REVIEW of Thomas C. Oden, Turning Around the Mainline: How Renewal Movements Are Changing the Church (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2006) by Pastor Sandy Williams.

The subtitle of Thomas C. Oden’s recent book may be more accurate than the title: renewal movements are definitely changing the church, even if they are not turning around the mainline. The Episcopal church is visibly disintegrating while other mainline denominations are at the very least declining in numbers and influence. There’s plenty of spirituality, to be sure, but not as much enthusiasm for classical Christianity.

Oden’s book is a report on the vitality of renewal movements within mainline denominations. He rightly perceives that it’s not the loss of numbers but the loss of orthodox faith that is most alarming in mainline churches. Liberated denominational leaders and seminaries, he says, “have virtually no immune system against heresy, no defense whatever against perfidious teaching, and no criteria for testing the legitimacy of counterfeit theological currency” (p. 26).

His hope is for patient endurance by renewal groups; he wants orthodox believers to stay in the historic denominations. “This is not a project for a year or a decade. It will take at least a generation, and probably more” (p. 28).

The old ecumenism, represented by the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches, has failed in its attempts at organic unity. That was mostly because of its divisive commitment to political activism that alienated people in the churches.

The new ecumenism represented by the Association for Church Renewal is confessional. Truth is important, and heresy a continuing reality. Oden’s summary of core teachings is unique and useful. And, Chapter 14 on “The Biblical Teaching of Confession” is worth the price of the book.

Heresy and apostasy are not new problems, nor are they reserved for the Protestant Mainline. Since the earliest days of the apostolic church there have been apostates and heretics, and the Scriptures insist there always will be.

Thomas Oden is the personal and professional embodiment of the turn around in the mainline. While he is hopeful of continuing renewal in multiple denominations, the renewal effort in my own denomination has charted a different course. Since the writing of this book, American Baptist Evangelicals has reorganized as a missional group (Cornerstone Church Network) that is less focused on renewal within American Baptist Churches and more concerned about building healthy churches that impact the culture. When all is said and done, both renewal from within and departure from declining denominations will be continuing options. Both approaches will see success while all Christian churches must face the indisputable fact that both doctrinal and ethical departures from the faith, both heresy and apostasy, will be with us until God’s kingdom comes.

Oden’s book will be most helpful for those who want to stay in the mainline churches to make a difference over the long term. This year’s developments in the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church, the American Baptist Churches, and other mainline denominations certainly temper Oden’s optimism. On the other hand, his commitment to “Truth-Driven Unity” strikes me as exactly what Jesus had in mind for his church.

Pastor Sandy Williams is the Pastor of First Baptist Church of Freeport, Vice President of the American Baptist Churches of Maine, and a member of the Christian Civic League of Maine’s Board of Directors.