Brief Review of "Autopsy of a Deceased Church"

Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Thom Rainer

       In Autopsy of a Deceased Church, Thom Rainer expands upon the most looked at blogpost from his website on why churches are dying and I am glad that he has.  In the same mold as I am a Church Member the book  is short, to the point,  easy to read, and has challenges at the end of each chapter.  

       Rainer interviewed 14 different churches from different areas and contexts around North America and then summarizes his findings.  The point of the book is clear "...observing an autopsy is only beneficial if it is received as a warning to the living. This book is not about dwelling in the past, but bearing fruit in the future" (page 8).   Rainer's desire is to help prevent churches from dying and he goes through issues of finances, prayer, community presence, pastoral tenures, evangelism, preferences, the past,  and the building.  Each of these can be very sensitive issues, cause church splits, and closures, but they must be discussed.  

       Church revitalization was not the popular choice of fellow seminary class mates and was is discussed much in class (unlike Church Planting, which was all the rage).  I am glad that this trend is changing.  With NAMB offering Revitalizing Conferences with Johnny Hunt and more people getting in the discussion and strategy of Church Revitalization I am hopeful for the future of churches in decline.  Rainer's work is a much need punch in the gut, slap in the face, or shoulder grab and shake to wake churches up to the reality of our present day.  Where my family and I lived in Louisville, KY there was a baptist church with building that could hold 300-500 people right around the corner from our house.  Unfortunately, the membership declined down to 30 and the church sold it's building to a Islamic group who turned the baptist building into an Islamic Center/School.  This is real, and Rainer's work is very honest, helpful, and a step in the right direction. Don't miss this, and if you haven't read "I am a Church Member" make sure to pick that up too.