The Church We Carry: Loss, Leadership, and the Future of Our Church

by William H. Willimon

Publisher:

Abingdon Press

, 2025

Overview

Breaking faith, finding grace: wisdom for leading divided churches in divisive times.

Trusted and respected leader Will Willimon explores how failures in leadership and theological vision contributed to our current denominational crisis. Through the lens of a South Carolina historic congregation, this book offers a critical analysis that will enlighten today’s congregational leaders on navigating the complexities of ministry in our uncertain future.

As a retired United Methodist bishop and expert in ordained leadership, Willimon reflects on a simple-to-ask-but-complicated-to-answer question: What has become of the church that shaped his faith? Focusing on Buncombe Street Methodist Church, he examines their journey through disaffiliation to shed light on leadership challenges within our denomination, including his own role.

This insightful resource provides a candid exploration of the realities of ministry today, inviting us to confront our grief and shortcomings while embracing our duty to serve Christ’s church in the present moment. Gain valuable insights from real-life experiences, learn from those labeled as “schismatic,” and discover practical strategies for effective leadership in today’s evolving church landscape.

Key Features

Detailed analysis of leadership’s successes and failures through a real-life church’s experiences

Helps congregational leaders analyze and describe the complicated reality of ministry today

Offers serious, theologically rich evaluation of leadership

Gives ways to narrate experience in ministry today

Will Willimon’s insights on the subject

Product Details

• Title: The Church We Carry: Loss, Leadership, and the Future of Our Church
• Author: William H. Willimon
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Print Publication Date: 2025
• Logos Release Date: 2025
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9781791037161, 9781791037154, 1791037151, 179103716X
• Resource ID: LLS:9781791037161
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-18T17:03:54Z

About William H. Willimon

William H. Willimon (b. 1946) is a Bishop in The United Methodist Church, currently serving in North Alabama. He was Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University from 1984 to 2004. Willimon earned degrees from Wofford College (B.A., 1968), Yale Divinity School (M.Div., 1971) and Emory University (S.T.D., 1973).

(From Theopedia.com. wiFreely redistributable under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.)