From Publishers Weekly
This third book in Warner/Walk Worthy's copublishing venture spotlighting African-American culture shows promise for the general market, but will be a hard sell to the CBA. Young, handsome Theophilus Simmons is learning the ropes of being a black clergyman in the 1960s. He's also regretting his affair with the hot-to-trot Glodean, who's pleased numerous pastors with her sex-capades. After Simmons marries "jook joint" cook Essie Lee Lane, the couple settles into pastoral life at Greater Hope Gospel United Church where Glodean is a member. There's trouble brewing. It's not long before they discover that the church leadership is actually running a call-girl service out of a local funeral home. The issues are hot but not as hot as the characters. In every chapter, pastors are either leaping into bed, resisting sex, having sex, talking about sex or contemplating their next hop into the sack. Readers will enjoy the rich glimpses into the spirit-filled African-American church of the '60s, complete with politicking, blackmail, colorful dialogue and extensive clothing descriptions. But the sexual situations and language e.g., "dick teasers," "hell," "damn," "bitch" and "balls" will send most CBA retailers, and their conservative clientele, running in the opposite direction. Regardless, many African-American readers will embrace this steamy morality tale, with its bold themes and fallible characters, as a satisfying addition to the scanty collection of African-American fiction with Christian themes. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Rural Mississippi in the 1960s stood in the midst of the civil rights movement. Social changes began in black churches. Essie Lee Lane, a small-town girl who is faithful to her church and loyal to her family, meets the man of her dreams in an unlikely encounter. The Reverend Theophilus Henry Simmons is an eligible pastor, as smitten with Essie as she is with him. After they begin a long-distance courtship between Mississippi and Tennessee, the couple decide to marry. They soon find that the blessings of being the "first couple" come with challenges from the local church and the national denomination. The secular issues of greed, sex, misconduct, money, and politics are as evident and dangerous in the church as outside. These human failings cause the Simmonses to struggle with their roles as husband and wife as well as church leaders. The Reverend Mr. Simmons is faced with taking a stand that will forever separate him from the ordinary and make the church congregation proud. Accepting this assignment becomes a test of his faith and the steppingstone for his future. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Church Folk FROM THE PUBLISHER
Set in the South during the 1960s, Church Folk tells the hilarious story of a young pastor and his wife who try to hold their congregation together despite its members' foibles.
SYNOPSIS
Church Folk tells the hilarious story of a young pastor and his wife who try to hold their congregation together despite its members' foibles.
FROM THE CRITICS
Kirkus Reviews
Bowen's avowedly Christian debut shows a young black minister struggling in the early 1960s to balance romance, church politics, and spiritual uprightness. Before beginning his seminary training in Atlanta, Theophilus Henry Simmons formed an unfortunate liaison with the dangerously passionate Glodean Benson, who can only be described as a clerical groupie. As the story begins, newly graduated Theophilus finds that his first ministerial assignment is at the Greater Hope Gospel United Church of Memphis, the very church Glodean's family attends. Fortunately, he soon meets Essie Lee Lane, a cook at Pompey's Rib Joint. She may be less educated and cultured than other women pursuing Theophilus, but Essie Lee has a sterling character and good legs, the two attributes Theophilus requires in a wife. Once they marry, Bowen doesn't hold back on showing the minister's happy sex life with his bride in order to remind us that the gifted preacher is also a man with strong needs. Meanwhile, although Theophilus makes references to the civil rights struggles in his sermons, most of his energy is directed toward fighting enemies within his denomination, particularly a band of sleazy ministers and bishops whose thievery and lasciviousness are rendered in great detail. The split in power within the Gospel United Church between the righteous and the evil comes to a head at the Triennial Conference, where Theophilus's allies uncover a brothel set up in a parishioner's funeral home specifically to service visiting ministers. As one might expect, the forces of good prevail, though it's to Bowen's credit that she realistically shows their victory as incomplete. A blend of sermons and romantically veiled sex,spiced up with some violence, that will probably please churchgoing readers. Others may find the self-righteousness an annoying yawn.
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