Pulitzer Prize-winning author ­Eliza Griswold has written a powerful book about a specific set of people that offers lessons for every church and pastor. A finalist for the National Book Award, Circle of Hope recounts the beginnings and unraveling of four congregations in New Jersey and Philadelphia, focusing mainly on their four pastors.

In 2019, Griswold immersed herself in these churches’ lives. Over four years, she “sat in on more than one thousand hours of Zoom meetings, in addition to visiting church events, worship services, firepits, hikes and people’s homes to interview 119 current and former members of the church and their families.” She gained their trust enough to name most of these sources. But she chose to tell the story of the community called Circle of Hope through the experiences of its four pastors — Jonny Rashid (an AW columnist), Julie Hoke, Rachel Sensenig and Ben White — who graciously allowed her to enter their daily lives without asking for control over what she would write.

Rod and Gwen White, having met during the Jesus Movement in California in 1974 and gone on to start a church, ended up in 1995 in Philadelphia, where they planted a church under the auspices of the Brethren in Christ, an Anabaptist denomination. They named it Circle of Hope, Gwen said, because “that’s what we think God wants to offer the world.” 

Their knack for evangelism saw the church grow quickly. They attracted many young people, emphasizing a life together with Jesus and becoming a family. They adopted a cell model, developing groups of up to 10 people “designed to cross boundaries of ­neighborhood, age, social class and race.”

The church expanded into four congregations, three in Philadelphia and one in New Jersey. By the time Griswold came, she met with the four leaders of these congregations, while Rod had stepped into the role of development pastor. The four met every Monday morning to talk about their congregations and their lives. In 2019, they allowed Griswold to sit with them and take notes.

In alternating chapters, each focus­ing on one of the four leaders, Griswold tracks the rise and eventual unraveling of Circle of Hope. By 2021, the four leaders were at odds with one another — particularly Jonny and Ben, the youngest of Rod and Gwen’s four sons.

Griswold sums up the course of events: “As a result of the dislocation caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the crisis of police brutality, a struggle began over privilege and power. Instead of focusing outward on healing the world, . . . the pastors, and the church, turned in on themselves.”

A divisive issue developed when a reporter noted in an article that Circle of Hope, known for being inclusive of all classes and races, did not welcome LGBTQ+ people unless they were celibate. Eventually the church changed its stance. However, this posed a risk. “Since the Brethren in Christ claimed the right to seize the church’s assets [worth more than $3 million] over Circle’s decision to welcome and affirm queer people,” Griswold writes, “[the church] had to be willing to sacrifice to stand by the principle that Jesus’ love included everyone.”

Another issue emerged when Jonny and Julie pushed to have the church go through antiracism training. While all the leaders agreed with this, Ben had reservations, notably when during the training he introduced himself as ­“so-called White.” After several sessions, the trainer, who came from outside the church, said they were not ready to move on, and he resigned.

Griswold treats each leader with care, yet includes their flaws and conflicts, which included “f-bombs and exegetical arguments.” Jonny, an ­Egyptian American and gifted leader, comes across as ego-driven at times and dismisses criticism as based in racism. Ben eventually resigns as a pastor and leaves the church. Julie takes Jonny’s side while seeing Rachel as an adversary. Later, Jonny accepts a pastoral position at another church. 

Despite their differences, the four pastors clearly loved one another. Griswold says they “humbled one ­another, . . . raking [their] souls like fields and freeing them to grow.” It is to their credit that they allowed her to witness their turmoil and write about it.

Griswold writes with a novelist’s eye, using pertinent details, narrative pacing, complex character development and clear, lyrical prose to invite readers into her story. And that story, while tragic in many ways, ends with signs of hope and redemption.

Circle of Hope is the best nonfiction book I’ve read this year. I highly recommend it.