A fascinating profile of one of the most colorful, controversial and celebrated religious figures of our time, Malcolm Boyd—best-selling author, civil rights activist, gay cleric, and spiritual director.

Through unparalleled access to the personal recollections, writings, and archival records of Malcolm Boyd, Michael Battle provides profound insight into one of America’s most celebrated—and reviled—public religious figures. In the dialogue between Battle, a younger, black heterosexual Christian, the reader comes to view this older, white, gay Christian’s life of activism and ministry with a fresh perspective.

"It is the overarching scope of your life, the depth of your experience, the centering spirit within and the translation of those inner murmurings into concrete acts of justice and love that leave me nearly breathless. How long have we known each other? Of course I knew the outlines of your ongoing and remarkable life and witness. I experienced your friendship and benefited from your wise counsel. We broke bread. I knew of your courage and integrity manifested in so many stages. Still, I am at once both happy to see more deeply into your life now even as I am appalled and not a little saddened by my own dank ignorance now uprooted by the biography. So, may I say, 'Hello, Malcolm. It is very good to meet you in the light of day.' Very good, indeed."
—Larry B. Stammer, thirty-year Los Angeles Times journalist

Michael Battle is Herbert Thompson Professor of Church and Society and Director of the Desmond Tutu Center at General Theological Seminary in New York. He is the author of 11 books, including Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa’s Confessor. Desmond Tutu (1931-2021) was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist.