Popular wisdom suggests that churches are defined and divided by their theology.
Liberal churches are more socially concerned but less spiritual, it is said, and conservative churches are more spiritual but less socially concerned. My observation of scores of mainline and evangelical churches defies this stereotype. Liberal or conservative theology is less often the inspiration for a congregation's tendency to mobilize for social ministry than is the church's image of itself. In addition to observing congregations over time, we can learn their theologies of practice by listening to the stories their people tell. Since these are no mutually exclusive, you may recognize more than one in your congregation.