The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church [Paperback]

Diana Butler Bass (Author), Brian D. McLaren (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2004 | ISBN-10: 1566993059 | ISBN-13: 978-1566993050

The conventional wisdom about mainline Protestantism maintains that it is a dying tradition, irrelevant to a postmodern society, unresponsive to change, and increasingly disconnected from its core faith tenets. In her provocative new book, historian and researcher Diana Butler Bass argues that there are signs that mainline Protestant churches are indeed changing, finding a new vitality intentionally grounded in Christian practices and laying the groundwork for a new type of congregation.

The Practicing Congregation tracks these changes by looking at the overall history of American congregations, noting the cultural trends that have sparked change, and providing evidence of how mainline churches are reappropriating traditional Christian practices. The signs of life that Bass identifies lead the reader beyond the crumbling "liberal vs. conservative" dualities to a more nuanced and fluid understanding of the shape of contemporary ecclesiology and faithfulness. In so doing, she helps readers understand tradition in new ways and creates an alternative path through the culture wars that today arrest the energies of most denominations.

Invigorated by stories from Bass’s own experience, The Practicing Congregation provides a hopeful and exciting vision for the church. The imaginative "retraditioning" she identifies and celebrates will guide pastors and other leaders on this "pilgrimage of creating church" and convincingly counter the naysayers that long ago gave up on the viability of the mainline church.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Diana Butler Bass is senior research fellow and director of the Project on Congregations of Intentional Practice, a research study of vital mainline Protestant churches at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. From 1995-2000, she wrote a weekly column on American religion for the New York Times Syndicate. She is the author of Strength for the Journey: A Pilgrimage of Faith in Community, a Publishers Weekly Notable Book of 2002, and Broken We Kneel: Reflections on Faith and Citizenship.

Product Details

• Paperback: 129 pages
• Publisher: The Alban Institute (September 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566993059
• ISBN-13: 978-1566993050
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #331,238 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Diana Butler Bass was born in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona. For as long as she can remember, she's been interested in religion, history, and politics--the passions she intertwines in her books and writing. She holds a Ph.D. in American religious history from Duke University. After a dozen years teaching undergraduates, she became a full-time writer, independent researcher, educator, and consultant. Her work has been cited in the national media, including TIME Magazine, USA TODAY, and the Washington Post, and she has appeared on CNN, FOX, PBS, and on NPR. For five years, she wrote a weekly feature on American religion for the New York Times syndicate. She currently blogs for Huffington Post and Washington Post OnFaith and is a contributing editor at Sojourners magazine.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Bass Speaks to the Joy of Intentional Christian Practices October 5, 2004

By David Marshall

Format:Paperback

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.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Possible Solution October 11, 2004

By A reader in Cincinnati

Format:Paperback

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.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thinking off the page February 14, 2005

By Daniel S. Russell

Format:Paperback

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.