'The most inspiring journey': Nashville priest reaches out to women on street

From Pensicola-

The Rev. Becca Stevens bills herself as a seller of “snake oils,” a term usually associated with people selling fraudulent or unproven health potions and serums.

But Stevens, an Episcopal priest, wants to reclaim the term.

“It’s about taking back an old term that has a bad rap,” Stevens said from her home in Nashville, Tenn. “But we’re making oils and using them with a story to bring about healing.”

Stevens is the founder of Magdalene and Thistle Farms, Nashville programs that help women recover from violence, prostitution, addiction and life on the streets.

She will speak about the programs at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Christ Episcopal Church, where she will also sign and sell copies of her recent book “Snake Oil: The Art of Healing and Truth-Telling.”

More here-

http://www.pnj.com/article/20130407/NEWS01/304070034/-The-most-inspiring-journey-

Liberal churches show signs of strength in Nashville

From Nashville-

The Rev. Eric Greenwood has heard the bad news about the Episcopal Church.

Attendance is down. Money is tight.

And the church seems locked in a never-ending battle over the place of gays and lesbians in the church, with accusations that the church has become too liberal.

Greenwood, rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Nashville, says his denomination has its troubles. But it is still a force for good in the world.

“Everybody gets all excited about sex in the church,” he said. “But the good work that gets done in the name of God and our lord Jesus Christ, it will take your breath away.”

Nationwide, the numbers don’t look good for the Episcopal Church and other mainline Protestant denominations, most of which tend to hold more liberal beliefs. From 2000 to 2010, most suffered double-digit percentage declines in membership, leading some to wonder if those denominations can be saved in the future.

More here-

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120820/NEWS06/308200024/Liberal-churches-show-signs-strength-Nashville

Nashville priest honored by White House as "Champion of Change" for work helping prostitutes

From Nashville-

A Nashville priest who founded a recovery program for prostitutes is being honored by the White House.

Becca Stevens founded a residential program called Magdalene in 1997.

It offers participating women free housing, food, medical and dental care, therapy, education and job training for two years, all without government funding.

Seventy percent of the women who join are clean and sober 2 1/2 years after beginning.

Stevens will be honored at a Washington ceremony on Thursday as one of 15 "Champions of Change," according to WPLN (http://bit.ly/nGaRs8).

The St. Augustine's Episcopal Chapel chaplain says she hopes the recognition will inspire others to do similar work.

Recently, she's met with groups interested in the Magdalene model from St. Louis, Atlanta and New Orleans.

More here-

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/76d158bee419401da24aab0774318fc2/TN--Priest-Honored/

White House to honor Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene House

From Nashville-

The Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Nashville-based Magdalene House and Thistle Farms, will be honored by the White House on Thursday.

Stevens was named one of 15 Champions of Change by the White House’s Office of Public Engagement for her work with former prostitutes. The award is part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Stevens founded the Magdalene program in 1997. Women can live in the residential program for two years at no cost. The program takes no government funding and claims a 72 percent success rate. Thistle Farms is an enterprise where the women create and sell bath and body products to benefit Magdalene House and learn business skills.

More here-

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111017/NEWS01/310170054/White-House-honor-Becca-Stevens-founder-Magdalene-House