Mountain Brook Baptist Church to host book signing honoring late reverend

A book signing for Life is Gift: Remembrances of John Rowan Claypool IV is scheduled for Oct. 16 and 23 at Mountain Brook Baptist Church, between 8:30 and 11 a.m.

The book documents 99 stories of the late reverend, as shared by Claypool’s friends, colleagues and parishioners. It is a collaborative effort of Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church and Carolyn Sloss Ratliff, and up to four authors will be at the book signing.

Claypool was a man revered across the U.S. as being a spiritual “giant,” eloquent speaker and true comforter, Ratliff said.

“And he changed all of our lives,” she said.

A special panel discussion about Claypool’s ministry will accompany Oct. 23’s book signing from 10 to 11 a.m. in the chapel.

To kick off the discussion, the panel will feature a brief video clip of one of the deceased pastor’s sermons. Panel speakers will include authors Carolyn Sloss Ratliff and Will Ratliff, Beeson Divinity School professor Fisher Humphreys, parishioner John Lee Taylor and potentially Rowan Claypool, son of John Rowan Claypool IV.

John Rowan Claypool IV pastored Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham for 13 years after spending most of his life as a Baptist, preaching on occasion at Mountain Brook Baptist Church.

Ratliff said Claypool’s doctrinal beliefs and perspective on life altered after the death of his 10-year-old daughter Laura Lu to leukemia.

“It was a pivotal moment in his world,” Ratliff said.

A quote from German theologian Gerhard von Rad had a large influence on Claypool’s life after his daughter’s death. The quote, “We have done nothing to earn our way into this life. Each of our lives are a gift,” influenced Claypool’s teachings as well.

“From that point on in his life,” Ratliff said, “all of the blessings that he received were gifts from God not to be taken for granted.”

Her book helps keep those memories and that message alive, she said.

Copies of Life is Gift: Remembrances of John Rowan Claypool IV will be available at the book signing for $35 each. Proceeds will benefit The Claypool Scholarship Fund and the music ministry at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church.

Mountain Brook Baptist Church is located at 3631 Montevallo Road.