Improvising Church - by Mark Glanville (Paperback)

About the Book

Though the post-Christian cultural turn can be disconcerting, it is also a uniquely exciting time to reimagine churches. Building on the dynamic traditions of jazz music and Christian community, biblical scholar and jazz musician Mark Glanville unfolds a biblical, practical, and inventive vision for building the churches we long for.

Book Synopsis

Word Guild Award Winner--Academic

Englewood Review of Books Best Theology Book of the Year

Plenty of books diagnose our post-Christian malaise. Here's a dynamic solution.

The post-Christian cultural turn is creating the conditions for a crisis of confidence in the church and in pastoral ministry. While such changes can be disruptive and disconcerting, our new cultural reality makes the present moment a uniquely exciting time to reimagine churches that bear witness to Christ. How do we move beyond cookie-cutter approaches (which may have worked in the past) to building the creative, compassionate, and incarnational churches we long for?

Biblical scholar and accomplished jazz pianist Mark Glanville plays with a metaphor of improvisation to chart twelve themes as the key "notes" on which Christian communities play as they bear witness to God in the world today. Building on these two dynamic traditions--jazz music and Christian community--Improvising Church unfolds a biblical, practical, and inventive vision for churches seeking to receive and extend the healing of Christ.

Review Quotes

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but the church is called to be a beautiful reflection of the incarnational God who came not to be served but to serve. Too often churches, in their desire to be faithful to a God who never changes, refuse to change any of their practices, structures, or presuppositions, even though people are leaving church disillusioned and hurt. Weaving together his expertise in Old Testament, pastoring, and jazz music, Mark Glanville provides fresh insight into God's unchanging Word to help us be faithful witnesses in God's changing world. Be inspired by the lived examples, and be challenged and equipped to bring healing, hope, and beauty in the name of Jesus."

"Mark has expertly distilled the essence of communal faith in our cultural times. Foundational and fundamental depth matches with Spirit-led movement, creating a vibrant, contextual, and boundless exploration of encounter. Release the music! A gift to the church in these times! This book releases the song of the Artist who wants us to play along."

About the Author

Dr. Mark Glanville works as the Director of the Centre for Missional Leadership at St. Andrews Hall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. He is an Old Testament scholar, and has written five books, including Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul, and Preaching in a New Key: Crafting Expository Sermons in Post-Christian Communities. Mark's vocational goal is to research, teach, write, speak, and play music to nourish Christian leaders to creatively reimagine what the church can be and do in post-Christian societies, with the Bible in our hands. Mark is also a professional jazz pianist, active on the Vancouver jazz scene. Mark's podcast is Blue Note Theology, which he hosts from the grand piano. His personal website is https: //www.markglanville.org.