Lyle E. Schaller and Warren Bird, Wisdom from Lyle E. Schaller: The Elder Statesman of Church Leadership. Abingdon Press, 2012. Referenced in: Church Leadership Foundations, Church Dynamics, Church Research Church Leadership Strategies, Overview of Approaches LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a distillation of best insights from a man known as the “Dean of Church Consultants,” who
George W. Bullard, Jr., Pursuing The Full Kingdom Potential of Your Congregation (TCP Leadership Series). Chalice Press, 2006. Referenced in: Strategies for Church Leadership and Renewal – Congregational Health Cycle LifeandLeadership.com Summary George Bullard is an insightful church strategist, one of the best in my opinion. At the time he wrote this book, he was
Robert Dale, To Dream Again: How to Help Your Church Come Alive. Wipf and Stock, 2004. Referenced in: Strategies for Church Leadership and Renewal – Congregational Health Cycle LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a recognized classic in church leadership, first published in 1988 and now in a nice reprint edition. Dale provides an excellent discussion of
Karl Albrecht, The Northbound Train: Finding the Purpose, Setting the Direction, Shaping the Destiny of Your Organization. Karl Albrecht International, 2003. Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal – Strategic Planning LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is recognized as a standard text on strategic planning in business circles. As such, it assumes many of the realities of business
Nancy Vogel, Catching the Next Wave Workbook: Leadership Strategies for Turnaround Congregations. Augsburg Fortress, 1999. Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal – Strategic Planning, Congregational Discernment LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a companion to Steven J. Goodwin, Catching the Next Wave (1999), but one needs only this volume to get the gist of the approach. The
Roy M. Oswald and Robert E. Friedrich, Jr., Discerning Your Congregation’s Future: A Strategic and Spiritual Approach. Alban Institute, 1996. Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal – Strategic Planning, Congregational Discernment LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a brief, well-written, directive guidebook to strategic planning as a spiritual practice by seasoned practitioner-scholar-consultants from the Alban Institute. It
Daniel P. Smith and Mary K. Sellon, Pathway to Renewal: Practical Steps for Congregations. Alban Institute, 2008. Referenced in: Strategies for Congregational Renewal – Strategic Planning, Congregational Discernment LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a good attempt at applying the best practices of spiritual formation and congregational development to the hard work of church renewal. The book
Gil Rendle and Alice Mann, Holy Conversations: Strategic Planning as a Spiritual Practice for Congregations. Alban Institute, 2003. Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal – Strategic Planning, Congregational Discernment LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is my top recommendation for congregational strategic planning. Holy Conversations integrates a considerable breadth of spiritual and organizational resources. This includes spiritual discernment
Aubrey Malphurs, Advanced Strategic Planning: A New Model for Church and Ministry Leaders, Third Edition. Baker, 2013. Referenced in: Strategic Planning – Leader/Participatory LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a complete process for strategic planning, following a fairly standard planning sequence, and providing guidance for each step. Malphurs also places much more emphasis on creating statements of
Aubrey Malphurs, Developing a Dynamic Mission for Your Ministry: Finding Direction and Making an Impact as a Church Leader, Second Edition. Kregel Academic and Professional, 1998. Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal – Leader-Directed Vision-Casting Strategic Planning – Leader/Participatory LifeandLeadership.com Summary Just as Malphurs’ Developing a Vision for Ministry in the 21st Century and Values-Driven
