"Church, Identity, and Change offers an unprecedented, in-depth, inside look at the church today through the lens of eight diverse Protestant denominations. These denominations represent a wide scope of American churches - liberal and conservative, old and new, declining and growing, liturgical and nonliturgical. The case studies particularly bring to life each church's distinctive challenges, including financial scandal, the death of a founder, and more." "The book as a whole submits a timely assessment of the relationship between Christian faith and denominational structures. At a time when many analysts are heralding a major paradigm shift from modern to postmodern forms of organization, Church, Identity, and Change tracks how these several denominations are restructuring their organizational identities and practices to embody their theological commitments in a postmodern world. This book is an essential resource for those concerned about the fate of the church in the twenty-first century."--Jacket.