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What if a man enjoys what the church offers but finds it somewhere else? What if men’s quests for identity, discipline, community and spirituality are apart from Sunday? This was true for the author - and he’s the pastor! One alternative congregation, a YMCA, is examined to understand purposeful belonging and what applies to churches. Findings incorporate Biblical, historical, theological, feminist, masculine and contemporary perspectives. The Y is a rich site for pastoral theological explorations of men's longings and practices of spirituality, fellowship, family, and faith. Conclusions present entrées for churches seeking relevancy to men regardless of their alternative communities.
"Of course, there are many temples; places of worship and growth. In Koch’s engaging book he explores a temple that is itself devoted to the care of another temple: one’s physical body. Herein a YMCA is lovingly studied to see what lessons can be learned from it about men, worship, and God. Koch shares poignant personal dialogs that he engaged in with men for whom the Y is a kind of alternative church. He opens the gym door to 're-imagine' a real church with coaches, trainers and mentors. Weightlifting is emblematic of men’s lives: carrying a weight in silence. And what is a bench press, but getting a weight off one’s chest? In Koch’s warm and insightful analysis this institution; 'The Y' is shown to provide a structure capable of building up men’s muscles and their identities, curiously akin to that other Y, the male chromosome."
-Daniel Hahs, Aerospace Engineer, Huntsville, Alabama
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