Lillian Daniel
Lillian Daniel is a nationally recognized preacher, teacher and writer who cares deeply about clergy and congregations.
Her latest book, Tired of Apologizing for a Church I Don’t Belong To generated international conversation about the changing religious landscape, continuing the theme of her 2013 book When ‘Spiritual But Not Religious’ Is Not Enough about the growing number of people who claim “none” as their religious preference. Featured in the New York Times and on PBS, Lillian Daniel’s writing has been described as “biting, hilarious, pitch perfect, tender, and often stunningly beautiful,” and her book This Odd and Wondrous Calling is taught in many seminaries.
After pastoring four unique congregations in the UCC, in 2022 Rev. Dr. Daniel was called to her current position of leadership as a Conference Minister in the United Church of Christ, where she is responsible for the care and oversight of 140 congregations and several hundred clergy in the state of Michigan. Her new book, which comes out April 7, 2026, Defrocked: Good News from a Bad Pastor for a Better Church reflects on events that took place over a decade ago in 2015.
Her latest book, Tired of Apologizing for a Church I Don’t Belong To generated international conversation about the changing religious landscape, continuing the theme of her 2013 book When ‘Spiritual But Not Religious’ Is Not Enough about the growing number of people who claim “none” as their religious preference. Featured in the New York Times and on PBS, Lillian Daniel’s writing has been described as “biting, hilarious, pitch perfect, tender, and often stunningly beautiful,” and her book This Odd and Wondrous Calling is taught in many seminaries.
After pastoring four unique congregations in the UCC, in 2022 Rev. Dr. Daniel was called to her current position of leadership as a Conference Minister in the United Church of Christ, where she is responsible for the care and oversight of 140 congregations and several hundred clergy in the state of Michigan. Her new book, which comes out April 7, 2026, Defrocked: Good News from a Bad Pastor for a Better Church reflects on events that took place over a decade ago in 2015.
Featured in the New York Times and on PBS, Lillian Daniel’s writing is described as
“biting, hilarious, pitch perfect, tender, and often stunningly beautiful.”
“The book is kind of for the person who in some ways is half in and half out of religion,” Ms. Daniel said in a recent interview. 'They know it might be meaningful, but they don’t know how to make a case for it, or tell a story about the religious life that does not sound obnoxious or judgmental.'
Ms. Daniel, by contrast, makes the case forcefully, seemingly unworried about those she might offend."
Mark Oppenheimer, The New York Times
When "Spiritual But Not Religious" Is Not Enough is a feast of words — funny, ribald, tiptoeing to the edge of sarcasm, yet full of love and unflinching hope."
G. Jeffrey MacDonald, Christian Science Monitor
Ms. Daniel, by contrast, makes the case forcefully, seemingly unworried about those she might offend."
Mark Oppenheimer, The New York Times
When "Spiritual But Not Religious" Is Not Enough is a feast of words — funny, ribald, tiptoeing to the edge of sarcasm, yet full of love and unflinching hope."
G. Jeffrey MacDonald, Christian Science Monitor
Speaking Requests
Come to MichiganAs the Conference Minister of Michigan, Lillian Daniel spends most Sundays speaking at one of the 140 churches in her care.
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Just Read the BooksIf you would like to invite
Lillian Daniel to speak, please consider just reading the books instead. All the best stuff is in there. |
Speaking RequestsSpeaking requests that are not related to the Michigan Conference are handled by Chaffee Management and may be scheduled in advance.
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