Congregation: Stories and Structures

by James F. Hopewell

After serving as a missionary in West Africa early in his career, with a training in comparative religion and especially Islamic studies, James Hopewell became interested in the nature of the local Christian congregation, its dilemmas and its strengths. He read widely on the subject, but the literature did not satisfy him, so he spent a sabbatical year in two local churches, like an anthropologist in a primitive village. As time went on he arrived at the brilliant insight which forms the heart of this book: church congregations can only be understood on the basis of the storiesmembers tell of themselves and their community as they struggle for survival and meaning. Or, to put it more technically, congregational culture is a coherent system the structural logic of which is narrative. It is when one understands the story of a congregation one can see why some changes are accepted by it, some are not; why it is strong in some areas and weak in others. Only if that basis has been discovered is it possible really to work with a local church. James Hopewell's book also contains much valuable information about how to analyse congregations. James Hopewell did not live to finish his book; he died of cancer in 1984. His own story, of coping with that cancer, is bravely and movingly woven into the stories of congregations. The result is one of the seminal books of the decade. James Hopewell was Professor of Religion and the Church at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University. His book was posthumously edited by Barbara Wheeler, President of Auburn Theological Seminary, New York. With a Foreword by John Bowden.

238 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Hansen Wendlandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone who works in or cares about the business and character of a church should read this book! The first half (through chapter six) is the most enlightening thing I have read since seminary.
Hopewell begins by explaining how congregational analysis can be contextual (how a congregation fits into its environment), mechanical or programmatic (how well they carry out certain goals), organic (how well they enhance the life and spirit of the people), and symbolic (how identity and meanings are conveyed). Symbolic analysis involves attention to values, styles, ritual and most importantly, the congregation's story. So much better than the pedestrian, impractical and imprecise theological dichotomy of conservative-liberal, narrative congregational analysis uses literary criticism to guage how individuals, leaders and a congregation approach faith. That is, any narrative (congregational auto-biography, story, myth, etc.) necessarily describes its world in one of four ways: romance (self to transcendence, often in adventure or achievement), tragedy (stasis toward problematic non-resolution), comedy (through problem to solution), irony (loss of pattern, often with reliance on self or community), or some combination thereof. Similarly, people of faith also understand the world in one of four parallel categories: charismatic (reliance on transcendence), canonic (subordinate self to an authority), gnostic (reliance on development, toward unity or knowledge), empiric (faith is verifiable), or some combination thereof. [Check out the chart on pp 70-71, explaining so well how these four emphases play out in the behavior of faith.] Most believers can agree with some claim from each category, but will generally emphasize a way of believing, a way of telling the story of faith, for which Hopewell offers a simple world-view (i.e., no right-wrong answers) quiz, on p 203. Congregations also naturally cluster toward some direction (such as Empiric-Canonic, or Charismatic), which can be measured, averaged and tested for community coherence and leadership coherence. This means that if the congregation tends to be Gnostic (adult ed on spiritual disciplines, confessional prayers about ignorance, capital campaign based on how it affects the life of the giver, mission supporting learning...), but the pastor emphasizes Canonic explanations of Christianity (sermons about the primacy of Scripture, Christology of sacrificial salvation, counseling emphasis on obedience...), there is going to be a disconnect, regardless of how faithful, kind, professional or inspirational the pastor is. Or, if the congregation plans for growth, narrative analysis can help them know who will not and might be interested in their gospel interpretation. Not only is this POWERFUL stuff, but Hopewell writes it so well, academic yet from the church, story and analysis. Church leaders, this book needs to be on your shelf.

[Tom Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book!