Discover the potential for fruitful conversation in your congregation.
Available Now!!!
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Paperback on sale now!!! $12.75 + $4.25 S/H
(List Price $15.99)
Ebook on sale now!!! (PDF and EPUB) $7.99
(List Price $9.99)
BONUS!!! When you purchase this book or ebook directly from us, you will receive a free subscription to the Cultivating Communities newsletter, which provides resources and opportunities related to this book.
The Virtue of Dialogue is a moving account of how one church learned to center their life together around the practice of conversation and became a beacon of hope along the way.
Englewood Christian Church was once a thriving megachurch, but as its surrounding urban neighborhood declined, so did the church. Today, both the church and neighborhood are thriving, and ECC’s impact far outweighs the size of its congregation. The ECC story upends the common wisdom about “best practices” for churches that want to participate in cultivating God’s kingdom.
How did they do it? Through conversation.
The Virtue of Dialogue tells that story. You’ll come away with a renewed vision for how the practice of conversation—though never easy—is essential for both congregational formation and deeper rootedness in your place.
Endorsements:
“This little book could be revolutionary for your own faith community.”
– Scot McKnight, author of A Church Called Tov
“For years I’ve been deeply encouraged by the story of Englewood Christian Church and their capacity for the mess and mystery of community life in this fractious culture. As I read this book, I’m anticipating a future where hard conversations can happen in positive ways, where we’re not so worried about that old bullying culture that we avoid the important conversations. Hear their story, learn their practices and receive their hope that ‘churches can still mature into the full stature of a body that bears a striking resemblance to Jesus.’”
— Mandy Smith, Pastor and Author, www.TheWayisTheWay.org
“As a friend and writing colleague, I have been in joyful conversation with Chris Smith for more than ten years. From afar, I have admired the common life, common work, and common gospel vision Chris has engaged with other members of Englewood Christian Church in his local context. This book—and Englewood’s story—illustrates how trust can be built and rebuilt, even in our polarized moment. To imagine how we can begin faithfully and charitably talking to one another again in the Spirit of Christ, read The Virtue of Dialogue”
— Jen Pollock Michel is the author of five books, including In Good Time and Keeping Place.
“Beautifully written, stunningly simple, this book by Chris Smith gives hope for all those working in churches in the midst of long decline.”
– David Fitch, Lindner Chair Evangelical Theology,
Northern Seminary, Chicago
The Virtue of Dialogue is for:
- Christians who are fatigued by the lack of honest and respectful conversation in our society
- Church leaders looking for fresh ideas about how to structure conversation within their community
- Congregations whose current and past conversation models are no longer working
- Anyone who longs for a hopeful story of an authentic, fruitful church community
Available Now!!!
Support Independent publishing by ordering directly from us:
(NOTE: Orders are processed manually. Ebooks may take up to 24 hours to arrive in your inbox.)
Paperback $12.75 + $4.25 S/H
(List Price $15.99. Save 20%!!!)
Ebook (PDF and EPUB) $7.99
(List Price $9.99. Save 20%!!!)
BONUS!!! When you purchase this book or ebook directly from us, you will receive a free subscription to the Cultivating Communities newsletter, which provides resources and opportunities related to this book.
The print book and ebook are also now available on Amazon…
Print book:
Kindle Ebook:
The ebook is also available for Nook and other platforms here
The print book will soon be available through independent bookstores, and other online retailers.
(NOTE: Due to the high cost of international shipping, we cannot ship print books outside the US. Print book orders fulfilled by Amazon.)
 Reading for the Common Good From ERB Editor Christopher Smith "This book will inspire, motivate and challenge anyone who cares a whit about the written word, the world of ideas, the shape of our communities and the life of the church." -Karen Swallow Prior Enter your email below to sign up for our weekly newsletter & download your FREE copy of this ebook! |
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