{"product_id":"churches-and-the-crisis-of-decline-a-hopeful-practical-ecclesiology-for-a-secular-age-paperback","title":"Churches and the Crisis of Decline: A Hopeful, Practical Ecclesiology for a Secular Age - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eAndrew Root\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNamed One of Fifteen Important Theology Books of 2022, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eEnglewood Review of Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eCongregations often seek to combat the crisis of decline by using innovation to produce new resources. But leading practical theologian Andrew Root shows that the church's crisis is not in the loss of resources; it's in the loss of life--and that life can only return when we remain open to God's encountering presence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book addresses the practical form the church must take in a secular age. Root uses two stories to frame the book: one about a church whose building becomes a pub and the other about Karl Barth. Root argues that Barth should be understood as a pastor with a deep practical theology that can help church leaders today.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChurches and the Crisis of Decline \u003c\/i\u003epushes the church to be a waiting community that recognizes that the only way for it to find life is to stop seeing the church as the star of its own story. Instead of resisting decline, congregations must remain open to divine action. Root offers a rich vision for the church's future that moves away from an obsession with relevance and resources and toward the living God.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is the fourth book in Root's Ministry in a Secular Age series.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBack Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"If you are worried about the fate of your church (and who isn't these days?), this is a book you must read.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAndrew Root shows that the church's crisis is not in the loss of resources but in the loss of life, which can return only when we remain open to God's encountering presence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Perhaps you've met Barth the intimidating theologian, but have you met Barth the pastor to pastors? Root introduces today's church to the Karl Barth it never knew, artfully putting this theologian in conversation with a church that is fearful about the future. If you are worried about the fate of your church (and who isn't these days?), this is a book you must read.\"\u003cbr\u003e--\u003cb\u003eWill Willimon\u003c\/b\u003e, Duke Divinity School; United Methodist bishop, retired; author of \u003ci\u003eAging: Growing Old in Church\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"An engaging and creative work which draws us aside from the church's current crisis to plant us back in it with new vision and hope. I looked up from this book no longer feeling surprised by the crisis and my inability to solve it, no longer ashamed that I need the power of God to lead this church. Root dares us to live and to lead as if God is actually alive and still cares about the world and the church.\"\u003cbr\u003e--\u003cb\u003eMandy Smith\u003c\/b\u003e, pastor, St. Lucia Uniting Church, Brisbane, Australia; author of \u003ci\u003eThe Vulnerable Pastor\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eUnfettered\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A marvelous achievement. Root draws on the work of Karl Barth (the pastor), Charles Taylor, and Hartmut Rosa to identify the current captivity of the church to secular metrics. He proposes a way forward that waits on the hope that comes from outside of us and among us as one of us in Jesus Christ. This is a must-read!\"\u003cbr\u003e--\u003cb\u003eRichard R. Topping\u003c\/b\u003e, Vancouver School of Theology\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This is theology that we need most vitally at this time. It's beautiful, applied, inspiring, kind, practical, deep, stretching, and, if we would only put it into practice, transforming.\"\u003cbr\u003e--\u003cb\u003eRev. Canon Chris Russell\u003c\/b\u003e, Archbishop of Canterbury's Advisor for Evangelism and Witness\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAndrew Root\u003c\/b\u003e (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of numerous books, including \u003ci\u003eFaith Formation in a Secular Age\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Pastor in a Secular Age\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Congregation in a Secular Age\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe End of Youth Ministry?\u003c\/i\u003e Root is also the coauthor (with Kenda Creasy Dean) of \u003ci\u003eThe Theological Turn in Youth Ministry\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 304\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.79 x 8.9 x 5.91 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 01, 2022\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51785760407840,"sku":"9781540964816","price":32.38,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/01e671a4cc1a96956459b2b191bcb6bf.webp?v=1780620182","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/churches-and-the-crisis-of-decline-a-hopeful-practical-ecclesiology-for-a-secular-age-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}