Baptists and the Emerging Church Movement

"David Rathel has put together an important work explaining why the gospel is central to understanding how to minister in and through the church in today's postmodern climate. His work is well researched, his conclusions sound, his advice helpful, and his writing style is both accessible and enjoyable. This is a good place to jump into the larger discussion of how and why ministry method has its roots in the timeless doctrines of the faith."

--Mark Liederbach, co-author with Alvin L. Reid of The Convergent Church



"David Rathel's work on four themes in emerging church ecclesiology is a valuable contribution to contemporary ecclesiological discussion. He helpfully recognizes the breadth and diversity of the writers who wrote under that banner and evaluates their contributions, both positive and negative, on the important topics of community, worship and preaching, missional ministry, and church leadership in an irenic and insightful manner. His critique will resonate most completely among those who share his Baptistic ecclesiology, but all will find him a faithful guide into the discussions on these topics that are continuing, even if no longer exclusively among those identified as emerging."

--John S. Hammett, author of Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches