Bold Alternative: Staying in Church in the 21st Century

by Gary W. Charles

Book Overview

Despite the fact that mainline churches have been on a membership decline for the last generation, there are still active and healthy congregations where bright, able, thinking people have decided to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0664501796
• ISBN13: 9780664501792
• Release Date: March 2001
• Publisher: Geneva Press
• Length: 132 Pages
• Weight: 0.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Interesting Findings on Mainline Church Traditions

Gary Charles has written a thorough, readable book for people interested in how mainline, traditional churches are doing in a changing spiritual climate. He examines 5 or 6 traditional Presbyterian churches who are doing well in a changing culture. These "successful" churches are in New York, Atlanta, Raleigh, Chicago and San Francisco. As the religious landscape changes, and with it, a new "consumer" mentality among church seekers, Charles investigates churches that have bucked the trend of contemporary-informal-seeker worship services or a more evangelical approach. He wants to know what is going on within the church members of these vital churches. He wants to know why these members come, why they stay, why they worship, what they believe, why they pray and how they live. His findings are pertinent for people who wonder about the future of mainline traditional Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal, Methodist, and Lutheran congregations.