Christian's Mission and Leadership Bibliography

As of October 2006

 

A Reading List

(Updated at least Quarterly.  Current one is from Ed White. 

Table Of Contents

To return to the Table of Contents, click on the section header.

Part I. General

A.- Transforming Congregations

B.-  Modern/Post Modern and the Emerging Generation

C.-  Clergy Development and Renewal

D.-  Multiculturalism

Part II. Natural Church Development – Eight Qualities of Healthy Congregations

A.     Empowering Leadership

B.     Gift Oriented Ministry

C.     Passionate spirituality

D.    Functional Structures

E.     Inspiring Worship

F.      Healthy Small Groups

G.    Need Oriented Evangelism

H.    Loving Relationships

Part I. General

1. Transforming Congregations

1. Transforming Congregational Culture by Anthony B. Robinson William B Eerdmans Publishers Grand Rapids MI 2003  An excellent “road map” for traditional Protestant congregations that are trying to be transformed in order to be fruitful in ministry in the twenty first century.

2. Power Surge: Six Marks of Discipleship For A Changing Church, by Michael W. Foss Augsburg-Fortress Publishers Minneapolis 2000 An excellent manual for moving a traditional Protestant congregation from being in the membership business to being in the disciple making business.

3. Reclaiming The “L” Word: Renewing The Church From Its Lutheran Core  by Kelly A. Fryer  Augsburg – Fortress 2003  A vivacious story about a little congregation that was transformed by becoming clear about its purpose and its guiding principles.

4. The Connecting Church: Beyond Small Groups  To Authentic Community by Randy Frazee   Zondervan Publishing Co.  Grand Rapids MI 2000  An exciting and comprehensive design for building a vital counter cultural Christian community.  A brilliant analysis of the way in which the culture of individualism, isolation and consumerism undermines everything Jesus taught and stood for. “Many “successful” churches are not really building community but they are doing a great job of marketing consumable services to individuals: p 183

5. Reinventing American Protestantism: Christianity In The New Millennium  by Donald E. Miller University of California Press  Los Angeles  1997. A scholarly and sympathetic study of three of the newest Christian movements in the U.S.A.  (Calvary Chapel, Hope Chapel and the Vineyard Churches)  Identifies the seven driving principles that energize new paradigm congregations in a post Christian society.

6.   Natural Church Development   by Christian A. Schwarz  Church Smart Resources   1 –

      800 – 253 – 4276   Schwarz did a research study of 1000 congregations from 32 countries

      on six continents. He has identified eight quality characteristics that were found together

      in all high quality growing congregations.

      7.   A New And Right Spirit: Creating An Authentic Church In A Consumer Culture by

            Rick Barger  The Alban Institute  Herndon VA 2005  Rick is pastor of Abiding Hope

            Lutheran Church in Littleton Colorado, site of the Columbine High School tragedy. This

            is one of the largest and fastest growing congregations in the ELCA. Explores how the

           church can live out of its Gospel story offering Jesus instead of offering deals, providing

           goods and services or promoting causes.

8.  Uncovering Your Church’s Hidden Spirit  by Celia Allison Hahn   Alban Institute

     2001. A sensitive study of five very different Episcopal congregations that discovered 

     their corporate spiritual identity

9. The Millennium Matrix: Reclaiming  The Past, Reframing The Future Of The Church  

    by M Rex Miller   Jossey Bass Publishers   San Francisco CA 2004   Describes the four

    historic cultures and their eras, the oral, print, broadcast and digital cultures. Explores how

    congregations and church leaders need to change in order to embrace the emerging digital

    culture. 

       10. The Practicing Congregation: Imagining A New Old Church  by Diana Butler Bass 

             The Alban Institute 2004  Describes mainline Protestant congregations that display an

             unexpected vitality, adaptability and faithfulness. Traditional congregations can

             experience new life.

       11. The Hidden Lives Of Congregations: Discerning Church Dynamics by Israel

             Galindo   The Alban Institute 2004   Explores issues of congregational life span, size

             change, spirituality styles, identity, leadership, theology and vision.  How to make sense

             of what is going on in the life of the congregation and address ministry challenges

       12. Mainline Manifesto: The Inevitable New Church by Charles Denison   Chalice Press 

             St Louis 2005  How mainline congregations can adapt to thrive in a post modern society,

             especially in reaching the younger generations

13.   Becoming A Blessed Church: Forming A Church of Spiritual Purpose, Presence    

      and Power by N. Graham Standish Alban Institute 2005  For those who seek the

      Creator’s purposes, hunger for Jesus’ presence, and know that the Spirit’s power alone

      can save and heal the world.

2. Modern-Post Modern and the Emerging Generation

14.  The Church On The Other Side: Doing Ministry In The Postmodern Matrix by Brian D. McLaren  Zondervan Publishing House Grand Rapids Michigan 2000 A clearly written statement by a pastor who dissolved and reconstituted his congregation in order to reach  unchurched young people in a postmodern era

15. A Is For Abductive: The Language Of The Emerging Church by Leonard Sweet,

      Brian D. McLaren, and Jerry Haselmayer   Zondervan Press Grand Rapids MI 2003  An

      excellent introduction to the thought world of  post modern Christians of the 20 – 35 year

      old generation.

16. A Generous Orthodoxy : Why I Am A missional + evangelical + post/protestant + liberal/conservative + mystical/poetic + biblical + charismatic/contemplative + fundamentalist/Calvinist + Anabaptist/Anglican + Methodist + catholic + green + incarnational + depressed-yet-hopeful + emergent + unfinished CHRISTIAN by Brian McLaren  Zondervan Book 2004

17.   The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity For New Generations by Dan Kimball  Zondervan 2003   An exploration of what is being learned in congregations that reach out to the unchurched in a post modern, post Christian society. The appendices offer a rich variety of resources.  A book for those who dare to venture into new and uncharted territory.

18.  Stories Of Emergence: Moving From Absolute To Authentic  Mike Yaconelli-General Editor   Zondervan Press Grand Rapids 2003  Compelling stories from fifteen who have journeyed beyond their faith of origin…a former fundamentalist, a former Pentecostal, a former liberal, a former feminist, a former communist and several other “formers”…

19.  The Post Evangelicals by Dave Tomlinson  Zondervan Press 2003 by the former leader of Holy Joe’s, an unconventional congregation that meets in a London Pub.

20.   Adventures In Missing The Point: How the Culture-Controlled Church Neutered The Gospel  by Brian D McLaren and Tony Campolo   Zondervan publishers  Grand Rapids MI 2003. Post modern dialogue re Evangelism, Social Action, Culture, Women in Ministry, Leadership, Seminary, Environment, Homosexuality, Sin, Worship, Doubt, Truth, and Being Post Modern.

21.  The Younger  Evangelicals by Robert E. Webber  Baker Books Grand Rapids 2002  An exciting portrayal of the “twenty somethings” who are moving away from the market driven approach of the baby boomers to reclaim tradition, authenticity, social conscience and a multigenerational faith community.

     22.  Unlearning Church:Just When You Thought You Had Leadership All Figured Out

            By Michael Slaughter with Warren Bird   Group Publishing   Loveland CO 2002 

            Explores the experience of a number of vital “emerging congregations” and suggest what

            established congregations need to unlearn in order to thrive

     23. The Post Industrial Promise: Vital Religious Community In The 21^st Century by

           Anthony E. Healy  The Alban Institute   2005   Herndon VA.  Healy tends to downplay

           the significance of the modern-postmodern shift and instead sees the church adapting to

           the shift from an industrial society to a post industrial society

24.  Border Crossings: Christian Trespasses On Popular Culture and Public Affairs by Rodney Clapp Brazos press   Grand Rapids MI  2000  How Christians can be Christian in a post Christian society

C. Clergy Development and Renewal

       25. Under The Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration Of Vocational Holiness

      by Eugene Peterson  William B. Eerdmans  Grand Rapids Michigan 1992

      Explores the vocational integrity of parish ministry in the face of pressures to distort from     

      culture, congregation and denomination. Advocates more emphasis on being a spiritual         

      director and less a program director.

26. In It For The Long Haul: Building Effective Long Term Pastorates by Glenn E.

      Ludwig  Alban Institute   Bethesda MD 2002  A thoughtful description of the steps and

      processes involved in developing and sustaining a healthy long pastorate.

27.  Journeying Toward Renewal: A Spiritual Companion for Pastoral Sabbaticals by Melissa Bane Sevier  Addresses the range of issues to be dealt with if the sabbatical is to be fruitful for both pastor and congregation.-

28.  Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First: Rediscovering Ministry by Bill Easum   Abingdon Press 2004. “First, you can’t give what you don’t have. Second, the ministry of pastors is to equip others for their own ministry.

29.  The Spiritual Leader’s Guide To Self Care by Rochelle Melander and Harold Eppley   Alban Institute 2002 Provides the agenda for a comprehensive journey over 52 weeks including provision for periodic overnight retreats. Major themes include, Creating a Life Vision, Caring For Yourself At Work, Nurturing Your Relationships, Caring For Your Physical and Material Needs, Caring ForYour Spiritual and Intellectual Needs, and Sustaining A Life Vision.

 D. The Congregation, Culture and Community – Multicultural Congregations

30.  The Wolf Shall Dwell With The Lamb by Eric H. F. Law  Chalice Press St. Louis 1993 A spirituality for leadership in a multi cultural community.  Other titles by Eric law include The Bush Was Blazing But Not Consumed 1996, Inclusion 2000, and Sacred Acts, Holy Change 2002, and The Word At The Crossings: Living The Good News In A Multicontextual Community 2004. all from Chalice Press.

31.  Community Ministry: New Challenges, Proven Steps to Faith Based Initiatives by Carl Dudley   Alban Institute  Bethesda MD 2002

32.  Multicultural Ministry by David A. Anderson   Zondervan   Grand Rapids MI  2004

Am excellent manual by an African American pastor who has a thriving multicultural congregation

Part II. Natural Church Development – Eight Qualities of Healthy Congregations

A.  Empowering Leadership

33. . Transformational Regional Bodies Promote Congregational Health, Vitality and growth by Roy M. Oswald and Claire S. Burkat  Life Structure Resources  2001  Call 1 – 800 – 723 – 0625.  Describes the role of regional judicatories in congregational transformation. How must regional bodies change in order to facilitate change in the local church?

34.  Hit The Bullseye: How Denominations Can Aim The Congregation At The Mission Field  by Paul D. Borden   Abingdon Press   Nashville 2003. The turnaround story of the American Baptist Churches of the West in Northern California and northwest Nevada. Only 16% of  their congregations were growing. Five years later 72% were growing.

35. Robust Church Development: A Vision For Mobilizing Regional Bodies in Support Of Missional Congregations  by Mike Regele  Percept Group Inc 2003 

36. Mission Mover: Beyond Education For Church Leadership by Thomas G. Bandy  Abingdon Press   Nashville  2004.  Filled with compelling insights…highly critical of seminaries and denominations, perhaps to excess.

37. Primal Leadership: Realizing The Power Of Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee  Harvard Business School Press Boston 2002. Explores the cluster of personal competencies needed to be an effective leader.

38. Leadership Without Easy Answers  Ronald A. Heifetz  Harvard University Press 1994        The difference between the leadership of expertise and the leadership that enables others to do the adaptive work to face new realities.

39. Leadership on The Line: Staying Alive Through The Dangers of Leading by Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky  Harvard Business School Press  Boston MA 2002 Excellent wisdom on how to be a fruitful leader and survive the necessary risks.

40. Spiritlinking Leadership: Working Through Resistance To Organizational Change  by Donna Markham  Paulist Press New York 1999  for those who are “value driven, compassionate and bold enough to take some delight in chaos and the lack of absolute certitude.”

41. Now Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton   The Free Press   New York 2001  Includes taking an instrument on the internet to discover the five primary talents which are the strengths you need to develop to be fruitful.

42. Not Trying Too Hard: New Basics For Sustainable Congregations by Bob Sitze   Alban Institute  Bethesda MD 2001   A wise and witty analysis of the factors that lead to overstress, workaholism and burnout among church leaders. A critique of some of the presumptions we make about “leadership”. An approach to planning that will encourage health and creativity in the congregation.

43. The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team by Patrick Lencioni  Jossey Bass Publishers San Francisco 2002. A “must read” for heads of staff who are trying to build a high energy high trust staff team in a congregation.

44. Redeveloping The Congregation: A How To For Lasting Change by Mary K. Sellon, Daniel P. Smith, and Gail F. Grossman  Alban Institute Bethesda MD 2002  Uses the eight reasons why efforts at institutional change fail from the book Leading Change by John Kotter to describe the stages in transforming a declining congregation.

45. When Not To Build by Ray Bowman and Eddy Hall  Baker Books Grand Rapids MI 2002  Unconventional wisdom from an experienced church architect. A must read for any congregation that is thinking of building. Articulates sound principles on which to base decisions.

46. The Leadership Labyrinth: Negotiating The Paradoxes of Ministry   by Judson Edwards   Smyth and Helwys   Macon GA 2005  A brilliant exposition of 21 leadership paradoxes that confront the pastor. (Example: “The harder you try to control a group the less control you will have.”)

47. Transforming Conflict In Your Church by Marlin E. Thomas  Herald press   Scottsdale PA. A practical manual for congregational leaders that includes a “congregational  conflict type indicator”, excellent insights into understanding different types of conflict, an analysis of five levels of conflict together with an assessment instrument, a chapter on how to correct systems failures, and one on what congregations can do to help themselves resolve conflict.

48. Leading Change in the Congregation: Spiritual and Organizational Tools For Leaders  by Gilbert R. Rendle Alban Institute 1998. A practical guide for congregational leaders in a  turbulent and unpredictable environment. “Welcome to the wilderness.”

49. Welcoming Resistance by William Chris Hobgood   The Alban Institute 2001  Congregations tend to resist change. Resistance can be dysfunctional but it can have a positive function.  This book offers a constructive strategy for responding to resistance. Helpful insights and provocative case studies.

50.  Staying Power: Why People Leave The Church Over Change (and what you can do about it!)  by Bob Whitesel   Abingdon Press 2003  Excellent insights on managing change.

51. When Better Isn’t Enough: Evaluation Tools For The Twenty First Century Church by Jill M. Hudson   Alban Institute 2004  An overview of a new paradigm for ministry. 12 characteristics by which we can measure effective ministry.

52. Completing The Circle: Reviewing Ministries In The Congregation. By David R. McMahill  Alban Institute 2003  An alternative to negative “performance evaluations”.  From “How are the pastors doing?” to “How well are we as a congregation serving God.”

53. Making Disciples, Making Leaders: A Manual For Developing Church Officers   by Steven P. Eason   Geneva Press 2004  Written for the Presbyterian tradition but much is translatable for all congregations.   Assumes that church officers will become a community of spiritual leader at the heart of the congregation.

54. Ducking Spears, Dancing Madly :A Biblical Model of Church Leadership  By Lewis A. Parks and Bruce C. Birch  Abingdon Press Nashville 2004 A penetrating look at church leadership through the stories of Saul, David and other central Old Testament figures.

55. Leadership and the Art Of Conversation by Kim Krisco   Jaico Publishing House 

      Delhi India   Conversation as a management tool.

B.  Gift Oriented Ministry

56. The Equipping Church: Serving Together To Transform Lives by Sue Mallory The Leadership Network  Zondervan Publishers   A wonderful detailed story of the transformation of the Brentwood Presbyterian Church in California into a ministering community through a focus on helping each member to discover, develop and exercise their God given gifts in ministry.

57. The Equipping Church Guidebook by Sue Mallory Published by The Leadership Network  A companion piece to The Equipping Church, the Guidebook is a working manual for congregational leaders who are seeking to develop gift oriented ministry throughout the congregation.  Mobilizing church members for volunteer service and for ministry in daily life. Includes an outstanding list of tools, curricula and software.

58. Life Keys: Discovering Who You Are, Why You’re Here, and What You Do Best by Kise, Stark and Hirsh  Bethany House Publishers Minneapolis MN 1996 An excellent manual for helping church members discern their gifts and their ministry. Different chapters help us explore our natural talents, our spiritual gifts, our personality type, our values and our passions.

59.  Equipped For Every Good Work: Building A Gifts Based Church  by Dan R. Dick and Barbara Miller   Discipleship Resources   Nashville 2001   An excellent gifts inventory together with a number of other instruments designed to help a person discover their motivational pattern and arena of ministry. A special website (www.equippedforeverygoodwork.org) provides access to all the handouts, presentation materials, reference materials and interpretive aids.

60. Listening Hearts: Discerning Call In Community Suzanne Farnham et al   Morehouse Publishers   Harrisburg PA  1991  A manual for developing “discernment groups” who can help individuals to sort out vocational decisions by being active listeners and asking the right questions.

61. Ministry In Daily Life: A Practical Guide For Congregations  by William E. Diehl   Alban Institute   Washington DC 1996  There are chapters on “affirming the people”, “equipping the people”,  “supporting the people”, and the description of a new staff role for congregations, the “Director Of Member Ministries”.

62. Equipping The Saints: Mobilizing Laity For Ministry  Michael Christensen   Abingdon Press Nashville 2000. An excellent series of strategies for empowering laity for ministry in daily life.

C.  Passionate Spirituality

      63. Making Room For Life: Trading Chaotic Lifestyles for Connected Relationships

            By Randy Frazee   Zondervan Publishers   Grand Rapids MI 2003  A compelling strategy

            for escaping the rat race in order to have time for one another, for our children, for the

            church and for God.

      64.. The Cross In Our Context: Jesus and the Suffering World by Douglas John Hall 

            Augsburg-Fortress Press Minneapolis MN 2003   A challenge to the “crossless

            Christianity” that too often characterizes our congregations.  What does it mean to take

            up our cross and follow?

65.. Life Changing Faith For Today: Why Luther’s Theology Still Matters by David J.

            Monge  Augsburg Fortress 2003  Makes Luther come alive in the present in just 97

            pages!  

66.. Broken We Kneel: Reflections On Faith And Citizenship   by Diana Butler Bass 

            Jossey-Bass Publishers  San Francisco CA 2004  A Christian response to the triumphalist

            slogan “United We Stand” which has little basis in reality.

67.. Listening To God: Spiritual Formation In Congregations by John Ackerman  Alban

       Institute 2001  A manual for spiritual formation in the life of a congregation. Helpful

       exercises and instruments.

68.  A Praying Congregation: The Art Of Teaching Spiritual Practice by Jane E. Vennard  

       Alban Institute   Herndon VA 2005  An excellent manual on how to develop a praying

       congregation.

69. Breathing Space: A Spiritual Journey In The South Bronx by Heidi B. Neumark  Beacon

      Press Boston MA 2003  Spirituality and Justice meet in this beautiful account of ministry at

      the Lutheran Church of the Transfiguration  set in one of the most troubled neighborhoods in

      America.  Beautiful stories of people who have been through hell and found new life

      together.

70. SABBATH: Restoring The Sacred Rhythm of Rest by Wayne Muller  Bantam Books

      1999  Explores the manner in which we have traded time for money in this society to the

      point where our relationships to one another and to God are at risk.

71.. The Disciple Making Church: From Dry Bones To Spiritual Vitality by Glenn

           McDonald   Faithwalk Publishing  Grand haven MI 2004 Describes six discipling

           relationships and six marks of a disciple. Transformation in community.

72.  A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward An Undivided Life by Parker J. Palmer  

            Jossey Bass   San Francisco  CA  2004.  The journey to integrity where your inner self

            and outer self become congruent. The importance of creating circles of trust.

73.  Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity In A Rebellious World by Lee C. Camp  

            Brazos Press  Grand Rapids MI 2003What does it mean to actually follow Jesus in the

            way of the Cross in a post modern, post Christian society?

D.  Functional Structures

74. Holy Conversations: Strategic Planning As A Spiritual Practice For Congregations by

      Gil Rendle and Alice Mann  Alban Institute  2003. An excellent guide to the processes

      through which a congregation can achieve clarity about its identity, mission, vision, core  

      values and goals.

75. The In Between Church: Navigating Size Transitions In Congregations by Alice Mann   Alban Institute 1998   Explores how congregations must change and how clergy roles must change when congregations cross certain thresholds of size. Essential reading in congregations that are growing or declining from one size to another.

76. Can Our Church Live?  Redeveloping Congregations In Decline by Alice Mann  Alban Institute 1999   Strategy for redeveloping declining congregations. Essential reading for congregations that are growing older and smaller.

77. Raising The Roof: The Pastoral to Program Size Transition by Alice Mann  Alban Institute 2001  A manual for managing the most difficult size transition from a pastoral sized congregation (worshipping 50 – 150) on Sunday morning to a program sized congregation (worshipping 150 – 350)

78. Size Transitions In Congregations  Beth Ann Gaede  Editor   Alban Institute 2001 Collected essays reflecting the current wisdom concerning various transitions to become a larger or a smaller congregation.

79. Transforming Church Boards Into Communities Of Spiritual Leaders Charles Olsen        Alban Institute  Washington DC 1995.   A manual for developing a church board into a spiritual leadership community. Explores community building, the use of scripture to illuminate the life and work of the board, decision making through a discernment process instead of Robert’s Rules and a majority vote, and the importance of vision.

80.  Power Of Asset Mapping: How Your Congregation Can Act On its Gifts  by Luther K. Snow  Alban institute   Herndon VA 2004  How to plan based on the assets of your congregation instead of just on the basis of the discerned needs of others.

81. The Elephant In The Boardroom: Speaking The Unspoken About Pastoral Transitions  by Carolyn Weese and J. Russell Crabtree  Jossey Bass Publishers San Francisco CA 2004   How to think about and create a succession plan for your church.

82. 40 Days & 40 Bytes: Making Computers Work For your Congregation by Aaron Spiegel, Nancy Armstrong and Brent Bill   Rich wisdom on what kind and how much computer technology might best serve your church.

E.     Inspiring Worship

83. Worship Evangelism by Sally Morganthaler  Zondervan  grand Rapids MI 1999   Makes a convincing case that true worship can be a power means of evangelism and that we need to reclaim authenticity in worship where there is a true encounter between people and the Almighty.

 84. Emerging Worship: Creating Worship Gatherings For New Generations by Dan Kimball  Zondervan Press Grand Rapids MI 2004  The post baby boomer generation wants something very different from their parents. They want authenticity, experience, tradition, liturgy and mystery.

85. A Royal Waste of Time: The Splendor of Worshipping God and Being The Church For The World  by Marva J. Dawn  William Eerdmans Publishing  Grand Rapids 1999. A measured and thoughtful discussion of the issues surrounding worship…traditional vs. contemporary . This book is a sequel to her earlier book Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down.

86. Beyond The Worship Wars: Building Vital and Faithful Worship by Thomas G. Long   The Alban institute 2001  Offers a third way beyond the worship wars between “traditional” and “contemporary”.

87. How We Seek God Together: Exploring Worship Style by Linda Clark, Joanne Swenson and Mark Stamm  Alban Institute  Identifies and explores congregational worship style. A unique resource for congregations seeking to answer the question “Why do we do things the way that we do?”

88. Silver Screen, Sacred Story by Michael Bausch  Alban Institute  Excellent introduction to the use of multi media in worship.

89. Music In Churches: Nourishing Your Congregation’s Musical Life by Linda J. Clark  Alban Institute Caring for the music life of your congregation with concerns that reach beyond the present moment.

90. Designing Worship Teams: Discovering and Birthing The Drama of Twenty First Century Worship by Cathy Townley   Abingdon Press   Nashville   2002  A moving testimony to the manner in which young 21^st century Christians develop worship out of their shared faith journey

F.  Healthy Small Groups

91. Building A Church Of Small Groups: A Place Where Nobody Stands Alone  by Bill Donohue and Russ Robinson  Zondervan Publishers 2001  It took over a decade for Willow Creek to organize its 18,000 members into 2700 small groups.

92. Companions In Christ: A Small Group Experience In Christian Formation  Nashville  Upper Room books  2001  This  popular interdenominational resource is a guide to creating small groups around the Christian practices of prayer, scripture reading, ministry, worship, study, and conversation. Includes participants’ books, leaders’ guides, a journal, orientation and training events, and online support at www.companionsinchrist .org

93. Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples A Few At A Time by Greg Ogden  Intervarsity Press   Downer’s Grove IL   2003  Explores the model of developing mature disciples through mutual coaching in small covenant groups. Of three or four. An excellent model for multiplying leaders who will multiply leaders.

94. Interpretation Bible Studies Louisville KY  Geneva Press Based on Interpretation Commentaries these studies treat each book of the Bible in about 100 pages. Each volume includes a bibliography and Leaders’ Guide. The  Bible studies are served by a download site www.ppcpub.org, that provides further information and teaching tips.

95. The Disciple Bible Study Series published by the United Methodist Church is one of the best comprehensive Bible Study programs that approaches the bible from the perspective of growing disciples.

G.  Need Oriented Evangelism

96. From Survival To Celebration: Leadership For The Confident Church by Howard Hanchey  Cowley Publications Boston 1994 The primary task of the church is to celebrate what God is doing in the world. What we do is response.

97. Rocking The Church Membership Boat: Counting Members Or Having Members Who Count by Jan G. Linn   Chalice press St Louis MO 2001   An excellent treatise on how to recover the integrity and meaning of church membership. Covenant members are people who are growing in the faith and following Jesus. They are not just members of the “Jesus fan club”.

98. Reclaiming Evangelism: A Practical Guide For Mainline Churches by Jan G. Linn   Chalice Press St. Louis MO 1998   A challenging approach to evangelism in the Reformed Tradition that avoids the triumphalism of those who assert that “there will only be Christians in heaven.”  A positive, caring, non invasive approach that declares our experience of the transforming power of Jesus.

99. A Trilogy: 1.A New Kind Of Christian: A Tale Of Two Friends On A Spiritual Journey   By Brian Mc Laren  Jossey Bass  San Francisco 2001   Out of an ongoing dialogue between a pastor and his daughter’s high school science teacher, he comes to understand that beyond the constricted categories, clichéd rhetoric and rigid mechanisms of modern Christianity lies a new possibility: a revitalized and vibrant faith that explores and expresses the teaching of Jesus in a fresh engaging way for third millennium people. 2. The Story We Find Ourselves In (2003) and 3. The Last Word and the Word After That (2005)

100. Finding Faith: A Self Discovery Guide For Your Spiritual Quest by Brian D. McLaren  Zondervan publishers  Grand Rapids MI 1999   An excellent presentation not about what to believe but about how to go about finding faith.

101. The Celtic Way Of Evangelism  George G Hunter III   Abingdon  Nashville 2000. A rich description of the contrast between Celtic Christianity and Roman Catholicism in medieval Ireland (St. Patrick), Scotland (St. Columba),  and England At. Aidan..  Suggests the Celtic approach to reach the unchurched in  post modern, post Christian America. A communal right brain compassionate piety!

102. The Disciple Making Church: From Dry Bones To Spiritual Vitality  by Glenn McDonald. FaithWalk Publishing  Grand Haven Michigan 2004  A clearly written treatise on the six marks of a disciple: a heart for Christ, A mind transformed by the Word, arms of love, knees for prayer, a voice for Good News and a spirit of servanthood.

103. Beyond The Box: Innovative Churches That Work by Bill Easum and Dave Travis   Group Publishing   Loveland CO 2003  A study of new and innovative congregations that don’t think “outside of the box” but rather “beyond the box” as if the box had never existed.

104.. Radical Outreach: The Recovery of Apostolic Ministry and Evangelism by George G.

Hunter III  Abingdon Press Nashville TN 2003  Challenges the cultural isolation of the

church from the unchurched people who need the Gospel.  

105. Testimony: Talking Ourselves Into Being Christian by Thomas G. Long   Jossey Bass   San Francisco 2004   How do we reclaim the lost art of authentic testimony and learn to share our experiences of grace?                        

H.   Loving Relationships

106.. Practicing Right Relationship: Skills for Deepening Purpose, Finding Fulfillment,  

      and Increasing Effectiveness in Your Congregation  by Mary K. Sellon and Daniel P.

      Smith  Alban Institute Herndon VA 2005

  Compiled by Edward A. White  The Alban Institute  June    2005