Evangelical Christians are perhaps the most polarizing—and least understood—people living in America today. In his seminal new book, The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, journalist Tim Alberta, himself a practicing Christian and the son of an evangelical pastor, paints an expansive and profoundly troubling portrait of the American evangelical movement. Through the eyes of televangelists and small-town preachers, celebrity revivalists and everyday churchgoers, Alberta tells the story of a faith cheapened by ephemeral fear, a promise corrupted by partisan subterfuge, and a reputation stained by perpetual scandal.  Alberta Traces the historical arc that led from love of country to a reckless, right-wing nationalist fervor that trivializes the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

This 6-week book study will be led by Tom Copeland who, along with his wife Lori are active participants in the AUMC community.  Tom grew up in a Southern Baptist church in Texas, went to a Southern Baptist seminary, taught at Baptist universities and was involved in evangelical life for many years, but began to move away from that ideology in the last 20 years. 

His goals for the book study are:

 - understanding how evangelicals have changed in the last 50 years

- understanding how “evangelical” became a political, not denominational label

- understanding how and why evangelicals became so susceptible to 

authoritarianism 

- learning how we can respond to these movements in a Christlike and effective way.

If you’re interested please contact Tom. The first gathering will be Sunday, March 22 from 11:00-12:30.   

Books are available through Jeffco library (hard copy, audio and ebook) and can be ordered online.