Vital Vintage Church: How Traditional Congregations Thrive

by Michael S. Piazza

The prevailing witness is that the mainline church’s days are numbered. This testimony is so frequently repeated that only a fool dare challenge it. The contrary view found in Vital Vintage Church, however, comes from someone who actually attends church every Sunday, someone who currently teaches in two mainline denominational seminaries, consults with dozens of mainline churches, and stands in the pulpit almost every Sunday of a mainline church where he is the senior pastor.From that vantage point, Rev. Michael Piazza has seen enough signs of hope to convince him that, if we can change the narrative of doom and gloom, many of our Vintage Churches are poised to experience a time of great renewal. It won’t happen if we continue to do business as usual, but it also won’t require us to abandon the church we love. Taking out the pews and the stained glass isn’t the answer, but changes will be required. So, take a breath, take the plunge, and take it from one whose daily ministry is proving THERE IS HOPE FOR THE MAINLINE CHURCH!

176 pages, Paperback

Published February 10, 2016

Reviews

[Tim Jarrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading for anyone who wonders whether modern business skills like marketing, agile management, electronic collaboration, and principle-centered leadership are valuable skills on Sunday morning as well as Monday through Friday.

While I don’t agree with every direction Michael Piazza suggests taking in this book, I am reminded that if we the church are serving rather being served, we must listen to those we serve and remember that our own opinions about worship are, as Pragmatic Marketing says, “interesting but not relevant.” Also that building and growing means failing often and learning from failure. And evaluating your entire church experience from the perspective of a first-time user.