The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church

by Diana Butler Bass

The conventional wisdom about mainline Protestantism maintains that it is a dying tradition, irrelevant to a postmodern society, unresponsive to change, and increasingly disconnected from its core faith tenets. In her provocative new book, historian and researcher Diana Butler Bass argues that there are signs that mainline Protestant churches are indeed changing, finding a new vitality intentionally grounded in Christian practices and laying the groundwork for a new type of congregation. The Practicing Congregation tracks these changes by looking at the overall history of American congregations, noting the cultural trends that have sparked change, and providing evidence of how mainline churches are reappropriating traditional Christian practices. The signs of life that Bass identifies lead the reader beyond the crumbling "liberal vs. conservative" dualities to a more nuanced and fluid understanding of the shape of contemporary ecclesiology and faithfulness. In so doing, she helps readers understand tradition in new ways and creates an alternative path through the culture wars that today arrest the energies of most denominations. Invigorated by stories from Bass's own experience, The Practicing Congregation provides a hopeful and exciting vision for the church. The imaginative "retraditioning" she identifies and celebrates will guide pastors and other leaders on this "pilgrimage of creating church" and convincingly counter the naysayers that long ago gave up on the viability of the mainline church.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Theology, Spirituality, Church

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2004

About the author

Diana Butler Bass is an author, speaker, and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture. She holds a PhD in religious studies from Duke University and is the author of seven books, including the bestselling Christianity for the Rest of Us, released by HarperOne in 2006. It was named as one of the best religion books of the year by Publishers Weekly and Christian Century, won the Book of the Year Award from the Academy of Parish Clergy, and was featured in a cover story in USA Today. Her much-anticipated next book, A People's History of Christianity, will be released in March 2009 from HarperOne. She is currently Senior Fellow at the Cathedral College of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Bass regularly consults with religious organizations, leads conferences for religious leaders, and teaches and preaches in a variety of venues.

Bass blogs at Progressive Revival on Beliefnet and Sojourners' God's Politics. She regularly comments on religion, politics, and culture in the media including USA Today, Time, Newsweek, The Washington Post, CNN, FOX, PBS, and NPR. From 1995 to 2000, she wrote a weekly column on American religion for the New York Times syndicate. She has written widely in the religious press, including Sojourners, Christian Century, Clergy Journal, and Congregations.

From 2002 to 2006, she was the Project Director of a national Lilly Endowment funded study of mainline Protestant vitality—a project featured in Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, The Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times. Bass also serves on the board of directors of the Beatitudes Society.

She has taught at Westmont College, the University of California at Santa Barbara, Macalester College, Rhodes College, and the Virginia Theological Seminary. She has taught church history, American religious history, history of Christian thought, religion and politics, and congregational studies.

Bass and her husband, Richard, live with their family in Alexandria, Virginia. She is a member of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in downtown Washington, D.C.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of encouragement and vision for the church startling the past and the future

[M Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before "Christianity for the Rest of Us," "A People's History of Christianity," and "Christianity After Religion" catapulted her into (relative) stardom among Mainline Protestants, Diana Butler Bass wrote this fine book for the Alban Institute based on her researches. At it's publication in 2004, her primary message was one of cautious hope: "Mainline" churches weren't dying. In fact, many of them were very healthy indeed.

It is a word that still needs to be heard. Popular news organs continue to be fixated on the differences between Fundamentalists and Liberals of all faith and committed to the myth that only Fundamentalist/Conservative/Evangelical Christianity has any vitality at all. Diana Butler Bass' researches disprove that myth and she shares anecdotes and reflections on how mainline Christianity operates "under the radar" with a great deal of life and joy.

Looking for a takeaway lesson? Whatever your church is called to do, do it with authenticity. The "practicing congregations" of the title vary greatly in their practices but are wholly (and holy) invested in them. The emphasis may be on personal spiritual growth or on community justice or both (that's best) but "kingdom goals" should be pursued with vigor in order to keep the fire burning.

A good read. I'm especially glad I heard her speak on these topics last year. She also referred a great deal in that seminar to the teachings of Henri Nouwen on hospitality in "Reaching Out," which I read earlier in the month.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book that tries to draw the reader past oversimplified labels, media reports, etc. to see what's happening in churches all across the country; ones that don't get media attention. The author's main thesis is that mainline Protestant churches are not in "decline" but are experiencing new vitality by rediscovering and redeeming ancient spirituality and a focus on practice. As she says at the beginning, this book is not a "how to," prescriptive book for churches or becoming a "practicing congregation" but seeks to tell and interpret stories of things actually happening. The book was a good read, but I struggle with Bass's argument that mainline Protestant churches are not necessarily in decline. All the numbers are against her, and her evidence to the contrary is all anecdotal. But, to her credit, that fits with her stated purpose.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

As frequently happens with Alban Institute-published books, a fair amount of translation has to be done by me in the reading. This is because of the focus on Christianity and Christian religious groups, and my need to determine what the appropriate analogues are in Unitarian Universalist experience. Here, there are several points of congruence. I can certainly understand the pull of tradition vs. custom in UU terms, as well as the importance of practice (which is the thematic focus of my congregation's upcoming church year). I was also pleasantly surprised to glean a few more insights on the "liberal vs conservative" religious spectrum. Overall, a good book.

[John Compton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful articulation of the vision of the church coming from somebody on the left side of the theological world. As an outsider who is now in the mainline I found this very helpful in understanding my surroundings. I really appreciated her view of rising above the left/right divide by having churches move from "institutions" to practicing congregations.

[Doug Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if we don't accept the conventional wisdom of decline? What is we tell a different story?

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent for anyone thinking about churches today and how they can find a new/old ways to revitalize them. Made a lot of sense and has good portraits of current churches.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the types of traditionalism helpful in understanding my congregation and their motivation behind actions.

[Amy Paget · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are interested in reviving your congregation, this is ONE book to read!