Every five hundred years, the Church cleans out its attic and has a giant rummage sale.

Well, not exactly. But according to internationally renowned religion expert Phyllis Tickle, this is an accurate summary of the Church's massive transitions over time. According to the pattern, we are living in such a time of change right now. Tickle calls it "the Great Emergence"--a time of dizzying upheaval and hopeful promise during which various sectors of today's church swirl into a great confluence at the center.

If you long to make sense of the place in our world that the church has today--and will have in the years to come--The Great Emergence is your history lesson, your sociology experiment, and your field guide to the future. The reading and discussion guide will help you understand, internalize, and live out this extraordinary book, allowing you to bring meaningful practices into our postmodern world.

"An immensely important contribution to the current conversation about new and emerging forms of Christianity in a postmodern environment--and a delight to read!"--The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church

"Once in a great while, a book comes along and makes things make sense. After reading these pages, neither the church nor the world looks the same."--Diana Butler Bass, author, Christianity After Religion

"This is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the face and future of Christianity."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Diverse strands come together in a seamless fabric . . . a remarkable achievement."--Booklist (starred review)