The Bold Alternative: Staying in Church in the 21st CenturyDespite the fact that mainline churches have been on a membership decline for the last generation, there are still active and healthy congregations where bright, able, thinking people have decided to stay and serve. In this book, Gary Charles studies these folks to find out what motivates them to remain in the church. Written in a readable, conversational style, this book describes these people--what they believe, how they understand God and faith, and what prompts them to take what has become a counter-cultural stance to stay in church. |
Contents
Why They Come | 1 |
Why They Stay | 14 |
Why They Worship | 28 |
What They Believe | 44 |
Why They Pray | 58 |
How They Live | 71 |
What Next? | 85 |
Questionnaire | 117 |
Focus Group Questions | 118 |
Notes | 121 |
Common terms and phrases
active churchgoers Alexandria American asked baby boomers baptism believers Bible biblical challenge Chris Christ Christian faith Christian worship church members church today churchgoers today clergy Coalter coming to church commitment congregation in Atlanta corporate worship culture David Steward denominational disciples discipleship Douglas John Hall educational faith and practice feel Glenn McDonald God's Energy gospel gregations group interviews growing number increasingly Iona Iona Community John Updike lay leader lifelong Christian lifelong Presbyterian listen liturgical live Louis Weeks mainline ministry Mulder Norman Shanks NRSV participation pastors pray prayer Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Presbyterian congregations Protestant question Reformed Reformed/Presbyterian religious responses Robert Wuthnow sacrament San Francisco scripture secular seminaries sermon service of worship social society Spiritual Marketplace stay in congregations Sunday morning things tian tion understand Urban Churches vibrant Wade Clark Roof Walter Brueggemann Weeks word worship leaders worship service worship today writes