Being Church in a Liminal Time: Remembering, Letting Go, Resurrecting

Congregations are in a liminal time, between the old and the new. This book offers three images to help them shape their future and engage in God's work: remembering, letting go, and resurrecting. It provides Bible studies and resources for congregations to discern God's work in their time and place.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 06 August 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

In the present era, congregations find themselves in a transitional and liminal phase. The traditional approaches to defining church and strategies for renewal based on these beliefs no longer suffice. However, there is no clear certainty about the new answers that will emerge. Instead, it is a time of exploration and experimentation, where we let go of the old and embrace the new. This involves confronting the reality of death, whether it manifests through the decline of institutions or the abandonment of established ways. This book addresses this reality while maintaining a steadfast focus on the Christian promise of resurrection. It presents three images that recognize the diverse contexts of congregations and offer guidance on how they can shape their future as they discern God's work within their midst. These images include remembering, letting go, and resurrecting, each of which holds the potential for faithful engagement in God's work.

For each of these images, the book provides suggestions for helping congregations move towards an even more faithful expression of that image. Additionally, the book includes Bible studies and other resources that will be valuable to congregations as they navigate this transformative journey. Some congregations may choose to maintain their traditional practices, while others seek new ways of being church. However, all can participate in God's work in their time and place with a deeper understanding of the ministry that is theirs. This book aims to assist them in achieving this.

Recognizing the need for a different kind of leadership, the book offers an approach to leadership that is rooted in a spiritual process of inward reflection and outward involvement. It encourages leaders to cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness and self-reflection, while also engaging with their communities and the broader world in meaningful ways. By embracing this holistic approach, leaders can inspire and empower their congregations to live out their faith in innovative and impactful ways.

In conclusion, congregations today are in a period of transition and liminality, where the old ways of being and doing church no longer suffice. However, there is hope and possibility for renewal and growth. By embracing the three images of remembering, letting go, and resurrecting, and by adopting a spiritual approach to leadership, congregations can shape their future and participate in God's work in their time and place with renewed vigor and purpose.

Weight: 372g
Dimension: 237 x 159 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538174494