Bob Sitze, Not Trying Too Hard: New Basics for Sustainable Congregations. Alban Institute, 2001.
Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal: Whole Systems, Large Group
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
Asset-Mapping is a Whole Systems “assets-based” approach to organizational renewal that has been useful in churches. See the Resource Guide for a brief overview of whole systems techniques.
This method suggests when congregations base renewal on assessments of their missional ineffectiveness over against popular benchmarks, it often leads to demoralization and the adoption of ministry models that are not well suited to the capacity of their congregations. For a variety of reasons, many churches simply are not able to execute broad, sweeping renewal efforts. Factors such as lack of critical mass, low resources, median age of members, remote locations, and others make it unfeasible.
Sitze’s approach helps congregations craft renewal efforts that are more to scale, gain positive momentum through successful bite-sized experiences, and allow small successes to lead to larger outcomes over time.
From the Publisher
What is a congregation for?
What are members for?
What are pastors for?
Bob Sitze, an evocative and sometimes whimsical writer and workshop leader, offers a new vision for congregations and their leaders—a vision that releases us from the growing burden of trying harder to invent and implement “better” worship, evangelism, stewardship, small groups, long-range planning, mission statements, and the like. Sitze argues instead that as congregations apply the insights of “simpler lifestyles” to their life together, they will find joy and fulfillment by more closely matching their expectations for ministry with personal and corporate assets.
Recognizing that most congregations will not be able to carry out a complete transformation of their communities, Sitze advocates a “small-step approach” to change and provides readers with the necessary tools to engage what is possible without trying too hard. He points readers toward the congregation of the future and assures them that they have the capacity to reimagine their own congregation. A design for a simple, experiential workshop that can also be used in other adult education settings provides a method for sharing Sitze’s vision with an array of members. Foreword by Janet O. Hagberg, Director of the Silent Witness National Initiative.
About the Author
Bob Sitze is director for hunger education for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. An experienced educator and writer, Sitze has been an observer—and servant—of congregations for more than forty years.
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