{"product_id":"dear-church-a-love-letter-from-a-black-preacher-to-the-whitest-denomination-in-the-us-9781506452562","title":"Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the Us","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn 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\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=AUTH-12442913\"\u003eLenny Duncan\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Fortress Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/02\/2019\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 168\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.50lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.56d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781506452562\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1506452566\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC Categories:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-REL\"\u003eReligion\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-REL012110\"\u003eChristian Living | Social Issues\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-SOC\"\u003eSocial Science\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-SOC031000\"\u003eDiscrimination\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-REL\"\u003eReligion\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-REL105000\"\u003eSexuality \u0026amp; Gender Studies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Fortress Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42699639062765,"sku":"9781506452562","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/8097\/6621\/products\/img_f5c636ca-34e8-49cb-b5b2-289cf7c38da3.jpg?v=1649920956","url":"https:\/\/sureshotbooks.com\/products\/dear-church-a-love-letter-from-a-black-preacher-to-the-whitest-denomination-in-the-us-9781506452562","provider":"SureShot Books Publishing LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}