In Leading from the Center, sociologist William Weston provides an enlightening look at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the tensions that exist between key groups in the denomination. Weston defines the key groups as conservatives, liberals, and loyalists and structures his view of the denomination around the third group. Defining "loyalists" as the largest and those who have no wish to see the denomination split apart, Weston argues that while conservatives may consider splitting the church over doctrinal issues and liberals may consider splitting the church over social issues, the loyalists want to work for peace and unity in an effort to hold the church together. His in-depth analysis examines the "left" and "right" sides of the church and their competition to win the loyalist center to their respective sides. In addition, Weston reviews historical events to show how conservatives and liberals alienate loyalists when they become too radical; summarizes the current debate on homosexuality and ordination and how each group approaches the issue; examines each group and why they remain a part of the church; and provides statistical evidence to support his claims. Meticulously researched but engaging and insightful, Leading from the Center is a concise sketch of the denomination that is often surprising and always revealing.
