The church is changing - fast! Actually, our world is changing fast!
Bob Smietana’s new book, Reorganized Religion, is an in-depth and critical look at why people are leaving American churches and what we lose as a society as it continues.
But it also accepts the dismantling of what has come before and tries to help readers reinvent the path forward.
This book looks at the future of organized religion in America and outlines the options facing churches and other faith groups.
Will we retreat? Will we become irrelevant?
Or will we find a new path forward?
This interview was hosted by Carson Weitnauer, Executive Director of Uncommon Pursuit.
Here are some of the questions we discuss:
Bob, what guides you as you tell people’s stories?
What will make it hard for church leaders to switch from seeing themselves as “the start of the show” to being “one tree in the forest”?
What will make it hard for church members to switch from seeing themselves as “the start of the show” to being “one tree in the forest”?
Tell us what you see as the mega-trends in American culture that are most relevant to the future of the church.
What stories of hope have you found for small congregations?
Are you seeing any larger churches that are making changes to become more resilient?
How are churches navigating the polarization in America around race and politics?