Reclaiming the '' L'' Word: Renewing the Church from Its Lutheran Core

This book was written for those without theological education. It is easy to read yet substantial. It's an excellent book for readers who are curious about what Lutheranism stands for, as well as for those who have forgotten what the "non-negotiables" of Lutheran Protestantism are.

Pastor Fryer speaks to you in plain language with a wonderful sense of humor. I think every confirmation class should read it. Our adult Sunday class did, and it was a refreshing change of pace from bible passage discussions. The basic principles she suggests are a solid foundation for any congregation and ones we used during a troubled time in ours. This is a great summary/refresher of what it means to be Lutheran. If you are looking for dry, over-educated theology, this is not the book for you. This is a book for everyday Lutherans, young & old, who are looking for some basic insight on their chosen religion or non-Lutherans who want to know a little more about how we think.

This is an outstanding work, combining solid theological insight and practical application to the everyday life of a parish, with simple, readable language. Fryer writes well about something she knows a lot about. The result is excellent. If I had the resources I would buy a copy for every member of the Lutheran Church of Australia!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a Lutheran. It is also a great gift idea. It is very easy to read- in fact I read it in 2 days! In the age of non-denomination mega-churchs it is easy to question and even defend traditional lutheran congregations. After reading this book I felt proud and re-connected to why I am a Lutheran! At the end of each chapter there are questions and thinking points to help you reflect and generate discussion which is ideal for church book clubs!

I read Pastor Fryer's book about a year ago and am re-reading it now as part of a congregational look at our Lutheran roots. This book has been widely circulated in the Eastern Synod of Canada since our bishop sent a copy to all active pastors in late 2003. I recommend this book because it is not so deep that it is intimidating and because it has enough content to stick with you. I am not a theologian, just a pew warmer. I didn't find that the book spoke down to me. I felt it met me where I was. (One of the themes of Chapter 2). I like her style of writing as it is approachable. She provides good stories to highlight her points. I like the conversational style. I am also had the privilge of hearing Pastor Fryer speak last summer. She is an excellent storyteller. I also like that "Reclaiming" is a short book and that it is written in a style that encourages sampling. You can read the whole book in a few hours or just read a chapter in a few minutes. I know that many members of my congregation have browsed the church's copies. It is accessible. And I value that as a way to get people into the discussion far more than I would value a detailed commentary on current theological thought.