Middling
What Jesus Said About Perspective, Being Between Things and Not Yet Knowing stuff
Published on 21. May 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-0-281-09135-5 (ISBN)
Description
From St Augustine to Shakespeare, and from the wisdom of Scripture to the example of Jesus himself, many of our greatest voices have praised the virtue of moderation. In Middling, Emma invites readers to rediscover the creative, faithful power of living in the middle.
The middle is where most of us spend much of our lives - between certainty and doubt, conviction and compassion, what has been lost and what is yet to be found. Yet we are often taught to apologise for this space, to rush toward extremes or easy answers. Middling challenges that assumption, revealing the middle as a place of integrity, nuance, and deep humanity.
Drawing on her experience as a bishop, Emma reflects on the difficult questions faced by leaders and disciples alike: when to speak, when to remain silent, and how to hold tension without losing hope. She explores waiting as a fertile, creative space - one in which life can unfold in unexpected and transformative ways.
At the heart of the book is Christ as the ultimate "middle" figure, holding all things together. In choosing to dwell intentionally in this space, Middling shows that the middle is not only fruitful - but quietly, profoundly joyful.
The middle is where most of us spend much of our lives - between certainty and doubt, conviction and compassion, what has been lost and what is yet to be found. Yet we are often taught to apologise for this space, to rush toward extremes or easy answers. Middling challenges that assumption, revealing the middle as a place of integrity, nuance, and deep humanity.
Drawing on her experience as a bishop, Emma reflects on the difficult questions faced by leaders and disciples alike: when to speak, when to remain silent, and how to hold tension without losing hope. She explores waiting as a fertile, creative space - one in which life can unfold in unexpected and transformative ways.
At the heart of the book is Christ as the ultimate "middle" figure, holding all things together. In choosing to dwell intentionally in this space, Middling shows that the middle is not only fruitful - but quietly, profoundly joyful.
Reviews / Votes
"Fascinating, thoughtful engagement with one of the most important and understudied themes of life, ethics and theology: the importance, harmony and strength of "the middle". -- Rory Stewart, author and broadcaster "The middle often gets a bad press, being neither here nor there. Yet we're all in the middle of something: a crisis, a project, a community... life! With deep wisdom and a wonderfully light touch, Emma Ineson opens our eyes to the potential and possibilities of "middling", and in particular the calling to occupy the broken middle. Whatever middle you're navigating right now, this book will inspire you to live it well." -- Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury "In a world of quick fixes where might is considered right, Bishop Emma reminds us of the importance of discernment. Middling is timely as we seek adaptive solutions to personal, church and the world's many intractable conflicts." -- Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town and Metropolitan of the Anglican Church in Southern Africa "Emma Ineson's serene book opens up the beauty of something most of us rarely see as a fertile place. It is a gift to us in a time of polarisation and fragmentation, drawing us towards grace and the unexpected riches of moderation, nuance and the in-between places of life." -- The Revd Preb. Dr Isabelle Hamley, Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge "For anyone who has ever felt not quite at home at the extremes, Middling is a gift. With wisdom and theological confidence, Bishop Emma reclaims the middle as a place of faithfulness and hope, offering a fresh way forward for living well in divided times." -- The Revd Mark Nam, Vicar of St John the Evangelist, WoodleyMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
410 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-281-09135-5 (9780281091355)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Emma Ineson
Middling
What Jesus Said About Perspective, Being Between Things and Not Yet Knowing stuff
E-Book
05/2026
1st Edition
SPCK
€14.49
Available for download
Person
Emma Ineson is Bishop of Kensington. She was formerly Bishop to the Archbishops, Bishop of Penrith and Principal of Trinity College, Bristol. She chaired the 2022 Lambeth Conference Working Group, and is Chaplain to the Worldwide Mothers' Union and a member of the Church of England's Ministry Board. Emma is the author of the bestselling Failure: What Jesus Said About Sin, Mistakes and Messing Stuff Up: The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent book 2023, and Ambition: What Jesus Said About Power, Success and Counting Stuff (SPCK 2019). She lives in London with her husband, who is also a priest. She is based in UK.
Content
1 The middle: where, exactly, is that? 1
2 Living the in-between 21
3 Finding middle ground 43
4 Standing in the broken middle 59
5 Speaking well from the middle - when to pipe up and when to shut up 76
6 Leading from the middle - Part 1: The quiet leader 94
7 Leading from the middle - Part 2: 'Everything looks like failure in the middle' 117
8 Loving midlife 135
9 The power of the pause - spiritual disciplines for the middle times 163
10 How to middle well 185
2 Living the in-between 21
3 Finding middle ground 43
4 Standing in the broken middle 59
5 Speaking well from the middle - when to pipe up and when to shut up 76
6 Leading from the middle - Part 1: The quiet leader 94
7 Leading from the middle - Part 2: 'Everything looks like failure in the middle' 117
8 Loving midlife 135
9 The power of the pause - spiritual disciplines for the middle times 163
10 How to middle well 185