Mainline to the Future: Congregations for the 21st Century

Mainline to the Future is a clearly written description of the patterns of the newly flourshing, post-traditional churches in America and an articulate suggestion of ways that maintain congregations can learn from and even adapt some of their practices. In our "unsettled time," Carroll finds prescription for change in the reforming tradition of the Protestant church itself. Far from shying away from "messing with" tradition he locates support for such action in the score of the gospel message and embodied in the life of Jesus Christ. Centering us on this core truth or value that is the source of faith (and not on change and tradition as inherently good or bad in themselves), Carroll steers readers to think about the "traditional Protestant"-"post-traditional congregation" conversation in terms of cultural accommodation and cultural resistance. This conversation may evoke possibilities for positive change in mainline congregations consistent with the spirit of tradition and the winds of change.