“The Lawyer’s Tale: A Ministry Found from a Career Lost” by J. Stewart Schneider is now available for purchase

 “The Lawyer’s Tale: A Ministry Found from a Career Lost” by J. Stewart Schneider was proudly published by Citi of Books. This memoir follows the author’s journey from being a policeman to being a lawyer and then being a preacher. This book is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retail sites.

Stewart Schneider received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky in 1972. For the remainder of his career, he served as a prosecuting attorney, first for the City of Ashland, Kentucky, then as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, and finally as the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Kentucky’s 32nd Judicial Circuit. He held the office for 13 years until 2005 when he was presented with a death-qualified case for the first time.

To his surprise, he found that he could not argue for the death penalty because of his conviction that such an action is contrary to the teaching of Jesus Christ. As a result, he was voted out of office in 2005. Since 2006, he has served as Stated Supply for Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. 

In “The Lawyer’s Tale: A Ministry Found from a Career Lost,” the author recounts his journey from law enforcement to a career in law and ultimately to a ministry rooted in Christian principles. Hired as a policeman in Kentucky at 21, Schneider faced a pivotal moment when he became the Commonwealth’s Attorney and was tasked with prosecuting a death penalty case.

Struggling with the moral implications of seeking the death penalty, he reflected on his faith and the potential consequences of his actions—not just for the criminals but for the community’s perception of Christianity. He felt a strong conviction against advocating for the death penalty, believing it contradicted the message of love and forgiveness central to Christianity.

Stewart personally believed that “If we clothe ourselves, so that all can see, with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, if we bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances we may have against one another, if we forgive as the Lord forgave us, as, indeed, we pray each and every Sunday, we will be perceived as the faith of compassion, the faith of kindness, humility, gentleness and forgiveness.”

Ultimately, he chose to step down from his position rather than compromise his beliefs, leading to the loss of his job and the livelihood of those who worked for him. Despite criticism from his community, he remained committed to his faith, hoping to inspire dialogue about violence and justice. His reflections aim to emphasize the importance of embodying Christian values in all aspects of life, even in challenging circumstances. Through his experiences, Schneider seeks to encourage others to consider compassion over retribution and to engage in discussions about the morality of the death penalty.