About the Author

Diana Butler Bass holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University. She is the author of six critically acclaimed books on religion in America: Christianity for the Rest of Us (2006); From Nomads to Pilgrims (2006); The Practicing Congregation (2004); Broken We Kneel (2004); Strength for the Journey (2002); and Standing Against the Whirlwind (1995).

Christianity for the Rest of Us was cited as a top religion "book of the year" by Publishers Weekly and Christian Century. It also won the Book of the Year Award from the Academy of Parish Clergy.

For a decade, Diana taught undergraduate religious studies; from 1995-2000, she was a weekly columnist for the New York Times syndicate. As an active Episcopal lay person, she has served on adult education teams at several congregations. For almost two years, she was the Director of Faith Formation at Christ Church (Episcopal) in Alexandria, Virginia.

From 2002 to 2006, she was Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Project on Congregations of Intentional Practice (a Lilly Endowment funded project), a study of mainline Protestant vitality.

Diana currently serves on the board of directors of the Beatitudes Society, advises Emergent Village and Synagogue 3000, and contributes regularly to the God's Politics blog on Beliefnet. She also serves as Senior Fellow at the Cathedral College of the Washington National Cathedral. Diana works with religious organizations as a consultant, conference leader, teacher, and preacher. In addition, she is a frequent commentator on CNN, PBS, and NPR.

To learn more about Diana and her work, click on the article about her in Wikipedia. And don't miss Diana's website, www.dianabutlerbass.com.

About the Sponsor

This Web resource is a joint effort of the Alban Institute and the Indianapolis Center for Congregations. Funded by Lilly Endowment Inc.