Why Liberal Churches are Growing

This book examines why liberal churches remain appealing, where they are growing and why liberal theological approaches to ministry are more widespread than many assume to be the case. "Why Liberal Churches are Growing" is a fascinating journey through different case studies, social science reflection, and theological analysis. The contributors include sociologists, theologians, and practical theologians. The book has four sections. The first, 'defining themes', looks at the social justice witness (community organizing), church growth as conversational, and the challenge of turning liberal churches around. The book then looks at three case studies - starting with congregations and moving to a denomination. Under the heading 'macro issues', it explores in more detail the underlying disposition of liberal churches and revisits such themes as social justice, homosexuality, and alternative indicators of vitality. The book concludes with three essays on 'clergy and growth'.

ISBN 0567081737   Pages 176 ISBN13 9780567081735 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.   Weight (grammes) 304 Imprint T.& T.Clark Ltd   Published in London Format Paperback   Series title Christianity and Contemporary Culture S. Publication date 23 Mar 2006   Height (mm) 234 Library of Congress BV   Width (mm) 156 DEWEY 230.046   Spine width (mm) 11 DEWEY edition DC22   Academic level General, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Professional / Scholarly

Foreword; Introduction; Defining Themes; Chapter 1 Community Organizing as Lived Faith; Chapter 2 Conversational Church Growth; Chapter 3 Reorganizing the Chairs on the Titanic; Case Studies; Chapter 4 The Lord is Here: The Nine o'Clock Service; Chapter 5 The Shape of Things to Come; Chapter 6 It's, Not All About Us; Macro Issues; Chapter 7 Paradox and Persuasion; Chapter 8 Social Justice and Church Court; Chapter 9 Open and Affirming of Growth; Chapter 10 Oldline Protestantism; Clergy and Growth; Chapter 11 Theological Match between Pastor and Congregations; Chapter 12 Two Conditions for a Growing Liberal Church; Chapter 13 A View from the Pew.

"Pete Ward's chapter on youth work is particularly resonate. He builds a convincing case that a commitment to building long-term relationships with young people and to encouraging them to develop as Christian leaders transformed the charismatic/evangelical movement within the Church of England from a small, "somewhat ineffectual" group in the 1930s into the thriving section of the church that it is today...Liberal congregations can flourish. They can grow in authentic, healthy ways. Mainline/liberal Christians bear an open, deeply spiritual faith that is passionately concerned with justice and vibrantly alive. If we take up Ward's challenge make the nurture of youth and the development of young leaders our priority, we can reserve what Roozen calls a "continuing stream of decline," and the light of the open, just, living gospel of Christ will blaze into the future." Martha Grace Reese, Christian Century, March 11, 2008--Martha Grace Reese

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