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“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. Continue reading →