Leading Congregational Change A Practical Guide for the Transformational Journey

When two-thirds of this nationa?s congregations are witnessing flat or declining membership rates, something has to change. But bound by tradition we often resist the very change our congregations need to thrive. Our challenge: revitalize our congregations and create a new center, one that will give church leaders a solid foundation for growing and reinvigorating congregations in the joyful spirit of Christianity. Written by three distinguished church consultants, Leading Congregational Change offers proven processes and tools for accomplishing this goal and revitalizing churches of any size and across the broad spectrum of denominations.With this much-needed handbook, the authors brilliantly combine their experience guiding dozens of churches through the change process with both the study of Christian disciplines and the sophisticated understanding of such important business thinkers as John Kotter on leading change and Peter Senge on learning organizations. In this eminently readable book the authors have distilled their insights and practices into simple but powerful concepts for leading congregations, whether long established or recently formed, through profound change.The central component of their original change model is for congregations to first nurture spiritual and relational vitality-that is, the creative power that faithful people experience together as they passionately pursue Goda?s vision for their lives. Then, drawing examples from thriving churches, the authors offer long-term support for building upon this kind of vitality through eight well-considered stages. These include personally preparing for change, creating a sense of energy and urgency, and establishing a "vision community"-a diverse group of key members who work together to collaboratively discern and shape the church vision, share it with the broader congregation, and implement it through specific action plans.Recognizing that individual and church transformation go hand in hand, the authors elucidate essential church leadership disciplines such as sustaining creative tension and team learning. This booka?s thoughtful approach enables leaders to treat their congregation as a spiritual and human organism that is complex, connected, and ever-changing. The model it provides can help any church passionately pursue Goda?s vision."If you keep doing what youa?ve been doing, youa?ll keep getting what youa?ve been getting. Can you live with that?"For pastors and church leaders who answer no to this vital challenge, Leading Congregational Change provides practical, refreshing, and highly effective tools and processes for generating deep transformation.The authors, having led hundreds of congregations through change, present a powerful, sequential process for moving a church toward renewal. They reveal how to deal with resistance from key members who do not understand why change is needed, show how to develop a "vision community"-a diverse group within the church who can collaboratively discern and help to implement Goda?s vision for their congregation-and identify the specific leadership disciplines required to successfully shepherd change. Based on a proven model, this book empowers church leaders to help declining congregations grow and become reenergized and vibrant again.Leaders using this guide will also be interested in the companion Leading Congregational Change Workbook, which offers assessment questions, planning worksheets, activities, and case examples for each stage of the process."Leading a church to change from being tradition- or program-driven to being purpose-driven is a task filled with all kinds of potentially explosive and divisive issues. This is a book you ought to read before you change anything."-Rick Warren, author, The PurposHerrington, Jim is the author of 'Leading Congregational Change A Practical Guide for the Transformational Journey', published 2000 under ISBN 9780787953812 and ISBN 0787953814.