Congregation: The Journey Back to Church

I have the particular distinction of actually being part of this Congregation. I was here when Gary was with us, and knew him (still do) as a friend. I LOVED this book, and am re-reading it again as I type this. He not only portrayed the life of our congregation very truly, he wove in his own story, something I'm sure he didn't anticipate happening. It's fun to read again, as I remember things that happened back when he was here, and I wish he could write a follow-up. :-) Thank you for a wonderful Book, Gary!!

Stepping inside the cultural icon of an establishment congregation, Dorsey offers a clear-eyed, unsentimental story of clergy who practice faith as a profession and members whose lives are changed by their evolving faith. What begins as a documentary becomes a story that wraps the author into its own telling. If you've ever been a religious skeptic, Dorsey's careful journalistic discipline will comfort your appreciation of an objective accounting of the people in the congregation, their possible motives, their habits, decisions, attitudes, and the consequences of their thoughts. Likewise, if you have ever become aware of your own faith journey, Dorsey's keen-edged portrait of his own emerging search will drive the story in your direction. Skeptic or believer, the level of writing matches the complexity of story and the observer's growing relationship with the subjects. I kept holding my breat, waiting for Dorsey to take easy shots at the vulnerable or to become squishy about acting on one's faith. That never happened. But what is a breath of fresh air is Dorsey's willingness to drop an easy skepticism and do the hard work of real reporting. If you've ever been a member of a congregation of any denomination or faith, this book will ring true to you. Don't be surprised if you pass it on to friends!