Is the Day of Denomination Dead?

By: Elmer Towns

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Is the “Denominational Era” in American Protestantism coming to an abrupt end? Have the mainline denominations with their schools, seminaries, publishing operations, mission boards, and “programs” been displaced in favor of super-aggressive independent churches, dynamic pastors, and maximum use of lay leadership abilities? Elmer L. Towns, deep in the new movement, makes an extremely strong case of the idea that the heyday of the denomination is dead simply because the big independent church not only can do all the denomination does, it does it better. Dr. Towns writes with relish of the success of the independent churches, but one suspects his motive is not simply that of attacking the denominations; the book calls the denominations to account in much the same way that the Old Testament prophets pointed out the failings of the society of the day. For influential laymen, church leaders, and clergy-both inside and outside denominations. This incisive book shows clearly the impact of independent churches on denominational emphasis and gives an indication of the far-reaching effects this will have on the future of American Protestantism.