Congregations in Conflict: Cultural Models of Local Religious Life

Becker's book is extremely helpful in understanding how congregations work and how different congregation models handle conflict. The first two chapters explain how the author went about conducting her study and her origional theory which changed with the results of her research. The next five chapters were the best as she described the different congregational models she discovered in her study. Each type of congregation views conflict differently and has different ways of addressing conflict. Her writing style is very easy to read and understand. The last two chapters are less useful to the lay leader in the church as Becker addresses her colleagues; defending her study and results. I recomend this book for pastors and lay leaders for understanding their congregations better.