Challenging the Church Monster

By Douglas J. Bixby and Doug Bixby

Book Overview

The church monster--according to Bixby--is the personification of ""a wide variety of problems which have arisen in local churches as a result of the heightened levels of conflict and anxiety with which they are dealing."" His goal is to help pastors--as well as laity--to challenge the church monster by dealing with conflict and working through issues that are causing stagnation, early dismissal of pastors, and other discord that detracts from the mission and vision of the church. Bixby invites churches as well as shows them how to be open to the genuine and exciting possibilities that emerge from two core principles: downsizing and centralizing church government and developing a radical commitment to congregational decision making. This means fewer meetings, more ministry and less conflict, more community. He also offers fresh new ways for churches to function so that mission and ministry can once again become priorities, and people can begin to feel their time and energy are being used for something other than adding fuel to the fire of conflict within the congregation.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1556356285
• ISBN13: 9781556356285
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers
• Length: 126 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Read & Resource for anyone in Church Leadership

The book is concise with many practical thoughts and suggestions for empowering ministry and overcoming poor structures and ways of functioning that too many people have become comfortable with as "just the way it has to be". The author comes from a small church environment, however, the materials and insights are relevant for larger churches. This book does not provide any quick fixes, nor does it seek to offer itself up as the "New Way". It will help leaders understand and better diagnose existing ways of functioning/dysfunction and expand options & ideals for how the church could operate.

The Monster

Last June, while shopping for things in a religious book store, a book caught my eye. I don't know if it was the two eyes peeking over the stained glass windows, or the brilliant title "Challenging the Church Monster" with the word monster in green letters, but the book just seemed to call to me. I took it from the shelf and leafed to the Table of Contents where I was then led to the Foreword where is says: This book is especially for you if you ever have left a church meeting wondering if anything was accomplished; had two weeks to go before the Sunday -school year began and needed six more teachers; wondered why a certain, apathetic church member agreed to serve on the church council ;assumed that it is the pastors job to make sure that everything in the church gets done; awakened in the middle of the night worrying about your committee being prepared for its next big project ; spent two months getting a new-church initiative ready only to have it voted down; thought that you church was putting the cart before the horse; or tried to inspire others at church but ended up just as discouraged as they were. This book is especially for you if any of the above scenarios describe something that has happened to you.I was sold, hook, line and sinker. I purchased the book, rushed home, and could not put it down. The more I read the more it made sense to me that this book, this "Church Monster" is not only speaking about the author's church, but also many other churches that are still living under the same stagnant structures of the mid 1900's. The ideas found in this book are a wonderful fresh look at the church of today and how we can find ways to grow in the ministry of all people together while spending less time in the meeting rut of the past.

Overorganized Religion

Brian McLaren, a prolific author and a senior fellow in Emergent, wrote an endorsement for Challenging the Church Monster: From Conflict to Community. McLaren wrote, "If Douglas Bixby is right, when people complain about `organized religion,' they're really complaining about `overorganized' or `poorly organized' religion. If that diagnosis rings true, savor the wise and practical insights offered in this helpful, needed, concise, and well-written book."