{"product_id":"dear-church-a-love-letter-from-a-black-preacher-to-the-whitest-denomination-in-the-us","title":"Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the US","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"An inherently fascinating, inspired and inspiring read from beginning to end unreservedly recommend and worthwhile reading.\"--Midwest Book Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLenny Duncan is the unlikeliest of pastors. Formerly incarcerated, he is now a black preacher in the whitest denomination in the United States: the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Shifting demographics and shrinking congregations make all the headlines, but Duncan sees something else at work -- drawing a direct line between the church's lack of diversity and the church's lack of vitality. The problems the ELCA faces are theological, not sociological. But so are the answers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePart manifesto, part confession, and all love letter, \u003ci\u003eDear Church\u003c\/i\u003e offers a bold new vision for the future of Duncan's denomination and the broader mainline Christian community of faith. \u003ci\u003eDear Church\u003c\/i\u003e rejects the narrative of church decline and calls everyone -- leaders and laity alike -- to the front lines of the church's renewal through racial equality and justice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is time for the church to rise up, dust itself off, and take on forces of this world that act against God: whiteness, misogyny, nationalism, homophobia, and economic injustice. Duncan gives a blueprint for the way forward and urges us to follow in the revolutionary path of Jesus.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eDear Church\u003c\/i\u003e also features a discussion guide at the back -- perfect for church groups, book clubs, and other group discussion.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fortress Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48123656863933,"sku":"BS-TC0-452562","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0771\/9767\/2637\/files\/9781506452562-HD.jpg?v=1787084519","url":"https:\/\/boundigo.com\/products\/dear-church-a-love-letter-from-a-black-preacher-to-the-whitest-denomination-in-the-us","provider":"Boundigo Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}