Steeplejacking

An insider account by two ministers on the front lines of the United Church of Christ's longtime "shadow war" against the religious right, Steeplejacking reveals how right-wing groups infiltrate mainstream congregations in order to win "hearts and minds," often by willful distortion of biblical teachings and the use of social wedge issues like homosexuality to stir up "moral" dissent.

The book documents both the overt and covert signs that a church is under attack and discusses how the minister and other church leaders can act as either facilitators or protectors in the face of an attack. Churches that have been "steeplejacked" are examined to show how some are able to successfully fight back while others succumb, as the book also reveals the steps that churches can take to insulate themselves from future attacks.

An unprecedented look at the war currently waging inside religion, Steeplejacking shows how mainstream faith is under attack by the Christian Right and what it can do to fight back.

An ordained minister for thirty-three years, Sheldon Culver serves on the conference staff of the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ.

Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer is a member of the conference staff for the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ and a weekly contributor to talk2action.org.