Product Overview
Dysvangelical names a theology that is distorted, dysfunctional, and dystopian, twisting the good news of God’s grace into a message of fear, partisanship, and exclusion.
In Being Presbyterian in a Dysvangelical America, Ted V. Foote Jr. and P. Alex Thornburg speak directly to Presbyterians who are disillusioned and confused by how Christianity is being misused in American culture. So often, our beliefs as faithful Christians do not line up with the shouted chants and disturbing actions taken by those claiming to represent a true vision of Christianity. Twenty-five years after their best-selling book Being Presbyterian in the Bible Belt, the authors return with fresh urgency to affirm the heart of Reformed theology and what it means to be truly evangelical in a time of theological and cultural distortion. With clarity, compassion, and a touch of humor, Being Presbyterian in a Dysvangelical America equips readers to name what feels wrong, rediscover what is right, and live into a gospel that is still good news for all.
It is impossible to ignore the many loud voices who claim to speak for God with the absolute certainty and divisive rhetoric that has become the playbook for Christian nationalism. To help readers counter this overwhelming narrative, Foote and Thornburg provide an accessible, faithful alternative rooted in the core Presbyterian convictions of grace, community, humility, and ongoing reform. This is the message to speak loudly in our time: not one of fear and exclusion, but a living, evolving faith that proclaims the wide welcome of God’s grace.
Ideal for individual or group study, the book includes an eight-session study guide that provides focus Scriptures, questions for discussion, and prayers. To enhance group study, chapter introduction videos from the authors are available on the WJK YouTube channel. Preview the video for chapter 1 below.
Reviews
“This book is a timely and accessible guide and conversation partner for those who want to articulate their faith as Presbyterians in a positive manner—not as who they are not but what they believe about God and the good news of Jesus Christ and how that translates into faith in action. The authors invite readers to a grace-filled Presbyterian discipleship and witness toward God’s wholeness in God’s beloved world.”—Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency
“When I was a teenager, the evangelicals I knew were the folk who carried zip-up Bibles and who were always heading off to attend some church event. They were serious about the content of their faith and the radical claim of Christ on their lives. And while I had “mainline” theological disagreements with these kids, I also saw them as being on the same team—Team Jesus. Many of today’s evangelical leaders, some who openly promote Christian nationalism, are a different breed. Foote and Thornburg address this worrisome shift in a thoughtful and candid way, and then they point toward helpful correctives—correctives that all Christians should hold close to their hearts in these precarious times.”—Scott Black Johnston, Senior Pastor, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York, New York and author of Elusive Grace: Loving Your Enemies While Striving for God’s Justice
“Many of the people in my congregation are trying to figure out how to keep claiming their identity as Christian while also being clear about what kind of Christian they are. It is difficult to articulate what we are for and not just what we are against—who we are and not simply who we are not. This book will greatly help that conversation. Ted and Alex once again help us claim our particular religious tradition as one full of life and hope. As a pastor, I am deeply thankful.”—Shannon Kershner, Pastor, Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Georgia
“With clarity, conviction, and pastoral wisdom, this third offering from Alex and Ted is a gift to the church and to anyone longing for a fresh articulation of a grace-filled, Reformed Christian understanding of God. Drawing from years of ministry, these authors write not only as theologians but also as shepherds—people who have walked alongside communities in seasons of joy, grief, transformation, and hope. This book is rooted in a vision of God that begins with grace and never lets go. It offers a compelling and deeply applicable theology of Christian hope—one that speaks directly to the needs of our world today. Through rich biblical insight, vocational experience, and a palpable faith in a God who loves us before we even know, the authors invite readers into a renewed imagination of what it means to live in community as people of faith. Whether you’re a pastor, small group leader, or simply someone longing to meet dystopian ruminations with truly good news, this book will challenge, encourage, and inspire. It’s a must-read for anyone ready to embrace the transformative power of divine grace and Christ’s invitation to join in.”—Leah R. Hrachovec, Pastor / Head of Staff, Westminster Presbyterian Church, West Chester, Pennsylvania
“Expressing one’s Christian identity in today’s sociopolitical landscape remains a significant challenge for people of faith. As we strive to restore cultural confidence in the evangelical message Christianity should uphold, Being Presbyterian in a Dysvangelical America offers readers a double deal. While providing a critical lens to help us recognize the flaws of an evangelical theology warped by materialist values, the text also functions as an accessible catechetical tool that elucidates the core beliefs of the Presbyterian Reformed tradition. When this is communicated with wit and original insight by the authors, the book itself becomes a means of Grace in the ongoing effort to rediscover our faith.”—José R. Irizarry, President, Austin Presbyterian Theological Sem
“We are grateful for this resource to Presbyterians in this moment. Ted and Alex have written a very readable guide that, in a spirit of humility and with touches of humor, articulates why Presbyterians sometimes feel out of sync with many prominent and loud Christian voices in America. It is a wonderful reminder of our theological heritage and an honest examination of our PC(USA) history that makes clear the importance of our distinctive witness as Presbyterians. Their voice revives our belief that while we are a smaller part of the American Christian landscape, the PC(USA) witness is a faithful witness—faithful to God, faithful in following the example of Jesus Christ, and faithful in continuing to be Reformed by the Spirit’s leading.”
—Cecelia “CeCe” Armstrong and Tony Larson, Co-Moderators of the 226th General Assembly (2024) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
“Many of us have grown weary of the dysfunctional, dystopian spirituality being presented by a loud group of individuals who claim to follow Jesus but present a transactional, authoritarian, rulebook version of the faith. This is not good news. This is not gospel. And I would argue that it is not even Christian. But how do we begin to articulate a response? How do we share our beliefs amid this prevailing public perception? Foote and Thornburg once again become our beloved conversation partners in their new book Being Presbyterian in a Dysvangelical America. They offer a refreshing, authentic alternative filled with hope rather than fear, based on the Bible rather than bias, and grounded in their gratitude for that great gift of grace. If you’re seeking a humble, joyful, and deeply profound perspective on what it means to express the core truths of Christianity today, this book is for you. It serves as a delightful reminder that you are not alone, your perspective is needed, and God is good!”—Brian Christopher Coulter Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church Fort Worth, and author of Be Holy: Find Identity, Find Belonging, Find Purp