How Change Comes to Your Church: A Guidebook for Church Innovations
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
Innovative spiritual practices that establish the foundation for durable, missional change.
Many congregations recognize their need to bring about change in order to become or remain vital, both spiritually and organizationally. They have a sense of what they need, and what might keep them from changing. But they don’t know how to change.
How Change Comes to Your Church draws on the practical experience, stories, and examples from two experienced church leaders. Patrick Keifert and Wesley Granberg-Michaelson have helped scores of congregations as well as larger denominational organizations identify key elements that are a necessary part of transformational change.
Rather than a superficial approach with a simplistic formula, How Change Comes to Your Church focuses on the important work of changing church culture, with innovative spiritual practices that establish the foundation for durable, missional change.
- Focuses on how to change the organizational culture of the institutional church
- Explores how to root all efforts at change in God’s missional purposes
- Presents tested practices and pathways that create a climate and a culture in which change can take root
- What Needs to Change, and How?
- Making Space
- Nurturing a Climate of Discernment
- Dwelling in the Word
- Sharing the Journey
- Being Transformed: Practices for Missional Change
The wisdom of years observing, listening, and engaging in debate and reflection become distilled into why changing church is needed and how it can happen. In two dioceses I have seen the deep value of this work. Read it and be blessed.
—Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham
While many of those who participate in North American churches agree that change is a necessary component of a vital and viable future, they are also perplexed with respect to identifying and bringing about the changes that are needed. In this very readable volume, two highly respected and seasoned leaders distill their years of wisdom in helping churches fruitfully navigate the challenges of change. An ideal volume for congregations seeking practical help in the quest for a more faithful and vibrant witness.
—John R. Franke, Gospel and Our Culture Network
Keifert and Granberg-Michaelson channel a wealth of practical experience into guiding denominational and congregational change. Their recommendations offer deep wisdom to churches seeking missional transformation. In short, this book rings true. I recommend it very highly for pastors, denominational leaders, and church folks who seek guidance in this missional age.
—Dana L. Robert, Boston University School of Theology
- Title: How Change Comes to Your Church: A Guidebook for Church Innovations
- Authors: Patrick Keifert and Wesley Granberg-Michaelson
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Publication Date: 2019
- Pages: 144
- Resource Type: Topical
- Topic: Ministry Resources
Patrick Keifert is president and director of research of Church Innovations Institute. He has worked with hundreds of congregations and dozens of denominations on four continents is the Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at Luther Seminary.
Wesley Granberg-Michaelson served as General Secretary of the Reformed Church in America for 17 years. He was an associate editor of Sojourners magazine and has also worked with the World Council of Churches, the Global Christian Forum, and Christian Churches Together.