, Shasta) and hiked in the Columbia Gorge. Twenty years of full-time pastoral ministry followed (Pittsburgh and Long Island), then a transition to fifteen years of caring for people with no clergy connection (weddings, funerals, etc.) and two and a half years of weekly street ministry to homeless friends in Manhattan with New York City Relief. His exposure to "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality" at New Life Fellowship in Queens, NY, and through that, to the world of contemplative theology, and his years of street ministry, have been defining influences in Britton's life and approach to ministry. Enhancing this have been years of painful loss and eventual healing. This is all reflected in his first book, Wisdom From the Margins. He is involved in two churches at the present, one on Long Island and one in Queens. (It's a long story.) Britton has four great sons from his first marriage of 30 years, and so far, three grandchildren. He still loves to walk ("solvitur ambulando"), hike, boogie board at Jones Beach, read, write, and lead small groups. Now, in his mid-sixties, he is starting another active chapter of his life and ministry.