Building up the Church
by Alexander II, G. ~ Anderson, G. ~ Ashcroft, E. ~ Bryan, J. ~ Conant, L. ~ Cooper, J. ~ Drino, J. ~ Farnum, S, ~ Gleason, E.S. ~ Hughes, A. ~ Ross, R. ~ Russell, J, ~ Schoonmaker, D, ~ Tully, Wm. ~ Wade, F. ~ Wilt, D.
This book captures a new vigor evidenced through thirteen different views of new life within the Episcopal Church.
Catch the Age Wave
Handbook for Defective Ministry with Senior Adults
by Arn, Win
Senior adult ministry isn’t what it used to be. The comfortable assumptions and outdated programs that were the basis for local church ministry are being challenged. Baby boomers are hitting middle age and retirement. And their own parents are living longer. Authors Win and Charles Arn have updated and supplemented Catch the Age Wave with ideas, examples and advice to help the local church leader start and maintain a senior adult program. In addition, they have added practical program ideas to use in any local church setting. New challenges for a new day. Catch the Age Wave won’t let you miss the boat.
The Lay Ministers Guide to The Book of Common Prayer
by Atkinson, Clifford W.
Deepen the lay minister's knowledge of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the various duties of this ministry with this guidebook to lay participation in the Eucharist and Offices of the Church.
Turn-around Churches
by Barna, George
It can happen in any church-success in ministry can lead to a condition of paralysis. Churches begin to rely on the "tried and true" practices of the past and become unable-or unwilling-to risk making the changes required by present-day challenges. It's a dangerous scenario that can lead a church into decline. The good news is that "growth paralysis" can be cured-if church leaders learn to recognize it and take swift, decisive and prayerful action. Turnaround Churches looks at real-life examples of churches that have made a comeback after a period of decline. You'll learn to recognize the cycles of growth and decline that face any ministry. You'll also learn the danger signs that indicate when a church is about to experience a decline. Inside Turnaround Churches you'll find: Eight obstacles that lead tocollapse Eleven principles of reviving a declining church Wisdom and encouragement from leaders who have brought their churches back to life The essential elements of spiritual focus Twenty suggestions to help your church avoid decline and begin the path to new growth The key to continuous spiritual renewal for you and your church.
How to Increase Giving in Your Church
by Barna, George
One of the most difficult tasks facing any church leader is the issue of raising funds. It's not that we don't realize that tithing and giving are biblical issues: God's Word is full of strong statements about the stewardship of money. But how does a pastor convey God's heart for stewardship? Literally, what's the best way to raise the money your church needs to survive? Obviously, God is the one who builds the church-He is the ultimate provider. But what's the best process of shepherding the funds He has for your church? This step-by-step guide will give you tools you need to raise funds in your church-scripturally and successfully-without compromising biblical integrity. After all, it's God's church and His money-but our responsibility to manage it.
The Power of the Call
by Henry T. Blackaby
Whether you find yourself on the verge of burnout or simply need someone to fan the flames of your faith, take time to experience afresh The Power of the Call. This practical and uplifting guide takes a biblically sound and realistic look at how God provides fully for every need a pastor, or anyone called into the ministry, will face. And it reminds us that success in a church is not what we think it is; it's what God thinks it is.
The Book of Occasional Services 2003
by Church Publishing
This new edition includes the liturgies for Discernment for a New Church Mission; A Liturgy for Commissioning a Church Planter, Missioner or Mission Team; A Liturgy for the Opening of a New Congregation; Setting Apart Secular Space for Sacred Use; a new Litany for the Mission of the Church; and a variety of Church Planting collects, blessings and other prayers, and hymn suggestions. This new material, authorized by the 2003 General Convention, is published in English, Spanish, and French. (364 pp)
Music in Churches: Nourishing Your Congregations Musical Life
by Clark, Linda J.
Clergy, worship or music committees, organists, and choir or music directors will find this a practical and invaluable guide to the role and power of music to express and form faith. Clark researched twenty-four Episcopal and United Methodist congregations to discover how churchgoers express their faith through music. Discover how music can either enhance or detract from tradition and faith experience. Explore how it can shape your congregation's character.
Deacons and the Church: Making Connections Between Old and New
by Collins, John N.
Explores the pastoral implications of a new scholarly understanding of the role of deacons in the Early Church.
In many churches today -- Catholic, Anglican, and others -- deacons have come to serve largely as servants of the poor and needy. In Deacons and the Church, Collins argues that this limited role for deacons was based on misinterpretations of key scriptural passages. Following the history of deacons in the Early Church to modern times, Collins offers extensive reflections on the relevant Scriptures, and suggests that we redefine the role of deacons for today. Rather than limit the role of deacons, he urges the church to adapt ancient meanings to modern pastoral situations. In the words of Ignatius of Antioch, whom he quotes in the final chapter, "Deacons are not providers of bread and drink but are agents of the congregation."
Collins paints a rich picture of deacons as agents of the church, ordained to the service of the bishop, who sends them forth as ministers of the church as a whole, rather than simply social workers. Collins provides an understanding of deacons that embraces social welfare but is not bound by it.
Vestry Resource Guide: Servants Called to Leadership
by Cornerstone
A "Vestry Resource Guide: Servants Called to Leadership" provides guidance for church leaders (vestry members) on their spiritual roles, focusing on servant leadership—emulating Christ by serving others—and covering responsibilities like discerning God's call, stewardship, leading community, and navigating change, with resources from the Episcopal Church Foundation and dioceses offering tools, workshops, and practical advice for revitalizing faith communities.
Core Concepts of Vestry Leadership:
- Servant Leadership: Leadership is about serving, not lording; it means listening to the Spirit and acting in love, just as Christ did.
- Spiritual & Corporate Role: Vestry members are spiritual leaders and trustees, responsible for the church's mission, property, and finances.
- Key Responsibilities:
- Discerning God's vision for the congregation.
- Stewardship of resources (people, money, property).
- Identifying and nurturing new leaders.
- Supporting clergy and fostering a healthy community.
- Navigating transitions and change.
The Clergy Search Dilemma
Pastors and Lay People Reflect on Crisis of Clergy Development
by Crane, Charles an Diane
"The Clergy Search Dilemma," authored by Charles and Diane Crane, is a book exploring the challenges and ethics of finding pastors for churches, offering guidance for both clergy and search committees on effective, fair deployment. It addresses the "crisis of clergy deployment," reflecting on the process from start to finish to improve placements.
Key Aspects:
- Authors: Charles Crane and Diane Crane.
- Focus: The complexities, ethical considerations, and best practices in selecting and placing clergy within congregations.
- Content: Provides insights and suggestions for a thorough and ethical clergy search, benefiting pastors and lay leaders involved in the process.
- Theme: Deals with the difficulties churches face in finding suitable spiritual leaders, known as the "crisis of clergy deployment"
Sharing Your Church Building
by Curtin, Ralph D.
Sharing buildings with another ministry allows church members to engage other cultures, see a young ministry develop and thrive, and practice good stewardship. But these arrangements present unique challenges, too. Utility, maintenance, and renovation costs must be fairly divided. Personality differences arise and communication barriers may emerge, particularly with perceptions of turf and identity. 'Sharing Your Church Building' is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you navigate these often unfamiliar waters and avoid potential pitfalls. It offers management insights, specific problem-solving guidelines, and strategies for preparing a congregation to share its facilities--either as a host or as a guest. It will help with establishing healthy boundaries that allow all the ministries in the building to flourish.
The Church God Blesses
by Cymbala, Jim
God Is Looking For A Church To Bless.
God wants to transform his church into a people of power, joy, and peace. In The Church God Blesses, Jim Cymbala reminds us that Christianity is only as strong as the local church and that God wants to bless our churches in ways we can't possibly imagine.
It doesn't matter whether a church is alive and growing or barely surviving on life support. God has a plan for it. It doesn't matter whether a church is facing financial challenges, internal divisions, or strife among its leaders. God has a plan for it. God is able to deal with any problem a church will ever face--as long as his people earnestly seek him.
As the pastor of The Brooklyn Tabernacle, Cymbala knows that God's blessing and grace is available to us today just as much as it was in the early church, when thousands of people became believers despite the fact that the church lacked everything we consider vital: church buildings, seminaries, printed materials, sound systems, choirs, and money. None of these things mattered. What mattered was that God's hand was on the church, working through his people to build the kingdom. Then, as now, God chose the church to manifest his presence to the world.
In this companion book to The Life God Blesses, Cymbala describes the kind of church God wants to bless and use.
Based on the Word of God and personal experience, The Church God Blesses describes the key elements found in a vitally alive church and offers church leaders and individual Christians a fresh and invigorating look at what God intends the church to be. The church God blesses is not necessarily the largest, newest, or loudest church in town. Instead, it's a place where believers:
- Receive solid spiritual nourishment.
- Can trust in God’s protection.
- Engage in vital praise and worship.
- Become effective in ministry.
- Learn that confession of sin is the channel to God’s power.
Manual for Eucharistic Visitors
by Ely, Beth Wickenberg
Further the understanding of the role and duties of the lay eucharistic minister with this easy-to-understand manual.
This revised edition of the classic Manual for Lay Eucharistic Ministers offers practical guidance on everything a eucharistic minister or eucharistic visitor does. Eucharistic ministers help to administer the elements at the Eucharist, while eucharistic visitors bring those elements to members of the congregation who can't be present.
This guide, updated to include the new canons and procedures, also offers suggestions on how to prepare oneself spiritually to present the sacrament, what to do when visiting the sick or shut-in parishioner with the Eucharist, and how to prepare a sacred space in someone's home or hospital room. Appendices include rites, suggested prayers and guidelines, services for commissioning and sending forth Lay Eucharistic Ministers, and a bibliography. Beth Ely also traces the changing customs and canons of lay administration of communion from the early churches to the present, and discusses the riches and mystery of the Holy Eucharist through the centuries.
Manual for Eucharistic Ministers
by Ely, Beth Wickenberg
This practical guide covers everything a Lay Eucharistic Minister does, offering suggestions on how to prepare oneself spiritually to present the sacrament, what to do when visiting the sick or shut-in parishioner with the eucharist, and how to prepare a sacred space in someones home or hospital room.
10 Habits for Effective Ministry
by Erdahl, Lowell O.
Erdahl shows that to provide life-giving ministries, pastors must develop ten key habits, including: bonding with their people, having something to say and saying it well, becoming lifelong learners, picking their battles wisely and fighting them fairly, exercising gift-evoking leadership, and respecting boundaries.
The Family Powered Church
by Erwin, Pamela J.
Effective churches understand the need for effective families. We know you're concerned with the state of family today. What if you could turn your church into a powerful family of families? Now you can! This comprehensive guide recognizes that each church and its families are unique. So it provides you a variety of clear and practical tips on . . . -Building strong family foundations -Enriching family ministries -Connecting families to other families - both inside and outside the church -Building a happier, healthier, and more effective church
Use Guide for Liturgy for Living
by Fenhagen, James C.
James C. Fenhagen's Use Guide for Liturgy for Living is a resource for understanding and applying liturgical principles in daily life, helping people move beyond Sunday services to integrate worship into everyday actions, focusing on themes like praise, confession, and service, often used in Christian education for adults to deepen spiritual practice through structured prayer and reflection.
The Nearness of God
Parish Ministry as Spiritual Practice
by Gatta, Julia
What distinguishes Christian ministry from other helping professions? While many books tell clergy how to run a capital campaign, handle conflict, and lead a vestry, this book helps pastors, chaplains, and lay professionals appreciate the spiritual depth of their calling and reminds them that Christian ministry is Christs ministry working through them.
Entertaining Angels
Hospitality Programs for the Caring Church
by Geitz, Elizabeth Rankin
This nuts-and-bolts resource on newcomer ministry features the biblical history of hospitality, tips and a workshop on the skill of listening, effective newcomer programs in churches of all sizes, sample forms for successful communication, a suggested workshop for a Hospitality/Newcomer Ministry Committee, special outreach programs for the poor and the bereaved, and more.
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching
by Green, Michael
The best illustration book available to pastors today! Covers contemporary subjects such as abortion, drugs, and divorce, as well as the timeless subjects of faith, commitment, and Christian living.
Unity Builder Devotions for Small Groups
Publisher : Group Pub Inc
This is a collection of 40 devotions for youth to build unity in small groups. Each devotion will begin with some kind of creative activity involving the entire group. After the activity, the group will discuss a Scripture passage and a topic related to unity. Topics will include respect, encouragement, cooperation, problem-solving, building relationships, and others. The devotions will challenge teenagers to discern what God is saying to them at that time through the experience and Scripture passage.
Creative Sermon Starters
by: Group Publishing Staff
Increase your sermon impact! With more than 100 ideas to add spice to your Sunday sermons, you'll grab your congregation's attention, add deeper meaning and make your messages more memorable. These quick, interactive ideas for stories, activities and video clips are all Scripture-based and unforgettable! And with ideas on everything from appearances...to heaven...to trust, you'll have topics for years of sermons. Get your point across like never before! This description may be from another edition of this product.
On Leading Change
A Leader-to-Leader Guide
by Hesselbein, Frances
On Leading Change features the best thinking from top experts on strategies for change, sustaining growth, and leading transition. Written in a concise style that is ideal for the busy executive with little time to read, the book highlights a stellar panel of contributors including Peter Drucker, Peter Senge, William Bridges, and Rosabeth Moss Kanter. On Leading Change is one title in The Leader to Leader Guides four-volume set that draws from the most compelling articles that have appeared in the Drucker Foundation's award-winning journal Leader to Leader.
Church for the Unchurched
by Hunter III, George G.
Hunter discusses the rebirth of the apostolic congregation, Christianity's vision of what people can become, how small groups shape an apostolic people, how lay ministry advances the Christian movement, and how apostolic churches reach secular people.
This work shows that there is an apostolic way for a congregation to live out the gospel, and here is why church leaders think so:
"George Hunter hits the nail on the head with this practical and encouraging guide to church-based evangelism."-Steve Sjogren, Senior Pastor, Vineyard Community Church, Cincinnati, Ohio.
"This is a groundbreaking book. What sets it apart from all the others is that it is based on hard data and real life examples...If you want to know what is really happening in the so-called Seeker churches, this book is a must read." --Rick Warren, Senior Pastor, Saddleback Community Church, Mission Viejo, California
"George Hunter hits a home run with this book." --Walt Kallestad, Community Church of Joy, Phoenix, Arizona
"Our commitment to the rebirth of apostolic congregations will be greatly enhanced by this book." --John Ed Mathison, Frazier Memorial United Methodist Church, Montgomery, Alabama
"Apostolic churches present a tremendous challenge to stagnant traditional churches. It is required reading for all who yearn to see the growth of the church." --Sir Alan Walker, Australia
Small Groups in the Church
A Handbook For Creating Community
by Kirkpatrick, Thomas G.
This planning and leader training handbook offers a distinctive broad-based, small-group approach to building community. From the Jewish havurot to Christian koinonia, you will gain a thorough understanding of community, learn how to plan an effective small-group ministry, how to select and train leaders for all kinds of small groups, and how to start small groups that are a part of and not apart from their congregations. Appendices provide an overview of the sociological, psychological, and biblical theological literature on community and a wealth of presentation and leader training resources.
Renewal in Late Life Through Pastoral Counseling
by Lapsley, James N.
Please write a review if you have read this book.
Perfect Illustrations for Every Topic and Occasion
by Larson, Craig Brian
Good communicators are always on the lookout for fresh, relevant anecdotes and examples to drive home the point of their words. This handy reference contains 300 anecdotes and illustrations for pastors, writers, teachers, and other Christian communicators on a variety of topics. Each entry includes Scripture references, cross-references to related topics, an anecdote or illustration, and a citation of its source.
The Story File
A 1001 Contemporary Illustrations for Speakers, Writers and Preachers
by May, Steve
This book and CD-ROM set includes contemporary, seeker-sensitive illustrations drawn from current sources" magazines, newspapers, sports, movies, today s headlines and more. Over 125 different categories of topics are included" from "Ability and Adversity" to "Values and Worry."The CD-ROM contains over 1,001 illustrations that can be sorted by category, topic, or scripture verse. It also provides a handy way to copy and paste content into other documents such as sermons, or lesson plans. Another helpful feature is that the "Add your own illustrations" function and the rating system for illustrations allows for the creation and expansion of a personalized story database.
CD-ROM requires Windows 98, 95, NT, or later, 16 MB RAM, minimum 7MB hard disk space, CD-ROM drive.
How to Hit the Ground Running
A Quick-Start Guide for Congregations with New Leadership
by Michell, Neal O.
A practical and comprehensive guide and workbook for new church leadership to set up a sustainable foundation, for pastors, vestry, and in administrative roles.
The quick-start program described in this book is designed for the new rector or pastor who wants to "hit the ground running." It is also designed for principal lay leaders who will be instrumental in the transition to new leadership.
The program takes the new pastor, vestry, or other leadership bodies from one month prior to the new leader's arrival through the first 18 months afterward. Organized in a user-friendly workbook format, this guide gives step-by-step suggestions on how the sometimes stalled and directionless period of transition in a faith community can be made dynamic and purposeful - a time of true congregational development.
Planning the Church Year
by Mitchell, Leonel L.
A comprehensive, detailed handbook for the entire liturgical year that includes colors, music, and decorations for each season and occasion.
This guide for clergy, parish musicians, lay readers, and congregational representatives covers all the stages of organizing worship services for the entire year. Using The Book of Common Prayer and Hymnal 1982 as primary resources, it explores the rich variety of options―both time-honored traditions and accepted innovations.
Times and seasons covered in depth include Advent, the Twelve Days of Christmas, Lent and Holy Week, Easter and the Great Fifty Days, and the Sundays after Epiphany and Pentecost. Planning the Church Year explains the preparations that make for meaningful holy days and special occasions, such as Lesser Feasts, Thanksgiving Day, Vigils, Michaelmas, All Saints’ Day, the bishop’s visitation, the Patronal and Dedication Festivals.
Spirituality of Fundraising
by Nouwen, Henri J. M.
Do you serve on your church's stewardship committee or need to raise money for a mission trip or some other faith-based cause? Perhaps the thought of asking people for money intimidates you. It's time to change the way you think about fundraising.
"Fundraising is, first and foremost, a ministry," best-selling author and renowned spiritual teacher Henri Nouwen writes. "It's a way of announcing our vision and inviting other people into our mission."
Nouwen encourages us to see fundraising as spiritual work and approach it confidently. "Fundraising is precisely the opposite of begging," he points out.
Unlike most business/leadership books, A Spirituality of Fundraising is brief and can easily be read in one sitting.
Sections of this booklet include:
- Fundraising as Ministry
- Helping the Kingdom Come About
- Our Security Base
- People Who Are Rich
- Asking
- A New Communion
- Prayer and Gratitude
- Your Kingdom Come
Nouwen's insights will upend your thoughts about fundraising. Never again will you feel like you're begging for money. Instead, you'll see your work as true ministry. A must-read for leaders in churches, nonprofits, ministries, and businesses!
Pastoral Theology
Essentials of Ministry
by Oden, Thomas C.
This much-needed book fully integrates principles of pastoral care, leadership, and theology to restore to ministers a clearly defined pastoral identity. Moving from a critique of inadequate models for ministry -- from community organizer to T. V. evangelist -- Oden develops a more classical model, rich in its references to the past and compatible both with Christian faith and theology through the ages and with current needs.
Reconciling classical tradition with practice, Pastoral Theology will be a standard resource and reference in the field. Oden distills the best ideas of the two millennia of ecumenical Christian thinking concerning what pastors are and do. Pastoral Theology provides the foundational knowledge of the pastoral office requisite to the practice of ministry. It will be of interest to persons preparing for ordination in its review of key issues; at the same time, Pastoral Theology will appeal to all those who have considered entering the ministry, those who want to know more about what clergy do and why, and those ministers who want to review their ongoing work in the light of a systematic reflection on the pastoral gifts and tasks.
Reclaiming the Great Commission
A Practical Model for Transforming the Denominations and Congregations
by Payne, Bishop Claude E. and Beazley, Hamilton
Reclaiming the Great Commission describes a biblically based model that can restore the missionary power of first-century Christianity to twenty-first century denominations and their congregations. Based on shared vision and mission, the model can guide the members of any congregation or denomination into deeper and broader evangelism, an enhanced experience of community, and a renewed hope of personal and spiritual transformation.
Many Servants
by Plater, Ormonde
A basic, essential text for discernment committees and commissions on ministry, and a comprehensive look at the vital ministry of the permanent diaconate in the church today.
Ministry Marketing Made Easy
A practical Guide to Marketing you Church Message
by Prehn, Yvon
Ministry Marketing Made Easy definesMinistry Marketing as everything the church does to share the story of Jesus. This book challenges church leaders with a totally different and practical approach to marketing the church's message.
Often, church leaders define marketing as spending large amounts of money on big ads in the church page section of local newspapers, building a killer web site or a dozen other standard marketing ideas that cost lots of money, or creating publications in full color that are professionally printed. Just as often, the church realizes very little return on its investment. Ministry Marketing Made Easy provides alternative, practical ways for church leaders to communicate the church's message.
This book deals with how to reach people where they are today; people who:
- are authority indifferent
- are time starved
- have no understanding of Christian terms or references
- and yet are spiritually seeking.
Reaching people with the church's message isn't as hard as you might assume. Rather than using fancy expensive ads, the book recommends the use of:
- postcards and business card-sized invitation cards
- ads in movie theaters and other unexpected places
- bulletins that make sense to people who visit the church for the first time
- welcome centers that really welcome people
- messages repeated enough times for even erratic church attendees to know what is going on
- niche newsletters, and more.
Ministry Marketing Made Easy also suggests radical ideas to reach the unchurched, such as:
- becoming a local media spokesperson for Christianity
- allowing coffee inside the worship space during the service
- setting up a smoking area at church
- using pop-culture as the source for sermon illustrations
- serving the community by doing what no one else wants to do.
Finally the book provides practical tips on how to:
- manage Marketing Ministry volunteers
- choose the right combination of software and printing tools
- find resources that will make your Ministry Marketing more effective.
Eating the Elephant
Leading the Established Church to Growth
by Rainer, Thom S.
How Does an Established Church Grow?
Many church leaders have attempted the "latest" approach to growing a church, only to find the methodology is ineffective and the church members are divided. Sometimes the methodology is wrong. Sometimes the methodology is right but the pace and the timing are wrong. Internationally-recognized authorities Thom Rainer and Chuck Lawless have written Eating the Elephant to show that a church can change and grow if you move at a pace that fits the church's situation, if you eat the elephant one bite at a time.
"Unfortunately," the authors write, "many 'traditional' churches have been divided and demoralized by attempts to move the church too quickly toward relevancy. Is there a way to implement change without destroying the church in
Hearing Confessions
by Ross, Kenneth
A restatement of the principles and practice of hearing confessions is long overdue. The enlarged role of psychiatry and pastoral counseling, the questioning of the special role of the priesthood, the diminished sense of individual responsibility, and the influence of situation ethics are all factors to be reckoned with, no less than the practical questions of administering the sacrament. This practical guide for confessors was prepared for publication following the author's death by Reginald Cant, Canon of York Minster, and includes a memoir of the author by Gordon Hopkins.
Between Two Worlds
The Challenge of Preaching Today
by Scott, John
In his preface to this major study on preaching by John Stott, Michael Green writes, "Much of the current uncertainty about the gospel and the mission of the church must be due to a generation of preachers which has lost confidence in the Word of God."
Perhaps no one is more eminently qualified to address this concern than John Stott whose scholarship and personality have shown generations of believers that he has total confidence in the Word of God and in preaching. "I believe that nothing is better calculated to restore health and vitality to the Church or to its members into maturity in Christ" reflects Stott, “than a recovery of true, biblical, contemporary preaching." His book provides precisely those practical guidelines and experienced perspectives needed for such a recovery.
After beginning with a historical sketch of preaching, Stott examines contemporary objections to preaching, looking in particular at the Cybernetics Revolution and the influence of television. He then moves on to the theological foundations for preaching after which he examines how preaching can serve to build bridges across chasms of political, social, and ethical controversies. His study then takes on a more practical slant as he discusses how to cultivate and overcome the obstacles to Bible study as well as how to prepare sermons. He ends with a frank yet thoughtful reflection on the preacher's responsibility to live his message through sincerity, earnestness, courage, and humility.
Addressed to the head as well as to the heart, this book will encourage and challenge both ministers and laypersons to give themselves more wholeheartedly to their calling -- to make known God’s message of salvation to a world in dire need of hearing it.
With God's Oldest Friends
Pastoral Visiting in the Nursing Home
by Simmons, Henry
A practical guide for both ministers and volunteers, this ecumenical book shows how to plan an effective nursing home visit, relate to the staff, administer sacraments, and handle personal fears and reactions.
Listening for the Soul
Pastoral Care and Spiritual Direction
by Stairs, Jean
This book explores the relationship between the practices of pastoral care and the practices of spiritual direction with the aim of enabling pastoral caregivers to draw upon the guiding principles, resources and techniques of spiritual direction within the Christian tradition. With an emphasis on both "practice" and "presence," the book reclaims the tradition of "soul care" for the pastoral ministry, thereby complementing the medical, or crisis intervention, model of pastoral care with a wellness/growth model of pastoral care.
Listening for the Soul:
Challenges clergy to take seriously the relationship between pastoral care and spiritual direction.
Integrates theological and psychological insights with issues of spiritual life and formation.
Includes a chapter on the spiritual formation of children.
Provides practical guidance for integrating spiritual direction with pastoral care.
Tends to the pastoral caregivers own needs for spiritual deepening
Includes reflection questions and case studies to enable the text to function on both the individual reader and classroom levels.
How Your Church Family Works
by Steinke, Peter L.
Drawing on the work of Bowen, Friedman, and his own many years' counseling experience, Peter Steinke shows how to recognize and deal with the emotional roots of such issues as church conflict, leadership roles, congregational change, irresponsible behavior, and the effect of family of origin on current relationships. Discover why working relationships may be "stuck" in certain behaviors. Psychologically sound, theologically grounded, and practically illustrated with case studies, How Your Church Family Works will help you better understand how your congregation works and how to keep it healthy. Featuring a new preface and a fresh redesign, the book is a classic work by one of the most respected names in congregational consulting.
The Effective Invitation
A Practical Guide for the Pastor
by Streett, R. Alan
Unsure of how to handle "altar calls" in your church? Veteran pastor Streett offers adaptable step-by-step preparation and presentation principles for those charged with issuing such appeals. Explore effective invitation techniques from the early church to present-day evangelists; guidelines for reaching children and teens with the gospel; contemporary models; and music options. 272 pages, softcover from Kregel.
Basic Steps Toward Community Ministry
by Dudley, Carl S.
Social context -- Define your community -- Identify the people -- Exploring below the surface -- Find the invisible people -- Analyze the intangible forces -- Listen to your community -- Choose your focus of ministry -- Congregational identity -- Identify your biblical foundations -- Find sources in church heritage -- Build on your congregational history -- Analyze your strengths and limitations through a survey -- Organizing for social ministry -- Build an organization -- Develop resources to support your ministry -- Clarify the purpose of your ministry
Beyond These Walls
by Dunagin, Richard L.
Most pastors do not serve in rapidly growing communities. On the contrary, most churches are located in neighborhoods where the population is stable. The common pattern for church life in such neighborhoods is stability or decline in membership and commitment. How does a church defeat the cycle of stagnant membership? The answer, says Dunagin, is reaching beyond the walls with bold and innovative programs and ministries that reinvigorate the spiritual life of the congregation and draw in others from around the community. Dunagin's message is simple: Numerical and spiritual stagnation is not inevitable. God's Spirit can and does blow through churches in long-established, stable communities. The task of church leaders is to discern the Spirit's leadership and follow it, even into places they might never have thought of going before.
Hand Me Another Brick
by Swindoll, Charles R.
Do others look to you for leadership? Do you face a major task or shoulder heavy responsibilities? Do you want to take your leadership skills to a higher level?
When Nehemiah confronted the task of rebuilding Jerusalem's wall, he was heartbroken by the damage he saw and nearly overwhelmed by the task that lay before him. Yet through the application of timeless leadership principles, Nehemiah completed this nearly impossible project, and laid a pattern for success which is just as valid for us today.
Charles Swindoll brings his sensible and straightforward style to offer a deeply spiritual approach to the role of leader. Whatever the context, secular or ministerial, he demonstrates how to size up a task, organize and motivate a team, and respond to inevitable obstacles such as these:
- Unforeseen setbacks
- Unrelenting deadlines
- Criticism and outside resistance
- Personality conflicts
- Financial pressures and temptations
The insights that Swindoll draws from Nehemiah's wise administration will change your approach to leadership forever.
The Vestry Handbook, Revised Edition
by Webber, Christopher L.
Everything you need to know about vestry membership in one volume. This updated classic manual includes sample job descriptions, new material on the spiritual life of vestry members, new canons approved in 2000, additional information on dealing with sexual abuse in the parish, managing conflict, and handling money.
Welcome!
Tools and Techniques for New Member Ministry
by Weeks, Andrew D.
This toolkit of intentional and compassionate strategies takes an encouraging, incremental approach to help even small groups get started quickly. Study the separate chapters on: imaginative marketing; the ministry of greeting, crafting welcoming materials, tracking and involving newcomers and structuring groups for growth. Then adapt an additional 34 pages of template forms, brochures, and procedures to your needs while employing Weeks' point-by-point recommendations to: make sure your signs and property invite, not confuse; create powerful, welcoming ads and print communication, train and prepare greeters; and develop programs to incorporate and track newcomers during their first critical months.
Search
A Manual for Those Called to Guide the Parish Through a Process leading to the Election of a Rector
by Wilson, Charles R.
Please write a synopsis if you have read this book.
