Undivided - by Vicky Beeching (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"Arguably the most influential Christian of her generation" (The Guardian) Vicky Beeching chronicles her rise at the heights of Christian music and her brave decision to come out as gay--leading to self-acceptance and acknowledgment which changed her relationship with God and the practice of her faith.

From a young age, Vicky Beeching loved to write songs and lead worship in church. In singing, she experienced the fullest expression of herself, what God had uniquely blessed her to do. After college, Vicky quickly achieved stardom, touring with some of Christian music's biggest names.

But Vicky's success was threatened by a terrifying secret. She was gay. There was no room in Christian music for a gay worship leader. For ten years, Vicky rejected who she really was--a denial that damaged her in body and soul. After leaving music behind to enroll in a theology program at Oxford University, Vicky discovered that she could not worship God with a pure heart if she did not accept who she was. When she courageously came out publically in 2014, Vicky lost the support of her Christian community. But she gained much more: the truth had set her free.

Focusing on her speaking and writing instead of music, Vicky leads worship in a new way now, emphasizing God's inclusive love and faithfulness. Undivided is the story of her transformation, a joyous tale of God's love, and a call for all Christians to worship God in authentic ways.

From the Back Cover

Vicky Beeching began writing songs for the church in her teens. By the time she reached her early thirties, Beeching was a household name in churches on both sides of the pond.

Beeching has sung in America's largest mega-churches and recorded a string of albums. Her songs have been used in worship gatherings around the globe and translated into numerous languages.

But this poster girl for evangelical Christianity lived with a debilitating inner battle: she was gay. The tens of thousands of traditional Christians she sang in front of were unanimous in their view--they staunchly opposed same-sex relationships and saw homosexuality as a grievous sin. Beeching knew if she ever spoke up about her identity it would cost her everything.

It wasn't until a major health crisis at the age of thirty-five that she decided to tell the world she was gay. As a result, all hell broke loose. She lost her music career and livelihood, faced threats and vitriol from traditionalists, developed further health issues from the immense stress, and had to rebuild her life almost from scratch.

But despite losing so much she gained far more: she was finally able to live from a place of wholeness, vulnerability, and authenticity. She finally found peace. Beeching has now become a champion for others, fighting for LGBTQ+ equality in the church and in the corporate sector. Her courageous work is creating change in the US and the UK, as she urges people to celebrate diversity, live authentically, and become undivided.

Review Quotes

"Undivided is brilliant - as is the book's author! Vicky Beeching is a persistent champion for LGBT equality and also for mental health awareness" - The Right Hon. Lord Cashman, politician, actor, and co-founder of Stonewall
"A powerful story of overcoming years of inner turmoil and fear. Having established herself in the Christian music world, Vicky has taken big risks to come to terms with being the person God made her to be. The courage and clarity of her personal testimony is deeply authentic and inspiring." - Right Rev. Dr. Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham, U.K.
"This book is so brave, not just because of the level of detail Vicky goes into, but because of her bold argument for the church to examine its heart again and to open up." - Isabel Hardman, Assistant Editor of The Spectator and presenter for BBC Radio 4
"Beeching is arguably the most influential Christian of her generation. . . . Long admired by evangelicals on both sides of the Atlantic, Beeching can hopefully bring about an acceptance of homosexuality among Christians." - The Guardian
"Powerful. Beeching's new mission: keeping the faith while embracing herself." - NPR's On Point
"If the prize of Christianity is the testimony of those who know abundant life, then we are compelled to let Vicky Beeching sing light into our hearts!" - Jennifer Knapp, author of Facing the Music, musician, and LGBTQ advocate
"I know of no better witness to the power of God's radically inclusive grace than Vicky Beeching. Her writing is passionate, her perspective is well grounded, and her faith is contagious: one of the most important additions to LGBT+ Christian conversation in the past decade." - Brandan Robertson, Activist and Author of True Inclusion: Creating Communities of Radical Embrace
"An incredibly powerful, moving story about reconciling faith and sexuality. This inspiring account will bring hope to so many struggling in a world still so riddled with homophobia." - Owen Jones, columnist for The Guardian
"Whether you have faith or not, are gay, straight or neither, in a relationship or not, this is a must-read book. Brave, fresh and honest it will help humankind become more humane." - Clare Balding, BBC Sport presenter
"Stories like Vicky's change the world. This is a wonderful book: it's compelling, moving and profoundly important. It is a beautiful story of personal triumph over the toxic nonsense of religious homophobia" - Nicky Campbell, BBC presenter and author of Blue-Eyed Son
"This book is an invitation to all of us to understand Vicky Beeching and her faith better. It is an inspiration to a Church. This is a book that helps us distil our faith. It is a call to migrate without apology towards love." - The Rev. Canon Mark Oakley, Chancellor of St. Paul's Cathedral, London
"Undivided is a thought-provoking page-turner. Vicky is both a brilliant thinker and a talented storyteller. Rarely have I seen anyone address this subject matter with such grace and nuance." - Justin Lee, author, Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate
"Undivided is a profoundly important memoir. Vicky shares her story with such grace, empathy and power that many Christians who do not affirm same-sex relationships will be moved to reconsider their views." - Matthew Vines, founding executive director of The Reformation Project and author of God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships