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Tapestry

Tapestry at 25: tattooed pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber

Nadia Bolz-Weber had struggled with addiction, and considered herself a foul-mouthed, selfish type … until she felt a call to become an ordained Lutheran pastor. Spoiler alert: she was, in part, appalled. But she answered the call, and has become a central figure in spirituality in the 21st century
CBC Radio ·
Nadia Bolz-Weber sits inside St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Denver, Colo. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, Craig F. Walker)

Nadia Bolz-Weber had struggled with addiction, and considered herself a foul-mouthed, selfish type, "who (doesn't) really like emotionally needy people."

Imagine her surprise when she felt The Call – the urge to become an ordained Lutheran pastor.  (Spoiler alert: she was, in part, appalled. But she answered the call, and has become a central figure in spirituality in the 21st century.)

Perhaps the best introduction to this interview comes from a Tapestry listener, who wrote: "This woman said more cogent things in 20 minutes than many say in a lifetime. Very down to earth and heavenly at once."

Nadia Bolz-Weber is the author of three bestselling memoirs: Shameless: A Sexual Reformation,  Accidental Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People, and Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint.

She is the founder and former pastor of a Lutheran congregation called House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver, Colorado.

Nadia Bolz-Weber now speaks at schools and conferences around the world.

This interview, which first aired in November 2013, was awarded gold at the New York Festivals Radio Awards. It was produced by Elizabeth Bowie and Diane Eros.

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