Jim Belcher, Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional. IVP Books, 2009. Referenced in: Missional Communities – Convergent with Conventional Theology of Mission, Proposals and Formulations – Convergent with Conventional LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is one of several volumes under the banner of the Convergent church. As the term suggests, it seeks to capture
Mark Liederbach and Alvin L Reid, The Convergent Church: Missional Worshippers in an Emerging Culture. Kregel Academic and Professional, 2009. Referenced in: Missional Communities – Convergent with Conventional Theology of Mission, Proposals and Formulations – Convergent with Conventional LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is one of several volumes under the banner of the Convergent. As the term
Dave Browning, Hybrid Church: The Fusion of Intimacy and Impact. Jossey-Bass/Leadership Network, 2010. Referenced in: Missional Communities – Convergent with Attractional LifeandLeadership.com Summary My students know I am a champion of “AND,” i.e. the solutions to most problems are not found in either/or thinking but in both/and thinking. Anxious times in culture tend to breed
Gary V. Nelson, Borderland Churches: A Congregation’s Introduction to Missional Living (TCP Leadership Series). Chalice Press, 2008. Referenced in: Missional Strategies, Transitioning Established Churches to Missional LifeandLeadership.com Summary This book is part of The Columbia Partnership Leadership Series, a collection noted for its excellence. For leaders of established churches who want to guide their churches
Rick Morse, From Our Doorsteps: Developing a Ministry Plan that Makes Sense. Chalice Press, 2010. Referenced in: Missional Strategies, Transitioning Established Churches to Missional LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is an excellent guide to contextual ministry for established churches that have plateaued and want to reconnect with their communities. From the Publisher From Our Doorsteps helps congregations
Linda Bergquist and Allan Karr, Church Turned Inside Out: A Guide for Designers, Refiners, and Re-Aligners. Jossey-Bass, 2009. Referenced in: Missional Strategies, Transitioning Established Churches to Missional LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a theoretically rich and practically useful approach to taking any church, any form, any background, and moving it from internally-focused to missionally engaged. Specifically,
Hugh Halter and Matt Smay, AND: The Gathered and Scattered Church. Zondervan, 2010. Companion volume: Halter and Smay, The Tangible Kingdom Referenced in: Missional Communities – Organic Church Missional Philosophy LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a follow-up to the authors’ popular volume, The Tangible Kingdom. These volumes present a very “organic” model of mission communities similar
Hugh Halter and Matt Smay, The Tangible Kingdom: Creating Incarnational Community, the Posture and Practices of an Ancient Future Now. Leadership Network / Jossey-Bass, 2008. Companion volume: Halter and Smay, AND: The Gathered and Scattered Church Referenced in: Missional Communities – Organic Church LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a similar genre to the organic church models
Reggie McNeal, Missional Renaissance: Changing the Scorecard for the Church. Jossey-Bass / Leadership Network, 2009. Prequel: McNeal, The Present Future Sequel: McNeal, Missional Communities Referenced in: Missional Communities – Missio Dei LifeandLeadership.com Summary Reggie McNeal is a strong and authoritative voice on the missional movement. In what may be called the sequel to his bestseller
Milfred Minatrea, Shaped by God’s Heart: the Passion and Practices of Missional Churches. Jossey-Bass, 2004. Referenced in: Missional Communities – Missio Dei LifeandLeadership.com Summary This volume is a rare combination of research and practice. It is a Leadership Network equivalent to Lois Barrett’s Treasure in Clay Jars produced by the Gospel and Our Culture Network.
