The local church in the United States is at a crossroads. Declining attendance, aging congregations, and costly buildings are compounded by deep divisions over issues like sexuality, gender, race, and immigration. Generational gaps have widened, and many congregations lack diversity, becoming politically homogenous and fragmented. Amid these tensions, the sense that something is profoundly wrong is palpable.
Mending the Fracturing Church offers a way forward, inviting churches to confront and navigate the issues that divide them. By addressing relational challenges such as biases, communication styles, and conflict dynamics, this book provides tools to understand and respond to the cultural and theological polarization affecting so many congregations. Each chapter combines theological reflection, insights from social and cognitive psychology, and stories from real congregations. Group exercises and step-by-step guides help leaders put these insights into practice, transforming theory into action.
With a focus on connection, trust, and belonging, this book provides the tools to help churches build stronger relationships, engage their communities more effectively, and embrace a renewed vision for thriving together.
eBook - ePub
Mending the Fracturing Church
How to Navigate Conflict and Build Trust for Thriving Communities
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
Mending the Fracturing Church
How to Navigate Conflict and Build Trust for Thriving Communities
About this book
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Information
Topic
Theology & ReligionSubtopic
Christian ChurchTable of contents
- Cover
- Half-Title
- Dedication
- Title
- Contents
- Introduction: Is the Church Irrevocably Fracturing?
- 1 Discovering Relationships Hidden under Bylaws and Constitutions
- 2 Into the Unknown
- 3 Excavating the Minefield We Didn’t Know Was There
- 4 Ain’t No People Like Church People
- 5 Research to Disprove Confirmation Bias Confirmed I Was Right All Along
- 6 Change Is Like Death, But It Doesn’t Have to Be
- 7 I’ll Commit to the Trust Fall Right after You
- 8 For Survival, Pack Water, Food, Shelter, and a Healthy Dose of Belonging
- 9 Maybe the Greatest Thing to Fear Is How We View Others
- 10 Why Are You the Way That You Are?
- 11 The Greatest Single Cause of Atheism in the World Today Is Political Idolatry
- 12 Project Strength to Avoid Conflict—Peace through Superior Firepower
- 13 Ground Control to Major Tom . . . Can You Hear Me, Major Tom?
- 14 How to Be Here, Here
- 15 Okay, Boomer! And Other Generational Tropes
- 16 Congregations That Play Together Stay Together
- Conclusion: The Thriving Church
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
- About the Author
- Copyright
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Yes, you can access Mending the Fracturing Church by Andy Hale in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Theology & Religion & Christian Church. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.