Suggested Bibliography for Interim Pastors 2017-8
online:
Search and Call: A Pilgrimage through Transitions and New Beginnings - especially Part 2. Foundational thinking, developmental stages, plus resources for interim minister profile materials, UCC expectations of its interim ministers, litanies of welcome & departure for interim ministers.
books:
Transitional Ministry Today ed. by Norman Bendroth. (A compendium of articles related to shifts in interim ministry as currently practiced.)
Temporary Shepherds: A Congregational Handbook for Interim Ministry. Roger S. Nicholson, Alban (basic handbook on the theory and practice of interim ministry, tools, resources.
The In-Between Church: Managing Size Transitions in Congregations, Alice Mann. Alban. (insights into dynamics and leadership needs as churches try to move off a plateau – implications for staffing, congregational conflict, anxiety, expectations)
Leading Change in the Congregation: Spiritual and Organizational Tools for Leaders, Gilbert Rendle. Alban. (difference between management and leadership, life cycles of churches)
Holy Conversations: Strategic Planning as a Spiritual Practice for Congregations. Gil Rendle and Alice Mann. Alban. (Good insights and frameworks for leading basic mission study as a conversation)
Becoming a Blessed Church: Forming a Church of Spiritual Purpose, Presence, and Power. N. Graham Standish. Alban. (a spiritual discernment approach)
The Equipping Pastor: A Systems Approach to Congregational Leadership. R. Paul Stevens and Phil Collins. Alban. (family systems approach applied to congregation)
Stilling the Storm: Worship and CongregationalLeadership in Difficult Times, Kathleen S. Smith. Alban. (making use of the church’s spiritual resources for times of crisis, transition, and conflict)
How Your Church Family Works: Understanding Congregations as Emotional Systems. Peter L. Steinke, Alban. (systems theory applied to congregational dynamics, pastor as a non-anxious presence)
Behavioral Covenants in Congregations: A Handbook for Honoring Differences. Gilbert Rendle, Alban. (developing insights into conflict, inter-church dynamics, how to have conversations about committing to better behavior; holy manners)
Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times: Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What, Peter L Steinke, Alban. (systems understandings and tools for leadership that challenges rather than focuses on survival; difference between leadership of Aaron and Moses)
Change and Conflict in Your Congregation (Even If You Hate Both): How to Implement Conscious Choices, Manage Emotions and Build a Thriving Christian Community. Anita Bradshaw. Christian Journeys. (title describes it)
Promise and Peril: Understanding and Managing Change and Conflict in Congregations, David Brubaker. Alban. (title speaks for itself)
Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading. Ronald A. Heifetz & Marty Linsky. (tools for getting on the balcony, using stress to work productively thru issues, keeping opposition close and cultivating allies, sharing responsibility, maintaining focus while taking the heat)
The Practice of Adaptive Change: Tools and Tactics for changing hyour Organization and the World. Ronald Heifetz, Alexander Grashow, Marty Linsky. (stories, tools, tactics for developing the improvisational and experimental art of leading organizations thru change)
Toward a Better Country: Church Closure and Resurrection. L. Gail Irwin. Stories, tools, strategies for helping a congregation consider closing as a faithful option. Bible studies and questions for small group discussions.
The Laity Empowerment Project. Great resources for leadership development and small group discussion. "Unwrapping our Gifts" plus other resources.
The End of White Christian America. Robert P. Jones. Simon & Schuster. An analysis of how demographics have changed American Christianity, institutions and politics.
Organizations for training, professional membership, and continuing education
Interim Ministry Network. Offers basic & advanced training with both classroom and field work components. Ecumenical. Group began in Madison, WI in 1981.
Appreciative Inquiry. Offers training in a theory and methodology for organizational change that focuses on strength and potential.
Lombard Mennonite Peace Center. center.org. Workshops and seminars on church conflict mediation (transformational model), healthy congregations, clergy clinics.
UW-Madison, Department of Continuing Studies. on organizational dynamics, leadership, behavioral change and more.
Sand Bur Consulting: or contact or . Workshops on various topics, coaching, congregational consulting.