Next Sunday: An Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church

“What will be most important for local churches going forward if they hope to thrive and not merely survive?” ask leadership coach Beach (An Hour on Sunday) and her daughter Kiley, a pastor, in this thought-provoking treatise on the future of evangelicalism. They alternate sharing their perspectives on such topics as how to generate community among parishioners, appealing to younger generations, and how to elevate more women to leadership roles. Beach urges readers to emulate Jesus’s “passionate love for those on the margins” to make the evangelical church more inclusive for people of color and LGBTQ individuals. Kiley, meanwhile, recounts debates with her husband about whether the church had done more harm than good and suggests that the church approach injustice with “humility, repentance, and a willingness to listen, be led, and take sacrificial action.” The multigenerational perspectives of Beach and Kiley complement each other and buoy their thoughtful analysis of pressing issues facing the church. Evangelical reading groups looking for a well-argued and inclusive conversation starter would do well to pick this up. Agent: Alex Field, Bindery Agency. (June)