Instructive little book. Rainer compiles the results of studying 14 churches that died. He conducted interviews with congregational leaders and actually went to church buildings if possible. This book is ideal for congregational leaders to read through if they are concerned if that the church they love has had its best days in the past and not the future. And, that they may be unwittingly following the well trod path of moving from a sick church to a dying church. The concepts and the characteristics Rainer offers are easy to grasp. The language is intended for anyone to read and understand. Useful book. Sad too because of its contents. I go to a very small church. At most there are 4 families there(around 25 people, including children) and many are elderly members. I feel as if our church is experiencing some of the issues discussed in Autopsy of a Deceased Church. We have actually been working through this book together but no one can agree whether the church is healthy, slight sick, very sick, or dying. I gave it four stars because it has helped me to see the reasons our church is dying and I can only hope the other members see as well. We have started discussing ways to reach out to the community but no one can agree on what to do. There is our problem. No one can agree and everyone wants to be right and have their idea used. Hopefully as we start wrapping up the book together we can start reaching out to the community to allow the church to grow instead of allowing it to die.
Helpful descriptions and categories to consider for established churches, etc.
—nardos
Great book with eye opening realities.
—chaz
Dead on analysis, no pun intended.
—jasmine
Great food for thought!
—ametimeti
Great short read.
—Kayeann
