Description:
Through the story of one urban church, The Virtue of Dialogue casts a renewed vision for how the practice of conversation-though never easy-is essential for both congregational formation and deeper rootedness in your place.
Brief description: C. Christopher Smith is a member of the Englewood Christian Church community and editor of The Englewood Review of Books. He and his wife Jeni have three adult children and live in a house across the parking lot from the Englewood church building, which they have shared with a number of church members over the years. In addition to editing The Englewood Review of Books, Chris is the author of numerous books, including the award-winning Slow Church (2014, co-authored with John Pattison) and his most recent, How the Body of Christ Talks: Recovering the Practice of Conversation in the Church (2019). All of his work-reading, writing, speaking-focuses on helping congregations cultivate a deeper life together by reading, thinking, imagining, and most importantly, by talking together. He regularly teaches these interwoven practices in congregational, academic, denominational, and ecumenical settings.
Review Quotes:
"For years I've been deeply encouraged by the story of Englewood Christian Church and their capacity for the mess and mystery of community life in this fractious culture. Hear their story, learn their practices and receive their hope that 'churches can still mature into the full stature of a body that bears a striking resemblance to Jesus.'"
Mandy Smith, Pastor & Author
"This little book could be revolutionary for your own faith community." -Scot McKnight, author of A Church Called Tov
"Beautifully written, stunningly simple, this piece by Chris Smith gives hope for all those working in churches in the midst of long decline." -David Fitch, B.R. Lindner Professor of Evangelical Theology at Northern Seminary
"The Virtue of Dialogue is filled with hope and possibility, even for today's hemorrhaging and puzzled Church. Chris reminds us that in our world of culture wars and stale debates, civil dialogue is an endangered art. Here is a wonderful and simple call to real community and to honest dialogue." Shane Claiborne, author of Jesus for President and The Irresistible Revolution