The Deconstructed Church

<p><strong>Winner of the Distinguished Book Award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion</strong></p><p>The Emerging Church Movement (ECM) is a creative entrepreneurial religious movement that strives to achieve social legitimacy and spiritual vitality by actively disassociating from its roots in conservative evangelical Christianity and "deconstructing" contemporary expressions of Christianity. Emerging Christians see themselves as overturning outdated interpretations of the Bible transforming hierarchical religious institutions and re-orienting Christianity to step outside the walls of church buildings toward working among and serving others in the "real world."</p><p>Drawing on ethnographic observation of emerging congregations pub churches neo-monastic communities conferences online networks in-depth interviews and congregational surveys in the US UK and Ireland Gerardo Marti and Gladys Ganiel provide a comprehensive social-scientific analysis of the development and significance of the ECM. Emerging Christians they find are shaping a distinct religious orientation that encourages individualism deep relationships with others new ideas about the nature of truth doubt and God and innovations in preaching worship Eucharist and leadership.</p>