Journey of Discovery:
Living into God's Call

A NWRCC and Center for Parish Development
Process for Congregational Transformation

.

   Congregational Transformation
   An Annotated Bibliography

This bibliography was presented at the Congregational Transformation Event presented by Disciples Home Mission (DHM) in January, 2006.  The Regional Journey of Discovery Team has added additional resources to the bibliography (marked by an asterisk) that have been particularly helpful in
the Journey of Discovery process.

 

• Dudley, Carl S. and Nancy T. Ammerman
  Congregations in Transition:
  A Guide for Analyzing, Assessing and Adapting in Changing Communities
  Jossey-Bass Press, 2002
   
  This handbook takes a user- friendly sociological approach to the congregation and neighborhood in transition.  The authors realize that this is a spiritual process and offer the framework of the exodus and wilderness as inspiration.  However, the body of the manual is a step-by-step investigation with congregational exercises to uncover the gifts and challenges before the congregation that wants to transform so that they may decide upon a faithful future.

• Bass, Diana Butler
  *Christianity for the Rest of Us
  Harper Collins, 2007
   
  Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, says of this book: “Church renewal isn’t only about the dramatic and large-scale.  It’s about transformations quietly maturing in local communities nourished by profound prayer, pastoral commitment and imagination, and readiness to learn from a wide spectrum of Christian wisdom.  This excellent and timely book celebrates a vastly important phenomenon that has been too-little noticed.”

• Friedman, Edwin
  Generation to Generation
  Guilford Press, 1985
   
  The is a classic on congregational leadership, especially how leaders need to be engaged with or connected to the "body" of believers, yet distinct enough to have independent feelings and thoughts (like the "head" of a body).

• Galindo, Israel
  The Hidden Lives of Congregations: Discerning Church Dynamics
  Alban Institute, 2004
   
  Church leaders often fail to understand the underlying dynamics of congregational life.  Without that understanding they frequently experience a disconnect between themselves and the congregation.  More than one pastor has experienced thinking things are going well only to discover they are about to be fired, usually because they have trespassed on the hidden dynamics.  In our time congregations seem to need pastoral leadership, ordained or lay, who provide vision and connectedness.  This book opens the doors to understanding as it lifts up the particular journey of God's people in our time.

• Gladwell, Malcolm
  The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
  Back Bay Books
   
  This book is a wonderful primer on why movements begin and change the society and structures around them.  It includes the critical leverage points to consider when looking at promoting movements.

• Hadaway, C. Kirk
  Behold I Do a New Thing: Transforming Communities of Faith
  The Pilgrim Press, 2001
    
  In this book the author recognizes the essential and massive work of transformation.  He offers a helpful analysis of four congregational types that seem to "work" these days and suggests that all of them can move across the grid to what he calls an "incarnational" congregation.

• Heifetz, Ronald
  Leadership Without Easy Answers
  Belknap Press
   
  An excellent resource about how leaders can respond to the challenges of today's world in which competing forces pull them in different ways.  Two key concepts are discussed: "Getting on the Balcony", the ability to disengage and reflect on a current conflict, and "Technical Change" (changing small things or rearranging furniture on the Titanic) versus "Adaptive Change" (changing systems or switching boats).

• Herrington, Jim; Bonem, Mike; and Furr, James
  Leading Congregational Change
  Jossey-Bass Press
    
  A wonderful step-by-step description, in general terms, of the stages of congregational change.  It includes scripture references and many helpful resources from the business world artfully woven into the narrative of the stages.

• Kotter, John
  Leading Change
  Harvard Business School Press
    
  The classic text describes the eight stages that businesses need to consider as they move through significant, sustained, systematic change.

• Mann, Alice
  Can Our Church Live?  Redeveloping Congregations in Decline
  Alban Institute, 1999
    
  This book asks and responds to the frank questions of congregations that are just recognizing their decline and are concerned about their future.  Using the lifecycle theory, Kotter's change theory, and other helpful analysis tools, Mann helps congregational leaders know where they are and how to take advantage of this stage in order to choose new life.

• Mead, Loren B.
  The Once and Future Church
  Alban Institute, 1991
    
  This is Mead’s seminal work that outlines the paradigm shift for congregations today – that the mission field is no longer far off in foreign lands, but here at home.  Mead makes the case that we need to consider ourselves in an apostolic paradigm once more, with porous boundaries and a ready witness/mission to those outside the church.  Other Mead books that continue unfolding this theme are Transforming Congregations for the Future,
  and Five Challenges for the Once and Future Church.

• Oswald, Roy M. and Friedrich, Robert E.
  Discerning Your Congregations Future
  Alban Institute, 1996
    
  This book approaches the planning process from a perspective of strategic planning with a spiritual grounding as the starting point.  The authors outline a specific step-by-step process for involving the congregation in a discernment of what they believe God is calling them to be and do.  Practical and easy to follow models and processes make up most of this small book.  Resources for corporate prayer and meditation are especially useful for those who are serious about discernment as a "spiritual" endeavor and not just a secular strategic planning process.

• Rendel, Gilbert R. and Alice Mann
  Holy Conversations
  Alban Institute, 2003
    
  Gil Rendel and Alice Mann have put together an excellent resource book for any church that is seeking the answers to three basic questions:  Who are we ?  What has God called us to do or be?  And Who is our neighbor?  The resources are very practical and represent the best processes and tools used by many of the consultants of the Alban Institute.  Purchasers of the book can download reproducible versions of many of the book's resources and handouts from the Alban website.  By choosing the resources that best suit their needs and context, congregational leaders will be able to shape their own trans-forming "holy conversations" as they seek to collectively find the answers to the three basic questions.

• *Rendel, Gilbert R.
  Leading Change in the Congregation
  Alban Institute, 1998
    
  A superb volume with great viewpoints from which to view change in a congregation.  This book includes helpful exercises for leaders and church members to help transform their perspective of church.

• *Robinson, Anthony
  Transforming Congregational Culture
  Eerdmans, 2003
    
  This experienced pastor and consultant knows the mainline ethos and culture well.  He argues that what is necessary to meet God’s call to congregations today is not only church growth techniques but a profound change in congregational culture.  Extremely helpful is Robinson's development of the multiple cultural shifts congregations need to address.  Most congregations will see themselves in this treatment, whether they are healthy or just holding on.

• Roxburgh, Alan
  Crossing the Bridge: Leadership in a Time of Change
  Online version available from Percept
    
  We are not only living in a time of enormous change, we are living in a time of transition from a world that was and the world that is yet to be.  As a generation of leaders we find ourselves needing to live on a bridge between the world as we've know it and the world which is emerging.  Tools and patterns which worked well just a few years ago, no longer fit.  We cannot go back and we're not sure how to move ahead...  As leaders and congregations seek to live the Gospel in our time, this is a resource that offers understanding and resources for our journey into the future.

• *Roxburgh, Alan; and Romanuk, Fred
  The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church To Reach a Changing World
  Jossey-Bass, 2006
    
  Experts in the field of missional leadership, Roxburgh and Romanuk outline a strategic change model that can be implemented to help transform a congregation and its leaders.  The also present the factors that define the character of an effective missional leader and show how a pastor and other lay leaders can lead their congregation to best serve their church and the larger community.

• *Schwartzentruber, Michael (Editor)
  The Emerging Christian Way: Thoughts, Stories, and Wisdom for a Faith of Transformation
  Copper House, 2006
    
  This collection of fourteen essays, by some of the leading authors and creative thinkers in the field, covers every aspect of this developing Christianity.  Key concepts, such as deep ecology, social justice, radical inclusion, and the importance of honoring the wisdom of other world faiths, are explored.  So, too, are the implications of worship, music, pastoral care, and education.

• Sellon, Mary K.; Smith, Daniel P.; and Grossman, Gail F.
  Redeveloping the Congregation
  Alban Institute, 2002
    
  This book is especially useful for congregations that have been on a decline for several years and offers a specific model for helping to reverse that decline and "begin the redevelopment process."  The authors address some key questions using a framework of eight steps based on the seminal work of John P. Kotter in his book Leading Change.  The authors suggest that the redevelopment process is one that may take as long as seven years and is not for those who want a "quick fix."

• Snow, Luther K.
  The Power of Asset Mapping
  Alban Institute, 2004
    
  Asset mapping is a way for a church community to think together about their gifts for ministry and mission.  It is not a new system or theory, but a simple way of discovering an "open sum" perspective rooted in the Bible and common experience.  Positive energy is created as members of a church community learn how God empowers them through their individual and corporate gifts and resources.  The book can be used to help congregations begin their transformation effort by discovering the amazing resources God has granted them.  This book also provides a step-by-step process outline that is easy to use with small or large groups.

• *Steinke, Peter L.
  Healthy Congregations: A Systems Approach
  Alban Institute, 1996
    
  This is a basic book for anyone wanting to understand how to affect change in a congregation. It is filled with useful tools and information which can help pastors and leaders.  Systems thinking is essential if churches are to see beyond the immediate.  At a time when churches are often clergy focused instead of mission focused, this book can help open the doors to a different future, one to which God is calling the church at the beginning of the 21st century.

• Weems, Lovett H., Jr.
  Take the Next Step: Leading Lasting Change in the Church
  Abingdon Press, 2003
    
  This work gives much needed permission to congregations to discern their own process of transformation, and, when it is impossible to see the future clearly enough to develop a plan to achieve it.

• Wheatley, Margaret J.
  Turning to One Another:  Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future
  Berrett-Koehler, 2002
    
  Wheatley is immersed in the relationship between the "new science," community building and spirituality.  She has hope for the future as people and groups practice the art of purposeful conversation.  This well-written book is easily applicable to congregations and pastoral life.

• Williamson, Clark M. and Allen, Ronald J.
  The Vital Church: Teaching, Worship, Community, Service
  Chalice Press 1998
    
  This book is about the why of congregational transformation.  It offers a way for the church to look at itself that is easily understandable and then opens the door to finding practical solutions.  In a changing world that is unchanging, vital congregations have a balanced mix of teaching, worship, community and service.  Most declining churches have neglected parts of the whole ministry, often ignoring the importance of education or putting a lot of energy into service or community while neglecting worship.  This is a book worth studying by leaders and congregations.

TOP