A Review by Gerald Richardson

Tom Frank is associate professor of Church Administration and Congregational Life at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. His experience as a local church pastor and university professor gives him strong credentials for writing reflectively on the modern-day congregation.

Frank calls upon pastors and laity in local churches to consider the culture of a congregation as a way to determine how it might best fulfill its role as the church of Jesus Christ in a particular time and place.

He raises some interesting and, in some ways, troubling questions. Can we talk about a fulfilled life in the church without talking about such things as progress, growth, raising income, social status, and consumption? When we talk about meeting people's needs, do we really know what that means? As Frank says, "I don't really understand what my 'needs' are anyway &38212; that's part of why I continue to listen to Jesus" (p. 35).

This is a book that has the potential to challenge our contemporary thinking about the church, yet encourage us to be hopeful for the future. It will be a valued addition to the library shelf of both clergy and laity.

Available from Cokesbury: 800/672-1789, www.cokesbury.com.

The Rev. C. Gerald Richardson is superintendent of the Baton Rouge District of The United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, LA.