Restless Churches: How Canada's Churches Can Contribute to the Emerging Religious Renaissance

by Reginald W. Bibby

Reginald W. Bibby has decided to move beyond the facts and data about religion in Canada toward implications and responses. In this “theistically uninhibited” work, the author puts aside the scholar’s neutrality and reflects, as a believer, on some of the ways in which God might be working in Canada. Having come up with data over the decades (e.g. large numbers of Canadians expect religious rites of passage), Reginald Bibby realized that people wanted to know what the findings meant for ministry — what did they mean for the health and the future of their churches. And they wanted even more, as they asked: how can we use these insights to help “grow” our churches, serve our people and welcome new members? This book answers these urgent questions of implementation. Positive institutional change requires going beyond interesting survey results. In his signature, easy-to-read style, Reginald Bibby presents the background and a framework from which he develops implications, challenges and responses. Restless Churches will answer the questions of how to contribute to the emerging religious renaissance in Canada.

216 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2004