Description: Drawing on theories of secularisation, Martyn Percy charts the shifts in power from institutional religion to individualistic spirituality. He asks whether the age of institutional Christianity is effectively over, and is being replaced by networks of socio-spiritual-political values focused around issues of common concern.
Brief description: Martyn Percy is a writer, theologian and academic. He has held numerous roles in public life and writes for Prospect magazine, the Times and the Guardian. He lives in Aberdeen and is licensed to the Scottish Episcopal Church. He serves as the Canon Theologian to the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, teaches at the University of Bern and University of Saint Joseph (Macao) and serves as Honorary Provost-Theologian for the Hong Kong Anglican Province.
Review Quotes: "The Church is haemorrhaging both people and credibility. Part of the reason for this stems from broader social and cultural changes, but as much appears to be the product of self-harm. Scandal follows scandal and mistrust becomes distrust. Church "messaging" increasingly has the feel (and all the depth) of a PR reputation management programme, but to little avail. In The Exiled Church, Martyn Percy has written a tremendous book to goad and guide the honest and soul-searching conversations that will be essential if the church is not to bleed out the trust which is its very lifeblood."--Andrew McKinnon