Acres of Oak: A Pastor Rethinks Church in the 21st Century

Acres of Oak: A Pastor Rethinks Church in the 21st Century

In recent years, more and more Americans have chosen not to affiliate with established churches and religious communities. As a result, many of these congregations now find themselves struggling to regain relevance and fill their pews. Of the various reasons that account for the “acres of oak,” or rows of empty seats, the author addresses two in particular: first, the inadequacy of established churches’ traditional language to connect with the way many people experience and make sense of their world today; and second, those churches’ inability to articulate a clear and compelling mission or purpose. Acres of Oak: A Pastor Rethinks Church in the 21st Century , is a frank and personal account of one Protestant pastor’s decades-long dedication to an organized faith that must now strike a delicate balance: remaining steadfast even in shifting cultural landscapes while simultaneously identifying what is required for faith communities to once again appeal to the wider world. At its heart, this memoir considers what it will take to address contemporary concerns about organized religion, ways to rebuild that relationship once again, and why it matters—why it greatly matters. Though born in South Dakota, Dr. Richard (Rich) Kurrasch's time spent in Los Angeles during the '50s and '60s were among the most formative of his life. In 1971, he and wife Ann Marie relocated to the Nebraska Panhandle to begin serving their first church. Over the next fifty years, their journey included pastorates in California and the Upper Midwest, with an unexpected detour to Maui.Kurrasch holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Riverside, a Master of Divinity from Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, Indiana, and a Doctor of Ministry from the School of Theology at Claremont, California.He has always placed great importance on the role of the church in building cross-cultural relationships and so especially enjoyed a four-year term as Moderator of the International Congregational Fellowship that ended with a quadrennial meeting in Seoul, South Korea. Since retiring and moving to the Central Coast of California, Kurrasch has been a member of the Board of Directors of People of Faith for Justice, an interfaith voice for social and environmental justice and an advocate for Ecological Civilization in the San Luis Obispo area.Rich and Ann Marie are outdoor enthusiasts and have traveled and camped throughout much of the United States. The time on Maui revived his interest in surfing although in recent years, the cold Pacific has given way to kayaking on the quieter waters of a nearby lake. They both continue to enjoy creative outlets: Ann Marie in music, and Rich in writing. His website iswww.RichardRKurrasch.com. They have two children and two grandchildren.