Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch, The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century. Peabody, Mass. Hendrickson Publishers, 2003. Referenced in: Missional Philosophy Missional Communities – Missio Dei LifeandLeadership.com Summary There are several excellent authors on the missional church, but Frost and Hirsch are perhaps the most recognized spokesmen. Their models
Ed Stetzer and David Putnam, Breaking the Missional Code: Your Church Can Become a Missionary in Your Community. B & H Publishing, 2006. Companion volume: Stetzer, Breaking the Discipleship Code Referenced in: Missional Communities – Missio Dei LifeandLeadership.com Summary Ed Stetzer is one of the most astute observers of churches today. As a highly respected
Erwin Raphael McManus, An Unstoppable Force: Daring to Become the Church God Had in Mind. Group Publishing, 2001. Referenced in: Congregational Culture, Church Identity Leadership and Organizational Culture Missional Strategies – First Read LifeandLeadership.com Summary It is hard to know exactly how to categorize this resource. This may be its value. McManus is Lead Pastor
Will Mancini, Church Unique: How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture, and Create Movement. John Wiley and Sons, 2009. Referenced in: Congregational Culture, Church Identity Leadership and Organizational Culture Strategies for Church Renewal – Leader-Directed Vision-Casting Strategies for Church Renewal – Organic LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is probably one of the most helpful volumes available in
Bill Easum, Sacred Cows Make Gourmet Burgers: Ministry Anytime, Anywhere, By Anyone. Abingdon Press, 1995. Referenced in: Strategies for Congregational Renewal – Easum and Bandy’s Diagnostic on Thriving Congregations Empowering Leadership Involvement and Gift-Based Ministry LifeandLeadership.com Summary This was Bill Easum’s first attempt to describe permission-giving, servant-empowering, team-based congregational ministry systems. Easum’s more thorough treatment
Bill Easum, Unfreezing Moves: Following Jesus into the Mission Field. Abingdon Press, 2002. Referenced in: Strategies for Congregational Renewal – Easum and Bandy’s Diagnostic on Thriving Congregations Empowering Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary I would call this book, “Permission-Giving, Servant Empowering Congregational Cultures 101,” and although it may be too academic, it would be on target. Let’s
Thomas G. Bandy, Spirited Leadership: Empowering People to do What Really Matters. Chalice Press, 2008. Also featured, companion volume: Bandy, Christian Chaos Referenced in: Strategies for Congregational Renewal – Easum and Bandy’s Diagnostic on Thriving Congregations Empowering Leadership Empowering Ministry Belief Systems and Structures Plural-Elder Congregational Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary The word “empowerment” is used often
Samuel R. Chand, Cracking Your Church’s Culture Code: Seven Keys to Unleashing Vision and Inspiration, Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series. Jossey-Bass, 2010. Referenced in: Congregational Culture, Church Identity Leadership and Organizational Culture LifeandLeadership.com Summary There are several important components of congregational purpose, but none more powerful than congregational culture. It is also distinguished from components such
James P. Wind, Constructing Your Congregation’s Story. Augsburg Fortress, 1993. Referenced in: Congregational Culture, Church Identity LifeandLeadership.com Summary Often, efforts at congregational renewal involve an attempt to craft a history of how God has worked in a congregation since its inception. This is healthy, as it is rare for any conception of a congregation’s future
James F. Hopewell, Congregation: Stories and Structures. Augsburg Fortress, 2006. Referenced in: Congregational Culture, Church Identity LifeandLeadership.com Summary This remains as one of the most fascinating and unique discussions of the church since its original publication in the late 1980s. It may be still be purchased as hard copy, but the entire text may also
