Catch the Age Wave
Handbook for Defective Ministry with Senior Adults
by Win Arn
Senior adult ministry isn’t what it used to be. The comfortable assumptions and outdated programs that were the basis for local church ministry are being challenged. Baby boomers are hitting middle age and retirement. And their own parents are living longer. Authors Win and Charles Arn have updated and supplemented Catch the Age Wave with ideas, examples and advice to help the local church leader start and maintain a senior adult program. In addition, they have added practical program ideas to use in any local church setting. New challenges for a new day. Catch the Age Wave won’t let you miss the boat.
The Lay Ministers Guide to The Book of Common Prayer
by Clifford W. Atkinson
Deepen the lay minister's knowledge of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the various duties of this ministry with this guidebook to lay participation in the Eucharist and Offices of the Church.
Turn-around Churches
by George Barna
It can happen in any church-success in ministry can lead to a condition of paralysis. Churches begin to rely on the "tried and true" practices of the past and become unable-or unwilling-to risk making the changes required by present-day challenges. It's a dangerous scenario that can lead a church into decline. The good news is that "growth paralysis" can be cured-if church leaders learn to recognize it and take swift, decisive and prayerful action. Turnaround Churches looks at real-life examples of churches that have made a comeback after a period of decline. You'll learn to recognize the cycles of growth and decline that face any ministry. You'll also learn the danger signs that indicate when a church is about to experience a decline. Inside Turnaround Churches you'll find: Eight obstacles that lead tocollapse Eleven principles of reviving a declining church Wisdom and encouragement from leaders who have brought their churches back to life The essential elements of spiritual focus Twenty suggestions to help your church avoid decline and begin the path to new growth The key to continuous spiritual renewal for you and your church.
How to Increase Giving in Your Church
by George Barna
One of the most difficult tasks facing any church leader is the issue of raising funds. It's not that we don't realize that tithing and giving are biblical issues: God's Word is full of strong statements about the stewardship of money. But how does a pastor convey God's heart for stewardship? Literally, what's the best way to raise the money your church needs to survive? Obviously, God is the one who builds the church-He is the ultimate provider. But what's the best process of shepherding the funds He has for your church? This step-by-step guide will give you tools you need to raise funds in your church-scripturally and successfully-without compromising biblical integrity. After all, it's God's church and His money-but our responsibility to manage it.
The Power of the Call
by Henry T. Blackaby
Whether you find yourself on the verge of burnout or simply need someone to fan the flames of your faith, take time to experience afresh The Power of the Call. This practical and uplifting guide takes a biblically sound and realistic look at how God provides fully for every need a pastor, or anyone called into the ministry, will face. And it reminds us that success in a church is not what we think it is; it's what God thinks it is.
Music in Churches: Nourishing Your Congregations Musical Life
by Linda J. Clark
Clergy, worship or music committees, organists, and choir or music directors will find this a practical and invaluable guide to the role and power of music to express and form faith. Clark researched twenty-four Episcopal and United Methodist congregations to discover how churchgoers express their faith through music. Discover how music can either enhance or detract from tradition and faith experience. Explore how it can shape your congregation's character.
Deacons and the Church: Making Connections Between Old and New
by John N. Collins
Explores the pastoral implications of a new scholarly understanding of the role of deacons in the Early Church.
In many churches today -- Catholic, Anglican, and others -- deacons have come to serve largely as servants of the poor and needy. In Deacons and the Church, Collins argues that this limited role for deacons was based on misinterpretations of key scriptural passages. Following the history of deacons in the Early Church to modern times, Collins offers extensive reflections on the relevant Scriptures, and suggests that we redefine the role of deacons for today. Rather than limit the role of deacons, he urges the church to adapt ancient meanings to modern pastoral situations. In the words of Ignatius of Antioch, whom he quotes in the final chapter, "Deacons are not providers of bread and drink but are agents of the congregation."
Collins paints a rich picture of deacons as agents of the church, ordained to the service of the bishop, who sends them forth as ministers of the church as a whole, rather than simply social workers. Collins provides an understanding of deacons that embraces social welfare but is not bound by it.
Vestry Resource Guide: Servants Called to Leadership
by Cornerstone
A "Vestry Resource Guide: Servants Called to Leadership" provides guidance for church leaders (vestry members) on their spiritual roles, focusing on servant leadership—emulating Christ by serving others—and covering responsibilities like discerning God's call, stewardship, leading community, and navigating change, with resources from the Episcopal Church Foundation and dioceses offering tools, workshops, and practical advice for revitalizing faith communities.
Core Concepts of Vestry Leadership:
- Servant Leadership: Leadership is about serving, not lording; it means listening to the Spirit and acting in love, just as Christ did.
- Spiritual & Corporate Role: Vestry members are spiritual leaders and trustees, responsible for the church's mission, property, and finances.
- Key Responsibilities:
- Discerning God's vision for the congregation.
- Stewardship of resources (people, money, property).
- Identifying and nurturing new leaders.
- Supporting clergy and fostering a healthy community.
- Navigating transitions and change.
The Clergy Search Dilemma
Pastors and Lay People Reflect on Crisis of Clergy Development
by Charles an Diane Crane
"The Clergy Search Dilemma," authored by Charles and Diane Crane, is a book exploring the challenges and ethics of finding pastors for churches, offering guidance for both clergy and search committees on effective, fair deployment. It addresses the "crisis of clergy deployment," reflecting on the process from start to finish to improve placements.
Key Aspects:
- Authors: Charles Crane and Diane Crane.
- Focus: The complexities, ethical considerations, and best practices in selecting and placing clergy within congregations.
- Content: Provides insights and suggestions for a thorough and ethical clergy search, benefiting pastors and lay leaders involved in the process.
- Theme: Deals with the difficulties churches face in finding suitable spiritual leaders, known as the "crisis of clergy deployment"
Sharing Your Church Building
by Ralph D. Curtin
Sharing buildings with another ministry allows church members to engage other cultures, see a young ministry develop and thrive, and practice good stewardship. But these arrangements present unique challenges, too. Utility, maintenance, and renovation costs must be fairly divided. Personality differences arise and communication barriers may emerge, particularly with perceptions of turf and identity. 'Sharing Your Church Building' is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you navigate these often unfamiliar waters and avoid potential pitfalls. It offers management insights, specific problem-solving guidelines, and strategies for preparing a congregation to share its facilities--either as a host or as a guest. It will help with establishing healthy boundaries that allow all the ministries in the building to flourish.
Search
A Manual for Those Called to Guide the Parish Through a Process leading to the Election of a Rector
by Wilson, Charles R.
