Description
National headlines regularly herald the decline of Christianity in the United States, citing historically low levels of confidence in organized religion, drops in church attendance, church closures, and the dramatic rise of the "Nones." Scarcely heard are stories from the thousands of new churches and new forms of church that are springing up each year across the country. In this book, Christopher James attends carefully to stories of ecclesial innovation taking place in Seattle, Washington--a city on the leading edge of trends shaping the nation as a whole. James's study of the new churches founded in 'post-Christian' Seattle offers both pragmatic advice and theological reflection. After an in-depth survey- and -interview-based analysis of the different models of church-building he identifies, James identifies five threads of practical wisdom: 1) embracing local identity and mission, 2) cultivating embodied, experiential, everyday spirituality, 3) engaging community life as means of witness and formation, 4) prioritizing hospitality as a cornerstone practice, and 5) discovering ecclesial vitality in a diverse ecclesial ecology. Stimulating, encouraging, and stereotype-shattering, this book invites readers to reconsider the narrative that portrays these first decades of the twenty-first century as a time of ecclesial death and decline, and to view this instead as a hope-filled season of ecclesial renewal and rebirth.
About the Author
Christopher B. James is Assistant Professor of Evangelism and Missional Christianity at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, where he also directs the Master of Arts in Mission and Discipleship.
Reviews
Those applauding the book are themselves leading lights in the field of practical ecclesiology, and we know that we can therefore expect a study that is theologically astute, as well as empirically grounded. James' book does not disappoint. * Martyn Percy, Ecclesiology: The Journal for Ministry, Mission and Unity *
As a practical theologian, James engages the data with theological reflection to offer practical wisdom to church planters. Anyone who is closely monitoring ecclesiological trends in the U.S. church will find ample points of interest in this work... I can attest firsthand to the relevance the study contained in this volume. It is methodologically sound, and its findings are practically useful. Given the nature of a survey-based study, James's presentation is accessible, and the reader is not buried in the minutiae of statistics. * D. Alan Blanc, Davis College, Johnson City, NY, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society *
With the broad scope of the project and its methodological innovation, scholars of multiple disciplines will find this work helpful, including, but not limited to practical theology, sociology of religion, homiletics, liturgical studies, and missiology. Practitioners will likely be drawn toward the latter chapters in which James makes his practical constructive proposals. Overall, this book is well-conceived and executed. It deserves careful attention for classrooms, churches, and theological libraries. * Nelson Cowan, Boston University, Boston, MA, Homiletic: The Journal of the Academy of Homiletics *
Rather than lamenting the secularization of Seattle and the closing of churches, J[ames] presents rich data and bold advice to take advantage of what he sees and the opportunity for church growth presented by a progressive, secularizing, technologically driven, and proudly diverse society. * Kelly Colwell, Theological Studies *
Missiologists well as church planters who are interested in launching faithful churches, and not just numerically large churches, will appreciate James' focus on both practice and theology... Church planters, as well as ecclesial leaders responsible for nurturing church planting movements, who believe that engaging an increasingly post-Christian U.S. is vital to missional faithfulness will find this book incredibly insightful and informative. * Jack Jackson, Witness: Journal of the Association for Evangelism in Theological Education *
... a great book, not just a good one. * Nigel Rooms, Church Mission Society, Oxford and The Queen's Foundation, Birmingham, UK, Practical Theology *
Writing a list of must reads for a missional church or fresh expression this book should definitely be one among the top ten. One can read it alone as a page turner, but better results will appear while using it as a study tool discussing it with others. The latter would definitely be more in line with the author's purpose of writing the book. * Kristine Stache, Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, IA, Ecclesial Futures *
The author's weaving together of sociological and ecclesiological insights to describe and evaluate current models and offer proposals for church planting in a post-Christian context is exemplary. Hopefully it will stimulate others to do this kind of research and writing, something that the author facilitates by including his methodology and survey questions. * Richard Hibbert, Missiology *
The strength of his work lies in his synthesis of work across different fields... James consistently shows not only answers, but a system for questioning and reconsidering established forms and practices. It allows his work to be applicable in multiple ways, and opens up an ecumenism that should be useful in the church's more general movement as well as specific locales. * Justin Cober-Lake, Englewood Review of Books *
The author provides a masterful... overview of his research of over 105 recent and innovative church plants in the City of Seattle, WA. * Stephen D. Elliott, Kingswood University, Religious Studies Review *
Awards
Winner of Winner of the 2018 gold award in Theology by the Illumination Awards..
Book Information
ISBN 9780190673642
Author Christopher James
Format Hardback
Page Count 368
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 1g
Dimensions(mm) 163mm * 239mm * 33mm
About the Author
Christopher B. James is Assistant Professor of Evangelism and Missional Christianity at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, where he also directs the Master of Arts in Mission and Discipleship.
Reviews
Those applauding the book are themselves leading lights in the field of practical ecclesiology, and we know that we can therefore expect a study that is theologically astute, as well as empirically grounded. James' book does not disappoint. * Martyn Percy, Ecclesiology: The Journal for Ministry, Mission and Unity *
As a practical theologian, James engages the data with theological reflection to offer practical wisdom to church planters. Anyone who is closely monitoring ecclesiological trends in the U.S. church will find ample points of interest in this work... I can attest firsthand to the relevance the study contained in this volume. It is methodologically sound, and its findings are practically useful. Given the nature of a survey-based study, James's presentation is accessible, and the reader is not buried in the minutiae of statistics. * D. Alan Blanc, Davis College, Johnson City, NY, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society *
With the broad scope of the project and its methodological innovation, scholars of multiple disciplines will find this work helpful, including, but not limited to practical theology, sociology of religion, homiletics, liturgical studies, and missiology. Practitioners will likely be drawn toward the latter chapters in which James makes his practical constructive proposals. Overall, this book is well-conceived and executed. It deserves careful attention for classrooms, churches, and theological libraries. * Nelson Cowan, Boston University, Boston, MA, Homiletic: The Journal of the Academy of Homiletics *
Rather than lamenting the secularization of Seattle and the closing of churches, J[ames] presents rich data and bold advice to take advantage of what he sees and the opportunity for church growth presented by a progressive, secularizing, technologically driven, and proudly diverse society. * Kelly Colwell, Theological Studies *
Missiologists well as church planters who are interested in launching faithful churches, and not just numerically large churches, will appreciate James' focus on both practice and theology... Church planters, as well as ecclesial leaders responsible for nurturing church planting movements, who believe that engaging an increasingly post-Christian U.S. is vital to missional faithfulness will find this book incredibly insightful and informative. * Jack Jackson, Witness: Journal of the Association for Evangelism in Theological Education *
... a great book, not just a good one. * Nigel Rooms, Church Mission Society, Oxford and The Queen's Foundation, Birmingham, UK, Practical Theology *
Writing a list of must reads for a missional church or fresh expression this book should definitely be one among the top ten. One can read it alone as a page turner, but better results will appear while using it as a study tool discussing it with others. The latter would definitely be more in line with the author's purpose of writing the book. * Kristine Stache, Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, IA, Ecclesial Futures *
The author's weaving together of sociological and ecclesiological insights to describe and evaluate current models and offer proposals for church planting in a post-Christian context is exemplary. Hopefully it will stimulate others to do this kind of research and writing, something that the author facilitates by including his methodology and survey questions. * Richard Hibbert, Missiology *
The strength of his work lies in his synthesis of work across different fields... James consistently shows not only answers, but a system for questioning and reconsidering established forms and practices. It allows his work to be applicable in multiple ways, and opens up an ecumenism that should be useful in the church's more general movement as well as specific locales. * Justin Cober-Lake, Englewood Review of Books *
The author provides a masterful... overview of his research of over 105 recent and innovative church plants in the City of Seattle, WA. * Stephen D. Elliott, Kingswood University, Religious Studies Review *
Awards
Winner of Winner of the 2018 gold award in Theology by the Illumination Awards..
Book Information
ISBN 9780190673642
Author Christopher James
Format Hardback
Page Count 368
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 1g
Dimensions(mm) 163mm * 239mm * 33mm
