Book: The State of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

In The State of the ELCA, J. Russell Crabtree examines of the perspectives, experiences, and aspirations of a large cross section of members in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In his reflection on the responses of nearly 60,000 members to a variety of questions, he addresses a number of topics including:
• How does the experience of Lutherans compare with other mainline denominations? 
• Which groups feel most positive and which groups feel less positive about their experience in the Lutheran church? 
• What are some of the factors that make the difference between Lutheran churches that are experiencing vitality and those that are struggling? 
• How are Lutherans experiencing life in their congregations over their lifecycle ranging from the teenage years through child bearing, child rearing, empty nest, and retirement?
• As they think about the future, what are the aspirations of Lutherans for their churches and how do these vary from Boomlets up through Boomers and the GI Generation? 
• What are the motivating factors for giving among Lutherans and how do these differ from one congregation to another? 
Get ready for a few surprises as you read the answers to these questions, but also discover Lutheran perspectives on Scripture, spiritual practices, pastoral transitions, and Synods. 

The State of the ELCA ends on a positive note by summarizing interviews with the pastors of four transformational Lutheran churches, one large, one small, one more conservative, and one more progressive. 

What others think
Once again, Russell Crabtree has challenged us with a call to base our planning and practice on evidence rather than pre-conceptions or anecdotal biases. This book is a must-read for congregational leaders, synod staffs, and synod councils. For those who have ears to hear it will guide us into more effective and faithful leadership." BISHOP WAYNE N. MILLER, METROPOLITAN CHICAGO SYNOD