Customer Reviews

The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Diana Butler Bass' latest book is the first I have seen that recognizes and celebrates an important new development in American congregations. For years journalists and academics have been talking about Mainline Church decline but that has not been my experience. Since the 1990's I have been involved with congregations experimenting with new ways of being Christians together. The experiments have included different ways of worshiping and using group discernment in vestry (governing board for a congregation) meetings. In several congregations I have seen the celebration of Holy Week take on great significance as the people experience the Easter Story through ritual and worship. This vitality was not found in mega-churches or in old denominations trying to model themselves after seeker-churches. The Spirit is working in liberal-mainline churches across the country as Christians find new ways of making meaning in their lives through intentional, communal engagement with Christian practices. Diana Butler Bass's new book is the first book I have seen that recognizes this new development. Her research and analysis give us new language to talk about what is happening in our churches. New language and new metaphors allow us to speak hopefully about what God is doing in our congregations. Diana is a wonderful writer. This book is more academic than her earlier book, "Strength for the Journey," but her personal and poetic style is still quite evident. I bought five copies of this book to share with people in my church and friends in other churches.

As one who is trying to help develop a vision for a struggling(dying?) inner city Catholic church, I found Bass' insights very helpful. We are struggling to find ways to enflesh the Gospel in ways that speak to the people in our neighborhoods. I'm finding it involves lots of presence and listening-and huge amounts of waiting on God's plan and timing.And maybe, as the book suggests, delving more into the riches of our tradition.

Though I've often seen myself as somewhat of an iconoclast, I realized, as I read Bass' book, that it has been the intentional taking on of such practices as spiritual direction and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius that have enlivened my spirit and given me courage and grace to stay the course. I'm now looking at practices that might speak to our people. They may very well be the keys to breathing new life into our congregation.

I actually heard Dr. Butler Bass present this material at a clergy day in my diocese last year. Her work is both insightful and challenging. I especially appreciate her willingness to admit the shortcomings of her theories, not just gloss over them. The three-dimensional grid was particularly helpful, especially for those of us in the lower left quadrant -- progressive emergers. It can seem like a very lonely place indeed!

Kudos to Dr. Butler Bass on clarifying with some of the harder elements of the emerging post-modern church by not fearing to "complexify" the issues.

This book tells of the fabulous success stories still hidden amongst the headlines of mainline decline. It shows that tradition can still be held on to when there is openness to change and to do what is necessary to keep mainline churches alive and thriving.

Building on the work of Craig Dykstra (author of "Edcuation and Christian pracitices") Bass shows how intentional pariticpation in Christian practices can help transform stagnent established congregations into intentional and practicing ones. She finds that the real differnce between Christians in America is not between liberals and conservatives or right and left but those who seek to intentionally be people of God and those who are satisfied with being merely an established and static organization. While trying to find common ground with conservatives Bass does at times revert to a smugness that can sound condeseding at times. This book is best viewed in conjuction with the Dykstra book mentioned above which presents a clearer and more systematic argument for the role of Christian practices within the congregation and world. I do highly recomentd this work because it has much to add to the deabte

An interesting book that tries to draw the reader past oversimplified labels, media reports, etc. to see what's happening in churches all across the country; ones that don't get media attention. The author's main thesis is that mainline Protestant churches are not in "decline" but are experiencing new vitality by rediscovering and redeeming ancient spirituality and a focus on practice. As she says at the beginning, this book is not a "how to," prescriptive book for churches or becoming a "practicing congregation" but seeks to tell and interpret stories of things actually happening. The book was a good read, but I struggle with Bass's argument that mainline Protestant churches are not necessarily in decline. All the numbers are against her, and her evidence to the contrary is all anecdotal. But, to her credit, that fits with her stated purpose.

The book came quickly and in good condition. It is interesting and informative. It explains clearly the emerging church.

In addition to being and extreme left leaning look at the Episcopal Church, it is outdated in light of actions since the 2003 Genral Convention. If a church or group is looking for information on growing their congregations this is not the book for them.

I ordered this book as required reading for a class I am Taking. I received the book in excellent condition in a timely manner.

This book re-affirmed my experience: that much of mainline Christianity (or at least those who lead it) are more interested in the practices and structure of Christianity than a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. However, I found much of instructional value here about church history, and practice. Great insights into tradition, the various traditions that compete for allegiance in churches of all denominations.
Many congregations are doing the right things, I'm just concerned that they are building on a foundation with significant holes. For many in mainline Christianity, Jesus is more of a something -- a theory, an idea -- not a SOMEONE who values our relationship with God above our activities. Is the practice fulfilling? Is the worship service aesthetically pleasing? Are the activities healthy? Are social actions of your church just and good? Fantastic, but it's all empty without recognizing Christ as someone real, living, active. Still, there are many in the Christian world who are so inward-focused that it seems they believe Jesus is only interested in them -- those folks need a kick out the door, to go do something. This book reaffirms that idea as well.