Many elements contribute to a healthy congregation that radiates life and energy. Yet, a faith community can also be stymied by forces that encourage cynicism or apathy. Discover ways to breathe new life and vitality into your congregation, even during difficult times.

To learn more, click on Approaches to Congregational Vitality. Then, check out the basic and in-depth resources listed below!

CONGREGATIONAL VITALITY

Beyond the Ordinary: Ten Strengths of U.S. Congregations (Book)
Cynthia Woolever, Deborah Bruce, Authors.  Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004.
Using data from the U.S. Congregational Life Survey (of more than 300,000 worshipers in over 2,000 congregations), this resource identifies and analyzes the strengths of "beyond ordinary" congregations.

Christianity for the Rest of Us (Book)
Diana Butler Bass, Author.  San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 2006.
Diana Butler Bass discusses her study of Christian communities that are open and creative while honoring ancient traditions, engaging in faithful practices, and fostering spiritual maturity and wisdom.

From Nomads to Pilgrims: Stories from Practicing Congregations (Book)
Diana Butler Bass, Joseph Stewart-Sicking, Editors.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2006.
From Nomads to Pilgrims offers portraits of congregations that have discovered vitality through embracing spiritual practices, engaging ancient traditions, offering compelling stories, and fostering virtue.

Growing a Beloved Community: Twelve Hallmarks of a Healthy Congregation (Book)
Tom Owen-Towle, Author.  Boston, MA: Skinner House Books, 2004.
Tom Owen-Towle outlines twelve characteristics of healthy, vital congregations. Grounded in the image of the "beloved community," these characteristics include mutual care, a commitment to social justice, and the nurturance of generosity.

The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church (Book)
Diana Butler Bass, Author.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2004.
Looking at individual congregations as examples, The Practicing Congregation describes a growing trend in which mainline congregations are transforming into places of vital, intentional practices of faith.

This House We Build: Lessons for Healthy Synagogues and the People Who Dwell There (Book)
Terry Bookman, William Kahn, Authors.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2007.
This book offers insights into how synagogues function, the healthy and unhealthy motivations of the people involved in them, and the attitudes and actions necessary to build and maintain a healthy faith community.

Alban Institute (Organization)
Clergy and laity turn to the Alban Institute for guidance, training, and resources on leadership, congregational health, and conflict resolution.

Becoming a Healthy Church: 10 Traits of a Vital Ministry (Book)
Stephen A. Macchia, Author.  Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2003.
After visiting, interviewing, and evaluating many New England congregations and 1,899 of their members, author Stephen Macchia has found what he believes are ten principles characteristic of healthy churches.

The Bold Alternative: Staying in Church in the 21st Century (Book)
Gary W. Charles, Author.  Louisville, KY: Geneva Press, 2001.
Reversing the perspective on church attendance from who’s not coming to focus on those who do come, Gary Charles explores six vibrant Presbyterian congregations and offers spiritual encouragement and practical suggestions for smaller congregations.

Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) (Organization)
CARA conducts social science research on and for the Roman Catholic Church. Through its publications and services, CARA helps church leaders develop meaningful congregational assessments and make effective decisions.

Congregations (Periodical)
Herndon, VA: Alban Institute.
Published quarterly by the Alban Institute, Congregations magazine provides helpful information and insights on a wide range of topics for congregational leaders.

Easum, Bandy, and Associates (Organization)
A full-service consulting group, Easum, Bandy, and Associates (EBA) provides training and resources to Christian congregations.

The Illusion of Congregational "Happiness" (Article)
Gilbert R. Rendle, Author.  Congregations. May/June 1997. Vol. XXIII, No. 3, pp. 15-17. Herndon, VA: Alban Institute.
This article argues that focusing on complaints in the hope of increasing congregational happiness leads only to additional and competing complaints rather than to increased happiness for a congregation and its leaders.

Leadership Network (Organization)
The Leadership Network runs various programs aimed at identifying and generating a conversation among leaders of vital, growing churches.

National Pastoral Life Center (Organization)
The National Pastoral Life Center (NPLC) serves the Roman Catholic Church's leadership in the United States through consulting, publications, research, and training aimed at enhancing effective pastoral ministry.

Natural Church Development: A Guide to the Eight Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches (Book)
Christian A. Schwarz, Author.  St. Charles, IL: ChurchSmart Resources, 1996.
This book, based on a survey of more than 1,000 congregations around the world, offers a valuable contribution to the discussion of why churches grow.

The Once and Future Church: Reinventing the Congregation for a New Mission Frontier (Book)
Loren B. Mead, Author.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 1991.
Principles that have guided the church since the conversion of Constantine no longer apply in our turbulent world. In this classic, Mead alerts us to the challenges of reinventing the new church and offers hopeful signs of the future church’s emergence.

Paying Attention: Focusing Your Congregation on What Matters (Book)
Gary Peluso-Verdend, Author.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2005.
Holding that attention is "the capacity and the ability to be lovingly and truly present to God and to neighbor," the author explores the practices that strengthen attention and explains how to foster attention in congregations.

The Purpose Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message and Mission (Book)
Rick Warren, Author.  Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995.
The Purpose Driven Church teaches that a healthy, purpose-driven church experiences consistent growth by balancing five biblical purposes based on the Great Commission.

The Soul of the Congregation: An Invitation to Congregational Reflection (Book)
Thomas Edward Frank, Author.  Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2000.
The Soul of the Congregation weaves story, reflection, and insight to explore how a congregation may discern its unique culture and strengthen its mission among congregational members and in the community.

Synagogue 3000 (Organization)
Synagogue 3000 (S3K) empowers "congregations and communities to create synagogues that are sacred and vital centers of Jewish life." Resources, ideas, and opportunities for networking are included on its Web site.

Transforming Christian Leaders (Web Resource)
Grounded in the belief that adults learn best through narratives, this web site provides a collection of resources centered around stories about congregational life and challenges.

Where the Edge Gathers: Building a Community of Radical Inclusion (Book)
Yvette A. Flunder, Author.  Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press, 2005.
In Where the Edge Gathers, Yvette Flunder offers a compelling vision of a radically inclusive church, providing sample community-giving and celebratory sermons designed to support this mission.

Willow Creek Association (Organization)
Member churches in the United States and around the world use training and resources provided by the Willow Creek Association to reach the unchurched.