Bud Wrenn, Innovative Planning: Your Church in 4-D. Chalice Press, 2008. Referenced in: Church Leadership Foundations, Church Dynamics, Research LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is probably the best “Planning 101” volume available, and should be first reading for anyone thinking about engaging their congregation in intentional strategic development. It is not necessarily a step-by-step process, but is
Diana Butler Bass and Joseph Stewart-Sicking, Editors, From Nomads to Pilgrims: Stories from Practicing Congregations. Alban Institute, 2005. Prequel: Bass, The Practicing Congregation (2004) Sequel: Bass, Christianity for the Rest of Us (2007) Referenced in: Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches LifeandLeadership.com Summary This volume is the second book by Bass that reflects the
Diana Butler Bass, Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith. HarperOne, 2007. Prequels: Bass, The Practicing Congregation (2004) Bass, From Nomads to Pilgrims (2005) Referenced in: Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches LifeandLeadership.com Summary This volume is the third book by Bass that reflects the findings of
Diana Butler Bass, The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church. Alban Institute, 2004. Sequels: Bass, From Nomads to Pilgrims (2005) Bass, Christianity for the Rest of Us (2007) Referenced in: Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is the first of three volumes that reflect the findings of “The Project on
Alice Mann, Can Our Church Live? Alban Institute, 2000. Referenced in: Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches LifeandLeadership.com Summary This volume reflects the findings of an Alban Institute task force on the phenomenon of “Redevelopment.” In the study, they chose a number of congregations that seemed beyond the point of recovery due to factors
Mary Louise Gifford, The Turnaround Church: Inspiration and Tools for Life-Sustaining Change. Alban Institute, 2009. Referenced in: Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches LifeandLeadership.com Summary This resource definitely fits into the descriptive vs. prescriptive category. It is the inspiring story of the renewal of a church that had very little hope and few tangible
Bob Russell and Rusty Russell, When God Builds a Church: 10 Principles for Growing a Dynamic Church. Howard Books, 2000. Referenced in: Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches LifeandLeadership.com Summary Bob Russell is one of the most respected ministers in America, and understandably so. This is not only because of his success as a
Paul Wilkes, Excellent Protestant Congregations: The Guide to Best Places and Practices. Westminster/John Knox, 2004. Referenced in: Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is the result of researching over 300 Protestant congregations that fit certain criteria for effectiveness. Nine of them are profiled in the book. One criteria was to find
Kevin G. Harney and Bob Bouwer, The U-Turn Church: New Direction for Health and Growth. Baker Books, 2011. Referenced in: Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches LifeandLeadership.com Summary The authors address how to transition a historically traditional church that has lost its missional connection with its surrounding community and “turn” into a fully engaged
Robert D. Dale, Cultivating Perennial Churches: Your Guide to Long-Term Growth (TCP Leadership Series). Chalice Press, 2008. Referenced in: Church Leadership Strategies, Traditional Church Renewal Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches LifeandLeadership.com Summary Bob Dale has written extensively on congregational leadership. Here he addresses his passion for long-term growth and vitality. Few churches achieve
