Wirksame Kirche

How is the Protestant church integrated into society? Which of its activities lead to what kind of results? How far-reaching is its significance? What is the role of congregations, church districts and regional churches? To what extent is it succeeding in motivating people to pass on their faith and recruit new volunteers? These are only a few of the questions that are addressed in this book by the director of the Social Sciences Institute of the EKD, a review on 15 years of intensive church political research.
In the light of sometimes high-flying visions of "church networks of diversity" on the one hand, and a fatalistic surrender to secularization on the other hand, Wegner considers the empirical evidence of religious ecclesial practice. It has retreated into specific areas. Therefore, the church is in a crisis of reproduction. But this is not its fate. It may well increase its attractiveness again. Wegner's studies draw the picture of a powerful religious-social organization within civil society that exists as one amongst others. Church is the more convincing, the more it actively affirms this role and lives it effectively.