While many American Protestants have explored a wide variety of spiritual practices and approaches, the local congregation still remains the place where most Christians turn for religious education, nurture, and ritual. They go seeking a sense of community and kindred faith. Yet many congregations struggle to respond to the spiritual needs of the new faces in their pews. In Excellent Protestant Congregations, Paul Wilkes profiles eight dynamic, geographically and denominationally diverse congregations, each distinctive in its ability to create a vibrant community of worship. In each profile Wilkes draws out the “points of excellence” that underlie the congregation’s success and vitality. These ideas and strategies are completely accessible: any church can begin using them immediately. Westminster John Knox Press.
