Rick Rouse and Craig Van Gelder, A Field Guide for the Missional Congregation: Embarking on a Journey of Transformation. Augsburg Fortress, 2008.
Prequels:
Referenced in: Missional Strategies by Craig Van Gelder
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
The Ministry of the Missional Church encompasses both theology and practice, but since its purpose is to discuss how churches are led, it is probably best categorized as a text on missional leadership. A Field Guide for the Missional Congregation is the follow-up to The Ministry of the Missional Church.
Other works by Van Gelder such as The Missional Church in Context (2007), The Missional Church and Denominations (2008), The Missional Church and Leadership Formation (2009), while entitled in a way that may attract the interest of congregational leaders, are designed primarily for those who train church leaders on a college/seminary level.
Although not all of Van Gelder’s works are officially part of the Gospel and Our Culture Series, each is certainly of that ilk. Van Gelder is recognized as one of the most outstanding strategists in the missional conversation.
Summary: A Field Guide for the Missional Congregation describes how church leaders may responsibly traverse the journey of congregational change toward becoming more missional. Typical of Van Gelder, there is a sensitive integration that seeks to insure that the change is both Spirit-led and organizationally sound. The authors stay away from “how-to” language, leaving each congregation to discover their own congregational path. Nevertheless their experiences have identified seven transformational keys that seem fairly universal to God’s work within congregations (each with its own chapter, followed by discussion questions).
- Develop a vision for God’s mission
- Focus on God’s mission and discipleship
- Cultivate a healthy climate
- Build a supportive team of staff and lay leadership
- Stay the course when facing conflict
- Practice stewardship to build financial viability
- Celebrate successes and the contributions of all
Following these keys helps leaders stay focused on the better situation they envision with their change efforts, and not to get sidetracked by the anxious resistance and other forms of conflict experienced along the way.
A few chapters at the beginning lay out the challenging context in which churches must engage their changes, and the biblical and theological foundations that insure a church’s rootedness in a missional identity (addressed more thoroughly in The Essence of the Church).
From the Publisher
The roster of books on leadership is full of high theory and grand expositions of biblical principles. But there is precious little practical advice for regular people committed to releasing positive change within their local churches. Here one of the church’s foremost theoreticians and one of its most accomplished transformational leaders combine strengths to clarify both how sound congregational transformation can be accomplished by regular folks and the very Christ-centered foundations upon which transformation must rest. With unflinching honesty and a deep, knowing sense for the joy that comes from Spirit-led change, the authors guide the reader on a quest for a future church alive with the abundant life God intended.
A Field Guide for the Missional Congregation reveals seven transformational keys, using real-life case studies to illustrate each key. A reflective milestone framework, including discovery questions for each chapter, ground the book in a practical process.
About the Author
Rick Rouse is Senior Pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Phoenix, Arizona, and teaches at Luther Seminary in the Doctor of Ministry program. He is the author of Fire of Grace: The Healing Power of Forgiveness, and serves as a church consultant and popular conference speaker.
***For additional information on this resource, including reviews, click the bookstore links. Check the reference at page top or the links below for resource guides on related topics.***
See Resource Guides on Related Areas
- Missional Perspectives, Introduction
- Missional Church Resources, Introduction and Index
- Church Leadership and Renewal, Index to Resources
See Resources on Over 100 Areas of Ministry Leadership: