Where Two Or More Are Gathered : A New Church for the 21st Century [Paperback]

Ellie Harold (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2, 2001

Have you outgrown your childhood religion? Does your church no longer meet your spiritual needs? Ellie Harold’s personal quest to find " a church I can breathe in," led her to understand how churches can evolve to fulfill a growing individual’s requirements. Where Two Or More Are Gathered: A New Church for the 21st Century reveals the distorted underpinnings of traditional church, shows how transitional churches can serve the contemporary seeker, and describes a new kind of church designed for profound spiritual transformation.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"A remarkable book. It is a "must read" for all who are on a spiritual path."
Rev. John Strickland, Past Chairman of the Board of the Association of Unity Churches, Delegate to the Parliament of the World's Religions

"A gutsy and insightful look into a part of our lives that most people do not trust themselves to examine critically."
Richard Moss, author of The I That Is We, The Black Butterfly, The Second Miracle, Words That Shine Both Ways

"If you are confused about what you want and don't want in a church, reading this book should help you know which direction to head in."
Donovan Thesenga, co-author Fear No Evil, and Surrender to God Within, founder of Sevenoaks Pathwork Center in Madison,Virginia.

About the Author

Ellie Harold’s entire life has prepared her for writing Where Two or More Are Gathered: A New Church for the 21st Century. Typical of many baby-boomers, she was raised in and then rejected the traditional church of her family of origin. However, after exploring a number of spiritual and therapeutic paths – the Hare Krishna movement, born-again Christianity, 12 Step groups, holotropic breathwork, to mention a few -- she went on to be trained and ordained as a minister by the Association of Unity Churches, an organization which serves over 600 Unity churches worldwide.

Since 1985, Ellie has been professionally engaged as a spiritual leader in church settings in Kansas, the Bahamas, and Atlanta. There she has actively explored both her own religious heritage and alternative methods for expressing spirituality. In Nassau, she worked with John M. Templeton, contributing essays that were published in his 1993 book, Discovering the Laws of Life.

Ellie conceived of Where Two or More Are Gathered in a dream she had in 1990; this in turn inspired her to begin the Unity-Midtown Church in Atlanta. With only a handful of people and no outside financial backing, she founded a modest church that was attended by 80-120 people each week for most of her tenure as Spiritual Leader. The years of her involvement with Unity-Midtown were devoted to firsthand research on the topic, What does it mean to be a church as we enter the 21st century? The ideas presented in this book and the New Church methods described here were all tested in actual situations in this church.

A dynamic speaker, Ellie has spoken both in church and to civic groups on subjects related to the book, appeared on local television panel discussion programs, and been interviewed on talk radio shows. Articles pertaining to the New Church have appeared in the Atlanta periodicals "Thought Trends," "Aquarius," and "Currents." She has written innumerable articles on the subject in church newsletters.

One of her recent workshops, "Your Church in Transition," has been well-received in a number of Unity churches across the U.S., presenting ideas related to the book to congregations who are in the process of choosing a new minister. From the Board President of the Unity Church Centre in Girard, Ohio quoted from a recent newsletter: "The most exciting project we had this year just happened! The "Church in Transition" workshop by Rev. Ellie Harold was very exciting and enlightening!"

Other comments:

· "Our folks, from our new members to long-time members, felt the program was very informative and helpful. We are all very happy we had you come here."

· "I would recommend Ellie’s workshop to any church whether looking for a minister or not. She makes you face yourself!"

· "Your understanding of the Universal Truth is deep and you conveyed it in a clear way. Your view of our need to come to church – our soul’s longing to experience God – stirred me at the center."

In addition to writing, workshops, and speaking engagements, Ellie directs The New Church Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the ideas in the book through cognitive and experiential classes, spiritual practice services, as well as mentoring programs and spiritual leadership training courses. An Atlanta "New Church Center" is on the drawing board.

Ellie lives with her husband Roo Davison, an Englishman she met in 1995 who was also enrolled in a 3-year mentoring program sponsored by her teacher, Richard Moss. Roo and Ellie enjoy frequent visits to the U.K. and other European destinations, and also to their holiday home in Puerto Rico, where they like to sip coffee, contemplate the meaning of life, and swim.

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: New Church Ministries (February 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931268088
• ISBN-13: 978-1931268080
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,579,132 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly different book on spirituality and religion, March 15, 2001

By 

Eddie Reece (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where Two Or More Are Gathered : A New Church for the 21st Century (Paperback)

Want to read a truly different book on religion and spirituality? This is it. ?Where Two or More are Gathered? is really two books in one. The first half is autobiographical, a real page turner. I can?t wait for the movie! Any reader would enjoy this part. The second half is a rich examination of mainly the Christian church, why it works and why it doesn?t. The author goes on to map the progression of church evolution leading to her idea of a New Church. If you?re a spiritual seeker, especially one searching for a church that fits your needs, this book is a helpful read. You may gain a better understanding of why your church doesn?t work for you and what to do about it. Her frank, no holes barred approach is refreshing compared to a dry, scholarly study of Christianity. Harold does a fine job of expressing her idea of what Jesus meant for his followers to do. I wish every religious leader would read this book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Church For the 21st Century, March 13, 2001

By 

Rev. Pamela L. Chubbuck Ph.D. (Snellville, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where Two Or More Are Gathered : A New Church for the 21st Century (Paperback)

First Mathew Fox, now Ellie Harold. What a beautiful book Ellie Harold has written. From her deep truth and experience as a minister and a woman with a gutsy pioneering spirit, Ellie gives us a map on how to grow up spiritually. We don't have to be alone or to continue the religion we find stifles our creativity and life force. "Where Two or More Are Gathered" is a fascinating challenge to all of us who are looking for a better way to be with ourselves and with God. Whether you are a minister, a congragant, a scholar, or are searching for a new way to live, this book is exciting and satisfying reading. I appreciate the authors revealing of her own life, struggles, and victories. She rightly does not give us the answers, she asks the questions that get us to think and feel and to breathe more deeply. Ellie Harold also uses her congragants to speak in their own voices, telling their experience in doing their work and finding their truest and best way to evolve as human beings on a spiritual journey.

5.0 out of 5 stars Where Two or More are Gathered:, July 15, 2009

By 

Susan M. Toba - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Where Two Or More Are Gathered : A New Church for the 21st Century (Paperback)

This was a very emotional book for me to read as it was connected to a part of my own past. I cried , and I laughed. Even though I don't agree with alot of things that were said in the book. I did feel the writers truth in what she wrote as I too lived in that long ago place in Marietta, Georgia.