Drew Kadel
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drewkadel.bsky.social
Drew Kadel
@drewkadel.bsky.social
1.4K followers 1.1K following 7.8K posts
Long-time Episcopal Priest and Long-time academic librarian.

Author of How do you Baptize a Whale? An Encouragement to Compassion https://wipfandstock.com/9798385256204/how-do-you-baptize-a-whale/
Blog: https://drewkadel.wordpress.com/
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drewkadel.bsky.social
This is a description of what this book is about--my personal/professional reflections on human arrogance & humility:
wipfandstock.com/979838525620...
Book cover: How do you Baptize a Whale? An Encouragement to Compassion by Andrew Kadel photograph toward the top shows two whales underwater with light coming from above.
November 27, 2025 at 3:44 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
My new book for general readers is a critique of human arrogance and an encouragement to courageously live in compassion. It particularly focuses on our shared demons of racism. Just published November 4.
wipfandstock.com/979838525620...
Book Cover: How do you Baptize a Whale? An Encouragement to Compassion. by Andrew Kadel The top of the cover is a photograph of two whales underwater with light coming from above.
November 27, 2025 at 12:59 AM
drewkadel.bsky.social
The Romans would have thought the guillotine totally inappropriate, since it was too efficient to accomplish the death by public torture—the entire point of crucifixion. For whales, all of this would be entirely meaningless. They live the bulk of their life under water—it’s the source of sustenance for them, not death. Not only do they not make tools in their regular habitat, but a cross wouldn’t achieve anything like its purpose underwater—bodies, whether cetacean or human, are too buoyant for gravity to succeed in its torture. Whales have their own joys and their own problems, I’m sure, but human stories, symbols, concepts, or sacraments are of no use to them. The ways in which the love of God is worked out among them is entirely their own and just as incomprehensible to us as ours are to them.
November 22, 2025 at 11:12 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
Baptism is being buried with Christ in his death (an image de-rived from Paul in Rom 6:3–4). The death of Jesus is very specific—he was crucified by the Romans on a cross. That cross has been the chief sym-bol of Christianity throughout its existence. As simple in appearance as a cross might be, it is a very intentional and sophisticated tool. The victim is fixed to the crossbar by tying or nailing and suspended from it. The feet were usually secured to prevent kicking and moving around, but they were given no foothold. The force of gravity would eventually cause the victim’s chest to collapse down on their lungs resulting in death by suffocation.
November 22, 2025 at 11:10 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
I'm afraid there are no instructions or encouragement to baptize whales in my book:
The title of this book is a question: how do you baptize a whale? Un-like a zen koan, it does have an answer—you can’t baptize a whale. The fact that they are already immersed in water is only a small part of the problem.
November 22, 2025 at 11:08 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
The Romans would have thought the guillotine totally inappropriate, since it was too efficient to accomplish the death by public torture—the entire point of crucifixion. For whales, all of this would be entirely meaningless. They live the bulk of their life under water—it’s the source of sustenance for them, not death. Not only do they not make tools in their regular habitat, but a cross wouldn’t achieve anything like its purpose underwater—bodies, whether cetacean or human, are too buoyant for gravity to succeed in its torture. Whales have their own joys and their own problems, I’m sure, but human stories, symbols, concepts, or sacraments are of no use to them. The ways in which the love of God is worked out among them is entirely their own and just as incomprehensible to us as ours are to them
November 21, 2025 at 11:38 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
Sorry.
more meaningful than our self-assertion that we are.7 The title of this book is a question: how do you baptize a whale? Unlike a zen koan, it does have an answer—you can’t baptize a whale. The fact that they are already immersed in water is only a small part of the problem.
November 21, 2025 at 11:36 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
Author's copies finally arrived!
⚓
wipfandstock.com/979838525620...
Photo of two copies of the book: How do you Baptize a Whale: An Encouragement to Compassion by Andrew Kadel, foreword by Rebecca Lyman. The top half is a photograph of two whales with light coming from above.
November 21, 2025 at 11:22 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
That's a pretty scary delusion to be the agenda of the richest man on the planet.

BTW that sort of attitude is what led me to write my recently published book:
wipfandstock.com/979838525620...
Book cover: How do you Baptize a Whale? by Andrew Kadel, foreword by Rebecca Lyman. Photograph near the top shows two whales underwater with light coming from above.
November 21, 2025 at 7:38 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
That's the elevator pitch for my book. The other hundred pages or so are addressing the various delusions that humans use to try to game that for their own personal advantage.
wipfandstock.com/979838525620...
Cover of book: How do you Baptize a Whale? An Encouragement to Compassion. by Andrew Kadel Foreword by Rebecca Lyman. The top of the cover is a photograph of two whales underwater with light coming in from above.
November 9, 2025 at 7:33 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
Here's a better shot of the cover:
Book cover: How do you Baptize a Whale? An Encouragement to Compassion by Andrew Kadel foreword by Rebecca Lyman. Photograph at top is of two whales underwater with light coming from above.
November 8, 2025 at 3:11 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
wipfandstock.com/979838525620...
Cover of Book with a photograph of two whales underwater with light coming from the surface. Title: How do you Baptize a Whale? An Encouragement to Compassion Author: Andrew Kadel Foreword by Rebecca Lyman
November 6, 2025 at 10:08 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
To illustrate, Cuomo wins the brown areas of Manhattan including the Upper East Side, which are the wealthiest parts while Mamdani wins the rest.
New York Times map of mayoral election results, showing Cuomo (Brown) winning the Upper East Side and Battery Park City while Mamdani wins the rest of Manhattan.
November 6, 2025 at 12:55 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
This is the back cover with a transcription in the alt-text. ⚓

As I get the link to the book, I'll post it with further information how to buy it. (Wipf and Stock currently has a big sale!)
wipfandstock.com
How Do You Baptize a Whale? raises the question of why humans believe they rule the universe-especially, when they, share planet Earth with amazing creatures like whales and elephants. Episcopal priest Drew Kadel’s argument is that it’s not tools or technology that make humans great; it’s their ability to show compassion toward fellow humans, and indeed all of God’s creation. He also explores how religion has been misused to justify power, colonialism and racism and invites readers to rethink what it really means to live faithfully and ethically. "Situatmg humankind within a vast universe as we shed our arrogance in discovering, for example, that functional objects are used by monkeys, dolphins, crows, humpback whales, and even bees, Drew Kadel urges us on—through experiences, reflections and listening—into a more compassionate and joyful life in which we ponder what might it mean to baptize a whale.” -DEIRDRE GOOD, Emerita Professor of New Testament Studies, General Theologica! Seminary "The Silicon Valley-led assault on the specialness of being human-embodied in technologies that bid to replace human workers while offering only an insulting facsimile of human speech—is tempting many of us toward an embrace of old-fashioned human exceptionalism. Andrew Kadel's winsome and theologically informed treatise reminds us why we can't solve our cultural problems by retreating into our usual Master of Creation pose. This man’s project is to love both God and dogs, and to help the rest of us to better do the same.” -PHILIP CHRISTMAN, Lecturer, University of Michigan DREW KADEL is an Episcopal priest and Professor Emeritus of the General Theological Seminary, where he was director of the library. For the past decade he's preached at churches in the Bronx and elsewhere. His sermons can be found at drewkadel.wordpress.com. His previous book, Matrology: A Bibliography of Writings by Christian Women from the First to the Fifteenth Centuries, was published in 1995.
November 5, 2025 at 1:38 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
Yesterday was a great day! At 6 pm attended a great concert of my friend David Hurd's music for organ & choir at Trinity Church Wall Street. Then dinner at the Lower Manhattan DSA watch party for the election of the next mayor. Then came home to notification of the official publication of my book!
Cover of book: How do you Baptize a Whale? An Encouragement to Compassion, by Andrew Kadel, foreword by Rebecca Lyman
November 5, 2025 at 1:25 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
One chapter of my book describes growing up as descendant of settlers of the West and Dust Bowl refugees. I don't know how much more it takes for an urban liberal to understand rural Ameica.
How Do You Baptize a Whale? raises the question of why humans believe they rule the universe-especially, when they, share planet Earth with amazing creatures like whales and elephants. Episcopal priest Drew Kadel’s argument is that it’s not tools or technology that make humans great; it’s their ability to show compassion toward fellow humans, and indeed all of God’s creation. He also explores how religion has been misused to justify power, colonialism and racism and invites readers to rethink what it really means to live faithfully and ethically. "S1tuatmg humankind within a vast universe as we shed our arrogance in discovering, for example, that functional objects are used by monkeys, dolphins, crows, humpback whales, and even bees, Drew Kadel urges us on—through experiences, reflections and listening—into a more compassionate and joyful life in which we ponder what might it mean to baptize a whale.” -DEIRDRE GOOD, Emerita Professor of New Testament Studies, General Theologica! Seminary "The Silicon Valley-led assault on the specialness of being human-embodied in technologies that bid to replace human workers while offering only: an insulting facsimile of human speech—is tempting many of us toward an embrace of old-fashioned human exceptionalism. Andrew Kadel's winsome and theologically informed treatise reminds us why we can't solve our cultural problems by retreating into our usual Master of Creation pose. This man’s project is to love both God and dogs, and to help the rest of us to better do the same.” -PHILIP CHRISTMAN, Lecturer, University of Michigan DREW KADEL is an Episcopal priest and Professor Emeritus of the General Theological Seminary, where he was director of the library. For the past decade he's preached at churches in the Bronx and elsewhere. His sermons can be found at drewkadel.wordpress.com. His previous book, Matrology: A Bibliography of Writings by Christian Women from the First to the Fifteenth Centuries, was published in 1995.
November 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
BTW, in case you haven't seen it, here's the cover of my book which should be published this week and which you can then buy for half price this month on the Wipf and Stock website.
How Do You Baptize a Whale? raises the question of why humans believe they rule the universe-especially, when they, share planet Earth with amazing creatures like whales and elephants. Episcopal priest Drew Kadel’s argument is that it’s not tools or technology that make humans great; it’s their ability to show compassion toward fellow humans, and indeed all of God’s creation. He also explores how religion has been misused to justify power, colonialism and racism and invites readers to rethink what it really means to live faithfully and ethically. "S1tuatmg humankind within a vast universe as we shed our arrogance in discovering, for example, that functional objects are used by monkeys, dolphins, crows, humpback whales, and even bees, Drew Kadel urges us on—through experiences, reflections and listening—into a more compassionate and joyful life in which we ponder what might it mean to baptize a whale.” -DEIRDRE GOOD, Emerita Professor of New Testament Studies, General Theologica! Seminary "The Silicon Valley-led assault on the specialness of being human-embodied in technologies that bid to replace human workers while offering only: an insulting facsimile of human speech—is tempting many of us toward an embrace of old-fashioned human exceptionalism. Andrew Kadel's winsome and theologically informed treatise reminds us why we can't solve our cultural problems by retreating into our usual Master of Creation pose. This man’s project is to love both God and dogs, and to help the rest of us to better do the same.” -PHILIP CHRISTMAN, Lecturer, University of Michigan DREW KADEL is an Episcopal priest and Professor Emeritus of the General Theological Seminary, where he was director of the library. For the past decade he's preached at churches in the Bronx and elsewhere. His sermons can be found at drewkadel.wordpress.com. His previous book, Matrology: A Bibliography of Writings by Christian Women from the First to the Fifteenth Centuries, was published in 1995.
November 1, 2025 at 3:10 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
I'm really pleased with the cover that Shannon Carter from Wipf and Stock designed.
Book Cover for How do you Baptize a Whale? An Encouragement to Compassion by Andrew Kadel; foreword by Rebecca Lyman. Text from back cover: How Do You Baptize a Whale? raises the question of why humans believe they rule the universe-especially, when they, share planet Earth with amazing creatures like whales and elephants. Episcopal priest Drew Kadel’s argument is that it’s not tools or technology that make humans great; it’s their ability to show compassion toward fellow humans, and indeed all of God’s creation. He also explores how religion has been misused to justify power, colonialism and racism and invites readers to rethink what it really means to live faithfully and ethically. "S1tuatmg humankind within a vast universe as we shed our arrogance in discovering, for example, that functional objects are used by monkeys, dolphins, crows, humpback whales, and even bees, Drew Kadel urges us on—through experiences, reflections and listening—into a more compassionate and joyful life in which we ponder what might it mean to baptize a whale.” -DEIRDRE GOOD, Emerita Professor of New Testament Studies, General Theologica! Seminary "The Silicon Valley-led assault on the specialness of being human-embodied in technologies that bid to replace human workers while offering only: an insulting facsimile of human speech—is tempting many of us toward an embrace of old-fashioned human exceptionalism. Andrew Kadel's winsome and theologically informed treatise reminds us why we can't solve our cultural problems by retreating into our usual Master of Creation pose. This man’s project is to love both God and dogs, and to help the rest of us to better do the same.” -PHILIP CHRISTMAN, Lecturer, University of Michigan DREW KADEL is an Episcopal priest and Professor Emeritus of the General Theological Seminary, where he was director of the library. For the past decade he's preached at churches in the Bronx and elsewhere. His sermons can be found at drewkadel.wordpress.com.
October 31, 2025 at 11:00 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
Wipf and Stock informs me that my book should be published and available in a few days! ⚓
(This is the back cover which has blurbs from @philipchristman.bsky.social and @djgood.bsky.social, the front cover is in the post above)
Back cover of *How do you Baptize a Whale? an Encouragement to Compassion* How Do You Baptize a Whale? raises the question of why humans believe they rule the universe-especially, when they, share planet Earth with amazing creatures like whales and elephants. Episcopal priest Drew Kadel’s argument is that it’s not tools or technology that make humans great; it’s their ability to show compassion toward fellow humans, and indeed all of God’s creation. He also explores how religion has been misused to justify power, colonialism and racism and invites readers to rethink what it really means to live faithfully and ethically. "S1tuatmg humankind within a vast universe as we shed our arrogance in discovering, for example, that functional objects are used by monkeys, dolphins, crows, humpback whales, and even bees, Drew Kadel urges us on—through experiences, reflections and listening—into a more compassionate and joyful life in which we ponder what might it mean to baptize a whale.” -DEIRDRE GOOD, Emerita Professor of New Testament Studies, General Theologica! Seminary "The Silicon Valley-led assault on the specialness of being human-embodied in technologies that bid to replace human workers while offering only: an insulting facsimile of human speech—is tempting many of us toward an embrace of old-fashioned human exceptionalism. Andrew Kadel's winsome and theologically informed treatise reminds us why we can't solve our cultural problems by retreating into our usual Master of Creation pose. This man’s project is to love both God and dogs, and to help the rest of us to better do the same.” -PHILIP CHRISTMAN, Lecturer, University of Michigan DREW KADEL is an Episcoal priest and Professor Emeritus of the General Theological Seminary, where he was director of the library. For the past decade he's preached at churches in the Bronx and elsewhere. His sermons can be found at drewkadel.wordpress.com.
October 29, 2025 at 5:18 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
The cover for my new book just arrived!
Image of a book cover: Photograph of two whales above the title: How do you Baptize a Whale? An Encouragement to Compassion. Drew Kadel foreword by Rebecca Lyman.
October 29, 2025 at 2:25 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
Perhaps not so dramatic, but our Bulldog, Louie, played with ALL the toys and chewed them up, so we bought a milk crate to store them in. Upon seeing it, Louie decided it was the BEST TOY EVER and swung it around and chewed it up.
Large red and white English Bulldog with his chin on the sidewalk and his back legs pushing forward with a taut leash over his back.
October 22, 2025 at 12:21 AM
drewkadel.bsky.social
A bit of description of my mom from my forthcoming book:
My mother, Bernice, or Berni as she was known all her life, saw nothing romantic about the grind of work on the farm and left for college as soon as she graduated from high school at fifteen.5 She had a Welsh pony, but she wasn’t interested in the outdoors or horses. Instead, she would wrap the reins around the saddle horn and let the pony walk to the school on its own while she read her books.
October 13, 2025 at 11:34 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
Oddly, the English word "priest" derives from the Greek "presbyteros"=elder NOT the Greek "hierus"=priest in the sense of consecrated officer of a sacred and/or sacrificial cultus.
From the preface of my forthcoming book:
I have been a priest for a very long time, by far the majority of my life. In the Christian church, the word “priest” is used interchangeably with the word “presbyter.” That word presbyter means old. For a twenty-seven-year-old, that was a somewhat puzzling and, frankly, difficult burden to bear, but now that I’ve passed the mark of “three score and ten,” it’s just who I am.
October 10, 2025 at 3:40 PM
drewkadel.bsky.social
I like this collect from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, not exactly what you're looking for:
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who declarest thy glory and showest forth thy handiwork in the heavens and in the earth; Deliver us, we beseech thee, in our several callings, from the service of mammon, that we may do the work which thou givest us to do, in truth, in beauty, and in righteousness, with singleness of heart as thy servants, and to the benefit of our fellow men; for the sake of him who came among us as one that serveth, thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 1928 Book of Common Prayer, p. 44
August 29, 2025 at 1:33 AM
drewkadel.bsky.social
This extract from the manuscript for my book is about them:
Toward the end of the blessings, I particularly remember one boy, about eight-years-old, who asked for prayers for his grandfather who’d recently had a heart attack. He was very serious and clearly worried. I asked his grandfather’s name, “Boswell Joseph Barrett.” I prayed and anointed him. It was only much later, after I had gotten to know Joe Barrett well, that I learned that the only person who used that name Boswell, was this grandson, who was also named Joseph. (Jo-Jo, as he was called, regarded himself, and not his grandfather, to have the exclusive rights to Joseph as his first name.) A retired attorney and police detective, Joe Barrett took great pleasure in being able to help others, especially organizing activities for neighborhood kids, or giving legal advice to people who couldn’t afford a lawyer. He told me that he met his wife because he was on sentry duty near the end of the Korean war and almost shot an “infiltrator” who turned out to be a starving kid rummaging through the camp’s garbage. He decided to take the kid to a nearby orphanage, which is where he met Chang, who worked there. Ultimately, he served time in the brig for marrying a Korean national which was against Army policy. Nearly 70 years later, he still glowed when he talked about her.
August 28, 2025 at 9:33 PM