David L. Cooperrider and Diana Whitney, Appreciative Inquiry: A Positive Revolution in Change. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2005. Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal – Whole Systems, Large Groups LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a brief introductory guide to a Appreciate Inquiry (AI), a Whole Systems approach to organizational renewal that has been useful in churches. Although not
Sue Annis Hammond, The Thin Book of Appreciative Inquiry, 2nd Edition. Thin Book Publishing 1998. Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal – Whole Systems, Large Groups LifeandLeadership.com Summary This book discusses Appreciative Inquiry (AI), a Whole Systems approach to organizational renewal that has been useful in many churches. This is perhaps the most popular book
David L. Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, and Jacqueline M. Stavros, Appreciative Inquiry Handbook: for Leaders of Change, 2nd Edition. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2008. Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal – Whole Systems, Large Groups LifeandLeadership.com Summary This book discusses Appreciative Inquiry (AI), a Whole Systems approach to organizational renewal that has been useful in many churches. Cooperrider
Everett Ferguson, The Church of Christ: A Biblical Ecclesiology for Today. Eerdmans, 1996. Referenced in: Biblical Ecclesiologies LifeandLeadership.com Summary Ecclesiology is very important to congregational leadership and renewal. Ecclesiologies come in several varieties. LifeandLeadership.com focuses on three – biblical, comparative, and contextualized. For definitions see the essay on Church Renewal/Ecclesiology. Also, since each major section
Robert Lewis, Wayne Cordeiro, and Warren Bird, Culture-Shift: Transforming Your Church from the Inside Out. Jossey-Bass/Leadership Network, 2005. Referenced in: Approaches to Church Leadership and Renewal: Organic Church Congregational Culture, Church Identity LifeandLeadership.com Summary Most ministers have felt the frustration of attending a conference on church leadership, being informed and encouraged with ideas that have
Robert D. Dale, Seeds for the Future: Growing Organic Leaders for Living Churches. Chalice Press, 2005. Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal – Organic LifeandLeadership.com Summary Most books on church renewal discuss leadership, but few are as targeted in discussing the kind of leadership necessary for effective church transformation as this one by Robert Dale.
Harrison Owen, Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide, Third Edition, Revised and Expanded. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2008. Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal – Whole Systems, Large Group LifeandLeadership.com Summary Open Space Technology (OST) is a Whole Systems design approach to congregational renewal. While useful for planning, its primary benefit is for bringing large groups together
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
Luther K. Snow, The Power of Asset-Mapping: How Your Congregation Can Act Upon Its Gifts. Alban Institute, 2004. 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. Many approaches to congregational renewal are based on evaluations
Peter Schwartz, The Art of the Long View: Planning for the Future in an Uncertain World. Currency Doubleday. 1996. Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal – Whole Systems, Large Group LifeandLeadership.com Summary This book discusses Scenario Planning, a Whole Systems approach to organizational renewal that has been useful in many churches. Consult the Resource Guide
