Death of the Church [Paperback]

Mike Regele (Author), Mark Schulz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 1996

'Death of the Church is intended to provoke, although we have been careful to be accurate and responsible in our statement of the issues. We will have failed if you only yawn. You may not like what we say, but you must at least acknowledge the issues, for they are very real. The institutional church in America will look very different twenty-five years from now. Indeed, several denominations may no longer exist. We are sure that there will be hundreds of local congregations that won't. The forces reshaping our culture are too many and too strong. We see signs of social fragmentation and collapse everywhere. But we also believe deeply in the hope of the Gospel and the security of the church. Both will survive. But how the church universal is expressed in and through the churches in America will look very different. This is the issue we write about.' -- From the Introduction

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Death of the Church is intended to provoke, although we have been careful to be accurate and responsible in our statement of the issues. We will have failed if you only yawn. You may not like what we say, but you must at least acknowledge the issues, for they are very real. The institutional church in America will look very different twenty-five years from now. Indeed, several denominations may no longer exist. We are sure that there will be hundreds of local congregations that won't. The forces reshaping our culture are too many and too strong. We see signs of social fragmentation and collapse everywhere. But we also believe deeply in the hope of the Gospel and the security of the church. Both will survive. But how the church universal is expressed in and through the churches in America will look very different. This is the issue we write about." -- From the Introduction

About the Author

Mike Regele (M. Div.) studied at Seattle Pacific University and Fuller Theological Seminary. He is co-founder and president of Percept Group, Inc., and an author and co-author whose works include Exploring Your Ministry Area, Your Church and Its Mission, Understanding Your Congregation, and ReVision.

Mark Schulz is co-founder and executive vice-president of Percept. He is co-author of several works with Mike Regele.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (February 5, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310200067
• ISBN-13: 978-0310200062
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,075,156 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The church is challenged to change by this excellent book, July 7, 1998

By 

G. Codrington "graeme codrington" (London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death of the Church (Paperback)

The church is dead, and in the last throes of dying. It can die, or it can choose to die in order to be resurrected. Mega-churches, seeker-friendly churches, even cell churches can often simply be a new mask on an old way of doing things. This book calls the church to die, and to make a new start - with new methods, new structures, and a new dynamic impact on (post)modern culture.

This book was a highlight of my reading year! Written by the researchers at Percept International, who do reserach on American culture and its relation to the church, and also consult to many churches and Christian organisations, it is a perceptive and challenging book. It's stated purpose is that it is "intended to provoke".

Basically, they take and apply the Generational theory proposed by Howe and Strauss, and beginning with the Builder generation (born 1901-1924), work through Silent (born 1925-1942) to Boomer (born 1943-1960) and Gen X, which they call Survivors (nice title, actually - born 1961-1981). Although they alude to the Millennials, they never really deal with the implications of the next generation.

They also talk about the philosophical change from Modernism to Postmodernism. Although done at a basic (and practical/pragmatic) level, the few chapters on this shift are excellent, and a valuable resource in themselves when trying to explain to older folk what the impact of this change is.

The book focusses on the year 2000, and what the church will look like and what it needs to do to survive and make ready for the coming Crisis Era (anticipated by many different theorists to begin between 2015 and 2025).

Their essential thesis is that the existing church, as it has functioned since the Protestant Reformation is dead. It can no longer work, and just like at the Reformation, when not only theology, but also structure changed, so now, too, we need a structural change to recognise the philosophical changes in (post)modern culture. They state firmly that the church is dying! It cannot be s! aved. Now we have a choice: we can die, and be dead. Or we can choose to die, with the hope and plan of resurrection. This is the path to choose.

They work towards the final few chapters, which give details as to how they see the church emerging, and what needs to be changed. It is perceptive stuff, and must be taken seriously. A nice touch was the letters to the different generations which were given in the chpater on what the church must do to change. I also liked their ability to transcend (and name) their Boomer bias. They are Boomers, but they understand what must be done. If more Boomers can begin to give this leadership, we'll be fine.

So, this is a great book. An uncomfortable one, maybe. But one that is right on the money. It must be taken seriously. For us X'ers, it is an exciting book - one full of promise for the resurrection of a dead church which we so eagerly desire. The great thing is, that we will be the generation to accomplish this. Like the Reformation era - we will be long remembered if we get it right. Pray God that we do.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent research and analysis of the church's future, February 17, 2000

By 

Landon Meadow (clarksville, tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death of the Church (Paperback)

I have been reading several books on postmodernism and its implications for the church, but this book goes even further with better research into generational characteristics that rang true in my own life and my family. It is the best book I have read on the need change in the church, and I have read at least five. It also explained why my church has been doing well in that we unwittingly have been ministering to the Switchers and the survivor generation.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important Book, July 18, 2003

By 

C. LC "Dr. Rick McClain" (Lake Charles, LA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death of the Church (Paperback)

This is one of the most important books for church leaders written in the last few years. I have given away many copies, and I urge every pastor to read it. We are in a time of great social transition, and church leaders had better understand the nature of the changes around us. Mike Regele is not saying that a time is coming when there will be no people of God. What he is saying is that local churches that cannot adapt and penetrate their cultures will die. What would happen if 75% of America's churches would cease to exist in the next 50 years? Change in the culture around us is taking place at such a rapid rate that it could well happen. Thus, change in the church is not optional.