Review of Generation Rising

A quick update on our book that will be coming out later this spring, Generation Rising: A Future with Hope for the United Methodist Church.

Patricia Farris in Circuit Rider Magazine has written a review of the book, which you can find here.

She begins, "The twelve Generation X theologians, pastors, academics, and writers who collaborated on this marvelous and very helpful new book have set out to shape a theological vision that is for the church and by the church. Deeply Wesleyan, they have embarked on what they call a kind of 'holy conferencing' to sketch out a future for the UMC, a future full of hope if the church will understand both its purpose as well as how to live for and into that purpose."

I think that's a great summary of what the book is - at least hopefully - intended to be about. I also think Farris hits the nail on the head when she writes, "Rather than excluding those of other generations in the church, their approach invites the whole church to understand their particular life experience in a way that will assist greatly in the work of church renewal as well as reacquaint the church with the wisdom and practical theology of Wesleyan ways."

Check out the full review for yourself. But I can't help pointing to Farris' closing comments:

"Everyone—clergy, laity, and seminarians alike—who truly cares about church renewal and the future of The UMC should read and discuss this book. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter make that process easily accessible. This is not a book about gimmicks, techniques, or quick-growth schemes. It is a book about ecclesiology, about theology, about Scripture studies, about proclamation, about spiritual formation, about sacraments, about prayer, about evangelism, about small groups, about mission. It is a book about heart and soul that reclaims the Wesleyan means of grace in ways that renew the church by going to the root of belief and practice, in the context of lived experience. It has the potential to reform worship, to empower ministry with youth and young adults, to shed light on virtual and incarnational forms of ministry. Most importantly, it is a word of hope, real and compelling, with the power to open eyes and ears, hearts and minds. If you’re going to read one book on church renewal this year, read this one."

My fellow writers and I could not have asked for such a positive review, but we certainly appreciate it! I hope other readers will get as much out of Generation Rising as she did.