Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation

by Sarah Cunningham

Dear Church is a series of letters from a twenty-something to the global church she's not always sure she wants to be a part of. The author's story awakens the voice of a younger generation whose attendance in the church is dropping, yet she encourages the church that their Christian faith is still alive and well. In the end, Dear Church tells a story that will be familiar to every age the story of overcoming disillusionment and staying the course.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christianity, Theology, Biography

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

Reviews

[Z · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting idea, but it really didn't go in depth into most topics touched on. It also was aimed at people who never actually lost their faith even if they stopped going to church, which wasn't what I was expecting or looking for. Also maybe a bit dated at this point, though there are still some good concepts covered.

[Kjersti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a solid 3 stars throughout, until we get to Letter 12, when suddenly a massive amount of fuel is poured onto the spark of hope that has been glimmering in the background since page 1. Even though this book is nearly a decade old, I still find that it speak to the great sense of disillusionment that my (older) Millennial generation feels with regard to the church. The format of letters gives a personal feeling and a natural way to develop a diverse set of topics. Cunningham moves us from letting those not-in-the-know meet us, naming our disillusionment, and then giving us (and the Church) hopeful words to take away. I see this book as being helpful for both the generation discussed and anyone who seeks an understanding of our perspective of the global Church.

[LL B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Cunningham, a twentysomething, shares the problems she both had to work through and continues to work through with Church and what it both can and should look like both locally and globally. With her sense of wit, sarcasm and irony, a potentially sadenning heavy subject becomes easy to read, challenging and interesting.

Due to the style of her writing, Cunningham leads the reader on a journey through both ups and downs, toward encouragement and further dissalusionment paradoxically held in unison. Realism and visionary dreams in tension. Ideas not competing but oddly working together... Strangely engrossing commentary upon the modern day evolution of the church.

[Kara Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently finished reading this, and it really hit home to some of the emotions that had bothered me with my own local church. I knew that I needed to forgive and move on, yet everytime I saw someone from my local church, the feelings would resurface. I like the fact that she offers hope and encourages us to try to work out the problems we have with the church, wether they will hear us or not.
It gave me hope that there are many others out there like me, who are disillousioned in the church, and offers practical solutions.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writer Sara Cunningham constantly reminded me of what my distastes are for the church of this day and age. Then mentally slaps me with the the realization that God has created the church and God will never let me down no matter how disillusioned I may become with the church.
Excellently written

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this a few years ago kind of by accident. Sarah is my talkin' bout my generation so I wanted to see what we thought about the church and God. I have to say... sometimes she wasn't too far off. Everyone has their own stories to tell and their own issues with God's people - they are people after all - so I found it interesting and enlightening to read Sarah's. Glad she shared.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed. Sometimes, read that: sometimes, she had some valid points, but I think she failed to give any concrete solutions. It seemed more like another twenty-something rant against organized religion. FWIW, I'm a twenty-something that grew up in the church just like her. I just came to some very different conclusions about it.

[Josh Smetzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts of the book could have been condensed, but interjected several good points and questions throughout the book. Overall, enjoyed reading this book and could relate to several of the letters. I enjoyed Letter 9: The Best Dirt I've Ever Eaten as she wrote to different segments of the church.

[Eri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah is right in what she is observing but at the same time, I have yet to read anything that I had not yet heard or experienced. Although, I find her helpful in the sense that she doesn't want to give up like most in her generation. She is searching for a solution.

[Jeanne Sumiko Wong]

I learned that I am not the only one disillusioned with the church. Can I find my way out and dream once again?

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, but I was disappointed that it was not Letters from a Disillusioned Generation, it was just the authors reflections on church.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Letters written from the point of view of young people disillusioned with the church. Simultaneously calls for the church and individuals to take responsibility

[Diana Kellermeyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Relevant information. Approach made it difficult to keep my attention.