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OverviewDeeply ingrained in Western culture, and in the minds of most church leaders, is the belief that there is a solution to every problem. Peter bush offers a powerful challenge to this approach, arguing that for new life, energy, and passion to arise in congregations, they must die--die to one way of being the church in order that a new way may rise. Bush identifies two types of dying congregations. Some congregations need to close their doors, bringing to an end years of ministry. Other congregations need to dramatically change their culture and ways of doing ministry. Such change may not entail literally closing the congregation's doors, but it will require people giving up deeply held understandings of the life and purpose of the congregation. All congregations, Bush contends, even ones that see themselves as healthy, need to be prepared to die, to take up their cross, so God can make them alive. A skillful storyteller, Bush shows readers why churches must confront their mortality. He examines the role of the prophetic leader, who proclaims both the congregation's death and its resurrection. He explores spiritual practices and the habits of wonder, remember, and risk taking for congregations that know they are dying--or need to die. Only by dying, Bush says, will a congregation find resurrection life, given by God who raises the dead to life Full Product DetailsAuthor: Peter BushPublisher: Alban Institute, Inc Imprint: Alban Institute, Inc Dimensions: Width: 14.00cm , Height: 0.90cm , Length: 21.50cm Weight: 0.195kg ISBN: 9781566993579ISBN 10: 1566993571 Pages: 138 Publication Date: 03 December 2007 Audience: General/trade , General Format: Paperback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: In Print This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us. Table of ContentsReviews"""A well-known version of the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi contains the line, 'And in dying we are born to eternal life.' The church must understand that its death is possible--is, in fact, inevitable. Only then can the church experience the amazing power of the resurrection.""" A well-known version of the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi contains the line, 'And in dying we are born to eternal life.' The church must understand that its death is possible--is, in fact, inevitable. Only then can the church experience the amazing power of the resurrection. Author InformationPeter Bush is Teaching Elder at Westwood Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and formerly served at Knox Presbyterian Church in Mitchell, Ontario. He co-directed three Worship Renewal Grant Projects that focused on training lay people to preach and to plan and lead worship services. he is the author, with Christine O'Reilly, of Where 20 or 30 Are Gathered: Leading Worship in the Small Church. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |