LEADERSHIP asked a number of pastors, seminary professors, and church consultants to recommend the books that best help American churches "exegete" contemporary culture. Taken from their lists, these are just a few of the books that can give churches insight into the people to whom they'll minister in the coming decade.

The People's Religion: American Faith in the 90's

by George Gallup, Jr., and Jim Castelli

Macmillan, 1989

A comprehensive survey of the present American religious landscape. What do Americans want most from their churches? How many Americans have had a religious experience? What percentage believes in God? What percentage prays? Gallup and Castelli answer these and other such questions.

The Clustering of America

by Michael J. Weiss

Harper & Row, 1989

Michael Weiss classifies America not by region or class, but by Zip Codes. Based on an intriguing marketing system, he describes forty neighborhood types - their values, lifestyles, and eccentricities. Whether your church is in a "Furs ...