Congregation: Stories and Structures

by James F. Hopewell (Editor)

Is the congregation a kind of machine? This metaphor is implicit in those studies that assume congregations operate by rational cause-effect principles, have certain outcomes given certain inputs, and can be made more "productive" if these principles are understood and the inputs controlled. Hopewell proposes that we study congregations under an entirely different metaphor. He says we should think of a congregation as a conversation, a discourse, an exchange of symbols through which meaning is both expressed and created. Hopewell means by this something more intricate than simply that people talk to each other in church and the subject matter of this talk ought to be analyzed. That's part of it, but he suggests that all the interactions that go on in congregations (including the rituals and gestures of both daily and formalized life together as well as the architecture and artifacts of the physical space in which they take place) "say" something, "mean" something, are symbolic expressions. Furthermore, each such expression is responsive to and dependent upon other expressions, to the point that no symbolic expression stands alone. In other words, the symbolic discourse is patterned-and in different ways in different congregations. These patterns are basic to the identities of particular congregations. Hopewell's hunch is that if you can discern the patterns in and through the constant flow of symbolic discourse, you can hear who a congregation is and understand what it is all about. from a review in Perkins Journal by Craig Dykstra

219 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!