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Winter 2002: Reading Recommendations Wondering what books would most inspire and inform you—and other congregational leaders—as you enter the coming year? Congregational Resource Guide staff ask you to consider these top pics. (Simply click on the book's title or image to access the publisher's Web site and ordering information.) We at the Alban Institute and the Indianapolis Center for Congregations wish you and yours the best of the season and peace in the new year. |
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Abraham, A Journey to the Heart of Three Great Faiths Is it possible that the story of Abraham—claimed
as the father of the world's three monotheistic faiths—holds the key
to interfaith understanding as well? Feiler explores this question by looking
at the stories of Abraham's call, God's covenant with Abraham, the conflict
between Isaac and Ishmael, and Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son. Drawing
on the Torah, New Testament, Koran, and numerous interviews, Feiler finds that
each religion has interpreted the story differently over time as its needs have
changed. He finds hope in the story of our common ancestor's willingness to set
out on a journey to an unknown destination. The author’s Web site (www.brucefeiler.com)
features a helpful study guide. |
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Attentive to God: Spirituality in the Church Committee Most churches, says Karen Marie Yust, have adopted a model of
decision-making that has resulted in spirituality being separated from the
administrative and leadership tasks of the congregation. As a result, our
current models of decision-making often prevent us from hearing God’s voice and
experiencing God’s presence as we serve. Yust presents a new model that focuses
attention on God and God’s role in the committee’s work. The book balances
theory and practice by discussing the spiritual and theological aspects of the
new model and by offering resources for specific groups within the congregation. |
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Honoring the Body: Meditations on a Christian Practice In a culture that selectively promotes a few physiques as objects of entertainment or envy, this book invites readers to affirm all bodies as made in God's image. After exploring the profound vulnerability and sacred mystery of our bodies, Stephanie Paulsell examines ways we might honor the body through our bathing, clothing, eating, exerting, and resting. She also calls us to honor the body in our sexual expression, our communal meals, and even our suffering. Readers seeking to confirm the goodness of our embodiment in everyday life—as well as in life's significant transitions—will appreciate this book. |
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Journeying Toward Renewal: A Spiritual Companion for Pastoral Sabbaticals Drawing on her own sabbatical experience, Melissa Bane Sevier provides a guide for pastors considering or beginning a sabbatical. She discusses the personal and spiritual cues that the time is ripe for a sabbatical and explains why sometimes "the congregation needs you to go away for a while." She then reflects on the process of leaving her congregation, spending time away, and returning. Each chapter includes exercises for inspiration, contemplation, action, and further study. With additional information on funding sources, this book is essential for ministers who want to get the most out of their leave. |
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Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive Through the Dangers of Leading Organizations facing "adaptive challenges" (challenges to values, habits, or long standing patterns of behaving) often encounter resistance as the group attempts to maintain equilibrium. Congregational leaders know how resistance thwarts change by restoring order and bypassing the pain associated with loss. According to the authors, the skills needed to successfully lead adaptive change include gaining perspective, developing allies, allowing issues to ripen, controlling the heat of conflict, and giving the work back to those who must make the change. Congregational and judicatory leaders will benefit from learning about and developing these skills. |
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Ministry and Money: A Guide for Clergy and Their Friends Dan Hotchkiss presents a theology of money, skills for church administration, and an approach to managing both personal and congregational finances. He points to some special reasons for clergy anxiety about money: many people believe that what is "spiritual" excludes money and power; many clergy’s own finances are in difficulty; clergy depend on their congregations for their livelihood; and in many congregations, clergy effectiveness may be judged in financial terms. The author addresses these issues, offering assistance to clergy who wish to become more effective leaders by examining their own unique anxieties and convictions about money. |
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The New Rabbi: A Congregation Searches for Its Leader Journalist Stephen Fried candidly reports on Har Zion Temple’s transition from an established, respected, long-tenured rabbi to its next spiritual leader. A participant in the life of Har Zion, Fried discusses his conversations with the leaving and arriving rabbis, the search committee’s inside path, and congregational and denominational politics. The author reveals deep sensitivity to clergy life as he explores the mutual assessments of candidates and congregation. This book rings dramatically true for congregations going through clergy transition. It tells a story that belongs to Protestants, Catholics, and Jews and would be an invaluable resource for search committees and candidates alike. |
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A New Religious America: How a "Christian Country" Has Become the World's Most Religiously Diverse Nation We have become, according to Diana Eck, the "world's most religiously diverse nation." Exploring the history of Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism in the United States, Eck notes that conflicts have arisen when these religious movements have attempted to establish a presence in areas where they were not understood or welcomed. At the same time, efforts made by clergy in churches and synagogues have often resolved these conflicts and encouraged people to accept their new neighbors. This book can help congregations understand our new religious pluralism and the basic tenets of principal faiths outside of Judaism and Christianity. |
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Not Trying Too Hard: New Basics for Sustainable Congregations Bob Sitze’s new vision for congregations releases leaders from the growing burden of trying harder to invent and implement "better" worship, evangelism, stewardship, small groups, long-range planning, mission statements, and the like. He advocates a "small-step approach" to change and provides readers with the necessary tools to engage what is possible without trying too hard. Sitze assures readers that they have the capacity to reimagine their own congregations. A design for a simple, experiential workshop that can also be used in adult education settings provides a method for sharing Sitze’s vision. |
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Open Secrets: A Spiritual Journey Through a Country Church Richard Lischer paints a touching, humorous, and grace-filled portrait of his beginning years in parish ministry. Fresh out of divinity school—with a Ph.D. in theology and countless ideas, ambitions, and expectations—Lischer finds himself assigned to a small conservative Lutheran congregation in an economically depressed Illinois farming community. He soon realizes how ill prepared he is for day-to-day ministry. But through each experience (which he relays with insight, compassion, and wit), he learns about himself, the people he serves as pastor, and God. With this book, Lischer offers a wonderful gift by reminding readers of the true meaning of parish ministry. |
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Pastor: A Reader for Ordained Ministry William Willimon spoke with a variety of clergy about their historical mentors. This book, representing cornerstones of ordained leadership, emerged from his interviews. Tremendous value has always been placed on the wisdom and knowledge that mentors can provide, and some of the outstanding clergy who shaped the social conscience of their times—and ours—are represented in these pages. Martin Luther King’s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" informs the chapter entitled, "Pastor as Leader," and St. Augustine’s "Confessions" explain "Pastor as Evangelist." This is a great resource for anyone interested in the servant leaders who have influenced the conscience of our time. |
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Public Offerings: Stories from the Front Lines of Community Ministry Linda-Marie Delloff invites readers to get intimately involved in the initial vision, hard work, and life-changing impact of community ministries around the United States. She offers stories of great community ministries—and the people, processes, and transforming power behind them. As witness to these stories, Delloff has discovered that congregations can develop the capacity to build and manage their public ministries by leading with passion, taking risks, and encouraging success. The many ministries illustrated in this book provide a wellspring of hope and transformation in the lives of God’s children. |
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The Spiritual Leader's Guide to Self-Care Defining "self-care" as "living the life God has intended for you," clergy couple Rochelle Melander and Harold Eppley have created a practical self-care guide for congregational leaders. Six key themes are addressed: creating a life vision, caring for yourself at work, nurturing relationships, caring for physical and material needs (such as the needs for a healthy diet, adequate exercise, and sound finances), caring for spiritual and intellectual needs, and sustaining a life vision. Each chapter offers suggestions for reflecting, connecting with a partner, and connecting with God. The book ends with an annotated resource guide to a wide range of topics—including friendship, vocation, and spiritual tools. |
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Strength for the Journey: A Pilgrimage of Faith in Community Diana Bass details her experiences with eight churches and concludes that mainline congregations—including those in the Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist, Disciples, and (her own) Episcopal traditions—have a vital mission. They can cling to the past, maintaining an establishment posture and echoing an era when church was seen as a social obligation. Or, they can embrace a vibrant pilgrim spirituality, becoming communities that will begin once again to embody the journey toward "the maddening inclusivity of God." This very readable and moving book can be one source of strength for that exhilarating journey. |