A Church Beyond Belief: The Search for Belonging and the Religious Future

by William L. Sachs, Michael S. Bos

Addresses “belonging before believing” and other new patterns for remaking congregations

As we move beyond the “emergent” or “missional” church paradigm, pastors and other church leaders are discovering a new people (especially younger generations) are coming to church not as believers, but to find a place to belong―with or without faith. This book describes the dilemma and the distractions that currently prevent congregations from being the place where that sense of belonging can unfold and guide newcomers in the discovery of faith.

The authors argue that despite elaborate talk of change, spirituality, transformation, and conflict resolution, congregations are still mired in old patterns of belonging. Using broad-based career experiences, surveys of religious life, historical precedent, and insights from social psychology about what it means to belong today, the book suggests new and effective approaches to help churches make vital connections.

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2014

Reviews

[John Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not bad, but at this point its observations aren't particularly new, and it's hard to take seriously a pair of older men writing an academic text about how young people experience parish churches.

[Todd Buegler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is fine. It is a bit dated at this point. Most of the insights are things that have been circulating for awhile. I'd recommend it, but it is not a "must read."