Book Review: Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Thom Rainer

In every city in America, both big and small, churches die. It seems we hear stories about churches die for several different reasons. Some of them is that the neighborhood changed around them and the church refused to adapt to it. Others include power struggles between the pastor and a group of people that have been at the church for years.

Truth be told that no one wants to see a church die. Thom Rainer, in his latest book, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, takes a look of years of research based on churches that have died and give his readers the results of what takes place when a church dies or is on the brink of death. The book is divided into two parts which begins with the autopsy of a dying church. The second part deals with twelve responses for church that have the symptoms of a dying church, churches that are sick, and churches that are dying.

The first part begins with slow erosion which basically when things start slowing going from growing to dying. Next we have the past as the hero where the church leans on the good ole days instead of looking toward the future. Then comes when the church refuses to engage with community around it and the church budget is only for what happens inside the church. More of Rainer's autopsy reveals that churches that are dying are preference-driven, do not obey the Great Commission, the pastor's tenure decreases, church rarely prays together, they have no clear purpose, and they are fight over their facilities.

The second part of the book deals with twelve responses for churches that may have each of these symptoms Rainer has addressed. These responses are divided into three parts in the categories of just recognizing your church has them, to being sick, or dying. This book is an easy read but it is also hard to read because you tend to think about churches in your city, as is my case, where you see these symptoms happening right now. You might even see these same things happening in your church. This book is a must read for church leaders and church members.

Thanks Broadman & Holman for letting me review this book.