Social
Conflicts Challenge the Resilience of America’s Historic
Denominations
Hartford
Seminary Professors David
A. Roozen and James
R. Nieman are editors of the just released Church,
Identity, and Change: Theology and Denominational Structures in
Unsettled Times. The
book is an essential resource for those interested in the struggle
of the church in 21st century America, including the
headline making conflicts of several denominations to deal with
issues related to homosexuality.
Published
by Eerdmans Publishing Company, the book describes how eight
American religious denominations are restructuring their
organizational identity and practice to embody their theological
commitments and adapt to the challenges of postmodernity.
The
denominations are: Assemblies of God, Association of Vineyard
Churches, Episcopal Church, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, National
Baptist Convention, Reformed Church in America, United Church of
Christ and United Methodist Church.
Roozen
is Professor of Religion and Society and director of the
Seminary’s Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Nieman is
Professor of Practical Theology and a member of the Institute staff.
He is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America.
In
their introduction, they say about the book, “Expressive
individualism, congregational localism, and pluralism’s potential
for fragmentation are among the pervasive and significant challenges
that the postmodern situation of American society places before
denominations. While some denominations seem up to the challenge,
others are struggling to cope – but none are left unaffected. It
is to the stories of eight of these diverse and resourceful
religious groups that we now turn.
Among
the book’s conclusions are that the challenges of postmodernism
seep down into denominational systems from the broader society and
“once inside challenges the cohesion and strength of
denominational identities; challenges the cohesion and strength of
authority and power in national denominational structures; and
challenges the cohesion and strength of the loyalty and commitment
of constituent congregations and members.”
Denominations
“that optimize the participatory and relational work of working
across diversity tend to be more adaptive at this point in time than
structures that optimize efficiency and control.
Correspondingly, schism (or other means of reducing
diversity) may be a good thing for denominational systems that place
a premium on the purposeful action of nationally directed
mission or purity of identity,” the authors conclude.
The
examination of the adaptive tactics and resources at the national
level of these eight denominations was conducted by a four-person
research team for each denomination. Each team consisted of a church
historian, a sociologist, a theologian, and a national level
executive. This study is unique in adopting an interdisciplinary,
dialogical approach to research and writing on denominations. All
the articles in this book are based on original research conducted
by these teams of scholars working in actual denominational settings
Herb
Miller, editor of The Parish
Paper, said of the book, “Unlike 98% of the new books I read
each year, this volume found a permanent residence in my library . .
. The introduction and conclusion you are excellent.
I've done workshops and consultations for the
congregations and regional structures of six of these eight
denominations for the last 30 years. Yet, the denomination-specific
histories and insights provided me with beneficial new
information.”
Church,
Identity and Change
has other unique features:
-
Previous
studies have been of single denominations, and sociologists have
long been intrigued by studies of individual sectarian
movements. By contrast, the very breadth and diversity
represented by all eight denominations (both immigrant and
indigenous groups, including Reformed, sacramental, Evangelical,
Pentecostal, and historic Black denominations) in this
up-to-date study is distinctive.
Through
these case studies, students of American religion and postmodern
organizations will deepen their understanding of the adaptive
capacities inherent in the broader social and cultural transitions
within which denominations are embedded.
In
addition, while much recent attention on denominationalism has
focused on decline, this book argues that as denominations enter the
new millennium, the issue they face is not death but instead how
they can and do bear their particular legacies faithfully and
effectively into a changing future.
For
further information, please contact David S. Barrett, Director of
Public and Institutional Affairs, at (860) 509-9519 or dbarrett@hartsem.edu.
David Roozen and James Nieman are available for interviews.
