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Living a Call: Ministers and Congregations Together, By Michael Durall
This book is a collection of essays by younger ministers whose views hold promise for the future. Compelling reading. Available at www.allsoulschurch.org, or by calling 918 743-2363. |
Beyond the Collection Plate: Overcoming Obstacles to Faithful Giving, By Michael Durall.
This book is partially about raising money, but also about what churches do with money once they have it. Chapters include, "Making the Pledge Drive Obsolete," "Limiting Ministry Through Fiscal Responsibility," "Whatever Happened to Sunday," and,"The Cost vs. The Value of Religious Leadership." Available through www.cokesbury.com |
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Creating Congregations
of Generous People, by Michael Durall, principal of
CommonWealth Consulting Group.
This book was the Alban
Institute's best selling title of 2000, and remains a
top seller. An excellent resource for churches that utilize
the annual pledge drive format.
Order through www.alban.org |
The Almost Church: Redefining
Unitarian Universalism for a New Era. By Michael Durall.
This is the first book
published by Jenkin Lloyd Jones Press at All Souls Unitarian
Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The introduction begins, "Unitarian Universalism is
a movement that is in desperate need of a greater purpose."
Order through www.allsoulschurch.org |
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Reinventing American Protestantism,
by Donald Miller.
This is an extremely enlightening book about the rise
of newly-founded churches like Vineyard Christian Fellowship.
For the first time, churchgoers in traditional faiths
may understand the appeal of churches that are so vastly
different from their own. The value of this book is Miller's
contrast between the organizational genius of new churches
and the decreasing effectiveness of mainline churches.
1-510-642-4247, or www.ucpress.edu
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The Crisis in the Churches:
Spiritual Malaise, Fiscal Woe.
By Robert Wuthnow.
Wuthnow is director of the Center for the Study of American
Religion at Princeton University, and a keen observer
of religious life. This is a powerful book. 1-800-451-7556,
or www.uop-usa.org |
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Lyle Schaller is
the author of more than 40 books about church life.
Readers
could pick up any title at random and be wonderfully engaged.
Available through Abindgon Press.
1-800-672-1789, or www.cokesbury.com
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William Easum and Thomas
Bandy.
These two authors are the most progressive of church writers
today, encouraging religious organizations to dream great
dreams and take the risks necessary to accomplish them.
Both have written numerous books for Abingdon Press.
1-800-672-1789, or www.cokesbury.com |
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| Loren Mead is an
Episcopal priest and founder of the Alban Institute, a
church-related organization. His book series, "The
Once and Future Church" is insightful and compelling.
The Alban Institute, 1-800-486-1318, or www.alban.org |
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Nancy Ammerman, Carl Dudley, David Roozen, and
their colleagues at Hartford Seminary have worked in
the field of congregational studies for years. Their
most recent book is titled Studying Congregations.
Abingdon Press,
1-800-672-1789, or www.cokesbury.com
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| Paul Wilke's book, Excellent
Protestant congregations, provides glimpses into a
wide array of churches that reflect extraordinary ministry
and great courage. Westminster John Knox Press. 1-800-227-2872,
or www.wjkbooks.com
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Victor Claman's book,
Acting on Your Faith: Congregations Making a Difference,
is written like a catalog. Each page contains photographs
and a brief description of churches that have begun
new and vital ministries, often on a shoestring budget.
These projects range from small gardens to churches
that have started banks. Insights Press, 1-800-323-6809. |
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| For those who belong to
small churches, we highly recommend Anthony Pappas'
book, Entering the World of the Small Church. The
anecdote about whether the church should have a sign out
front is just wonderful. The Alban Institute, 1-800-486-1318,
or www.alban.org
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George Barna's work
in surveying the habits of churchgoing people is impressive
and enlightening. Clergy and lay leaders in mainline congregations
may be stunned at learning what they offer may hold little
interest for the un-churched people they hope to reach.
Evangelism That Works is one of many titles. Regal
Books, 1-800-446-7735, or www.gospellight.com |
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| C. Peter Wagner is
the author of over 40 books relating to church growth
and vitality. His book, Churchquake, is a powerful
and readable account of the rise of newly formed churches.
This book will make mainline clergy and lay leaders yearn
for the organizational genius that these churches provide.
1-888-563-5150, or www.arsenalbooks.com
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