Book review: Bass, Christianity for the Rest of Us

“The most important book of the decade about emerging Christianity and the renewal of mainline congregations.” “This book is so full of good news that I keep it next to my Bible.”

Without denying the positive contribution and “good news” of Diana Butler Bass’s, Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith, these two book jackets endorsements from religious heavy hitters: Marcus Borg and Barbara Brown Taylor, are a bit overstated. In spite of the author’s own hyperbole about the state of Christianity and more specifically the mainline churches of America and the effect of “neighborhood” churches in transforming the faith (individual lives being transformed in spiritual communities is better stated), there is a wonderfully refreshing description of “Ten Signposts for Renewal.” Our GRACE group, recently discussed at length Bass’s new book finding in it significant and hopeful pathways for church renewal. In facilitating that discussion, I noted with appreciation her grounding of the ten signposts in the rich tradition of “the faith once delivered to the saints” which, for me, was a much needed reclamation of these important disciplines and practices.

Her three-year study, funded by the Lilly Endowment, surveys some fifty churches across six mainline denominations (heretofore thought of as in decline). I had the impression from the beginning, however, that Bass was already down-in-the-mouth about mainline Protestantism only to be pleasantly surprised at the vitality in these churches she discovered. They exhibited authentic Christianity, coherently expressed offering members a renewed sense of mission and identity, passion and purpose. Their stories fill the pages of the book. Though I found them overdone–often focused too much on “technique” rather than processes–throughout the book these stories about the things Bass and her colleagues observed give anecdotal credence to her conclusions. Those conclusions, however, were succinctly stated and insightful (the annoying difficulty for me was finding them embedded in the “illustrative material” of each chapter; but this comment may reflect my own bias toward this kind of writing style).

Complementing the book is its study guide that would engage any small group in discussions of Bass’s salient points. There also is a helpful appendix detailing the research findings and methodology. One noteworthy section on leadership (p. 307) gives rise to the observation that her “Ten Signposts” do not reflect an exhaustive list of renewal paths. The anecdotal and interview material alone underscore the immense contribution of dynamic, charismatic leadership on church growth and renewal.

Finally, I resonated with Bass’s exploration of churches that avoided the dualistic, polar opposite, either/or mentality so descriptive of a host of American churches and Christians who have sought after–and found–certainty. She offers instead a via media, “a creative third way,” a middle way, that holds in tension the extremes that so often divide Christians and focuses on those practices that center us on “who” and “whose” we are as a spiritual community of faith. As one pastor she interviewed stated it, “We strive for unity in the midst of diversity.” The healthy recovery of that kind of practice would revitalize any congregation!