The Remake: American Religion in Transition
Steven Windmueller, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Jewish Communal Studies
As leaders prepare to launch the third iteration of “Recharging Reform Judaism,” Dr. Windmueller explores how liberal religion in America is shifting from institution-centered models to relationship-centered, from membership to participatory, from centralized authority to collaborative leadership, and from inherited formats to adaptive, contextual practice. Drawing on examples from movements like Fresh Expressions in Christianity and independent minyanim and communities such as Ikar, Mishkan Chicago, Lab/Shul, and The Kitchen, Windmueller argues that innovation today is less about new theology and more about redesigning how people experience belonging, spirituality, and leadership. Liberal Jewish and Christian life, Windmueller poses, will likely become more post-denominational, decentralized, justice-oriented, and relational, with clergy and seminaries evolving into facilitators of community-building, experimentation, and social innovation rather than primarily serving as institutional gatekeepers.