A young pastor walks into his first church, and immediately begins discovering what it means to do ministry among an imperfect community while being imperfect himself. In this series of essays, he processes some of what he's learned along the way about leading a spiritual life, parenthood, writing, and theology.Author and minister Jeff Nelson shares his earliest memories of the church's ugly side, his struggle to process the death of a college friend, his first experiences as a father, and his unfolding understanding of faith and discipleship. He does so with an honesty that seeks the spiritual while acknowledging the mess.No Perfect Time is not a book of hard and fast answers, but of experiences that serve as glimpses into what life and faith are meant to be about. Rev. Jeff Nelson is ordained in the United Church of Christ and serves on its national staff after 15 years as a pastor. He is also a certified spiritual director in the Ignatian tradition. An active writer and blogger, his writing has appeared at New Sacred, the Christian Century blog, the Shalem Institute blog, The High Calling, and The Englewood Review of Books.
