"Being Presbyterian in a Dysvangelical America"
Below is a comprehensive narrative summary of "Being Presbyterian in a Dysvangelical America" by Ted V. Foote Jr. and P. Alex Thornburg, synthesized from available descriptions and commentary about the book’s purpose, themes, and arguments. And it is followed by a chapter-by-chapter review of the book.
Being Presbyterian in a Dysvangelical America unfolds as a reflective and timely exploration of what it means to hold to the historic Presbyterian Reformed tradition in an era when American Christianity often appears dominated by loud political rhetoric and distorted theological claims. The authors, both seasoned pastors and teachers deeply rooted in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), begin by naming a contemporary problem they believe is pulling many Christians away from the heart of the gospel. They use the term dysvangelical to describe a form of theology and practice that is distorted, dysfunctional, and dystopian. In this vision, the good news of God’s grace becomes twisted into a message of fear, exclusion, partisan power, and cultural dominance rather than a proclamation of Christ’s liberating love for all people.
Foote and Thornburg recognize that many faithful Christians feel bewildered and disillusioned by how Christianity is being publicly represented. Daily headlines and the behavior of some high-profile religious leaders often stand in stark contrast to the beliefs of ordinary Presbyterians who cherish humility, thoughtful engagement with Scripture, and compassionate service. The authors observe that for some, Christianity has become aligned with ideological certainty, nationalism, and cultural anxiety. This has led to what they see as a perversion of the gospel, one that preaches exclusion rather than welcome, judgment rather than grace.
The narrative of the book centers around recapturing the good news of God’s grace as understood in the Reformed tradition. Rather than simply critiquing contemporary American Christianity, Foote and Thornburg offer a faithful theological alternative grounded in core Presbyterian convictions. These include the primacy of grace as the foundation of Christian identity, the centrality of community and mutual accountability within the church, the importance of humility before God and neighbor, and the ongoing nature of Christian reformation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They contend that these convictions provide a rich and robust framework for discipleship that resists simplistic or authoritarian expressions of faith.
Throughout the book, the authors weave together theological reflection, pastoral insight, and cultural critique. Their writing aims not only to help readers name what feels wrong in the current religious landscape but also to rediscover what is right in the historic gospel. That rediscovery involves reclaiming a vision of faith that holds together the fullness of God’s love with a call to active love for others, especially those marginalized by society. They challenge readers to think beyond defensive reactions to cultural trends and instead engage in a proactive witness that reflects Jesus’ inclusive ministry.
The authors also acknowledge that the Presbyterian tradition itself has not been immune to error or exclusion in its history. They point to past wrongs, including racism, gender discrimination, and failures to fully embrace LGBTQ persons, as examples of how the church has sometimes fallen short of its own theological ideals. Yet they see these historical missteps as part of a broader narrative of ongoing reform, repentance, and transformation, a testimony to grace unfolding in community over time.
To make these discussions practical and communal, Being Presbyterian in a Dysvangelical America includes materials for group reflection: scripture readings, discussion questions, and prayers designed for an eight-session study guide. This signals the authors’ intention that the work be more than intellectual critique—it is an invitation to embodied practice, to live out a gospel that welcomes rather than excludes, that heals rather than harms, that opens tables rather than builds walls.
In essence, the book reads as both a lament and a hopeful manifesto. It laments the ways that genuine Christian faith has been co-opted by political theatrics and cultural fears. At the same time, it proclaims with confidence that the true good news of Jesus Christ, grounded in grace, calls believers into deeper love, humility, and solidarity with all of humanity. The narrative closes with an invitation to embrace gratitude as a defining posture of the Christian life and grace as both the foundation and the resistance to dysvangelical distortions.
Chapter by Chapter
Below is a chapter-by-chapter summary of Being Presbyterian in a Dysvangelical America by Ted V. Foote Jr. and P. Alex Thornburg, based on the book’s study-guide structure and available excerpts of themes and chapter titles. Because the full text is not publicly available in searchable form yet, these summaries synthesize the core focus and theological intent of each chapter as presented in the authors’ study series and previews.
Chapter One - The Bible Is Authoritative, Not Literal
In the opening chapter the authors invite readers to rethink how they read Scripture in a cultural moment marked by simplistic literalism. They argue that instead of approaching the Bible as if every phrase must be taken as an exact factual map of the world, faithful Presbyterians see it as authoritative for life and faith, shaping heart and community while allowing for interpretation that wrestles honestly with context and complexity. This approach resists dysvangelical impulses that weaponize isolated verses to justify exclusion or political agendas.
Chapter Two - Faith and Salvation Are Gifts, Not Transactions
Here the focus shifts to how salvation is understood. Foote and Thornburg emphasize that faith and salvation are gifts of grace, not commodities acquired through correct belief, performance, or political loyalty. They contrast a transactional spirituality — where blessings are earned or conditional — with the Reformed conviction that God’s grace is freely given and transformative. The chapter reassures readers that authentic faith begins with receiving rather than controlling grace.
Chapter Three - Discipleship Is a Lifelong Conversation, Not a Rulebook
This chapter reframes discipleship as a dynamic, ongoing journey rather than a checklist of behaviors. The authors challenge rigid rule-based religion that equates orthodoxy with conformity and instead offer a vision of faith that grows through questions, community dialogue, and lived experience. This resonates with the broader Reformed idea that believers are always students of grace, shaped by Scripture and Spirit in community.
Chapter Four - Shaped for Community, Not for Individuality
Foote and Thornburg affirm that believers are created for relationship and shared life, not isolated personal piety. In this chapter they explore how Presbyterian theology values mutual accountability, shared discernment, and collective witness in the world. The church is described not as a club of autonomous individuals but as a body shaped for service, encouragement, and care — a posture that counters dysvangelical narratives that elevate individualism and self-interest.
Chapter Five - The Future Is Hopeful, Not Something to Fear
Responding to pervasive cultural fear and apocalyptic rhetoric, the authors offer a theology of hope grounded in God’s active involvement in the world. Rather than succumbing to dystopian narratives that predict inevitable decline, Presbyterians are called to practice hope as a present assurance that God continues to redeem and heal. This chapter explores how biblical hope shapes faithful engagement with society and offers resilience amid uncertainty.
Chapter Six - God’s Truth Is Evolving, Not Stagnant
In this chapter the authors push back against the idea that truth is static and unchanging in a simplistic sense. Drawing on the Reformed emphasis that God is present and active in history, they describe truth as revealed and understood progressively over time through faithful reflection, church tradition, and lived experience. They highlight how the Presbyterian Church has evolved in understanding science, gender, and sexual orientation - not by abandoning truth but by wrestling faithfully with it. Humility, repentance, and openness to growth are key marks of this perspective.
Chapter Seven - Presbyterians Are Reformed and Always Reforming
This chapter centers on the classic Reformed motto ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda — the church reformed and always reforming. The authors explore how being Presbyterian means holding traditions with gentle persistence and humility, always ready to be shaped by Scripture and the Spirit. They highlight the value of self-critique, historical awareness, and theological evolution, suggesting that true faith embraces reform rather than resisting it out of fear.
Chapter Eight - Democracy, Not Authoritarianism, Is the Presbyterian Way
In the final chapter Foote and Thornburg articulate a vision of church and society rooted in participation, shared discernment, and ordered liberty rather than authoritarian command. They connect Presbyterian polity — representative leadership and collaborative decision-making — with a broader commitment to democratic practices that honor every person’s voice. This chapter affirms that faithful Presbyterian witness in America includes a commitment to justice, freedom, and public life shaped by grace and humility rather than coercion.