>From http://umcna.bsc.edu/books.html

Listed below are books that leaders of the North Alabama Conference are reading.

Recommended websites (recommended by Dick Freeman):

worshipleader.com worshiptogether.com next-wave.org theartmill.com outreachmarketing.com churchart.com

Leadership is an Art by Max DePree - Rev. Tommy Gray, pastor ClearBranch United Methodist Church, Argo, AL

The Connecting Church by Randy Frazee - Rev. Tommy Gray, pastor ClearBranch United Methodist Church, Argo, AL

Healthy Congregations: A Systems Approach by Peter L. Steinke - Michael Stewart, Director of Connectional Ministries, North Alabama Conference

Growing Spiritual Redwoods by Tom Bandy & Bill Easum - Michael Stewart, Director of Connectional Ministries, North Alabama Conference

The Art of Innovation by Tom Kelley - Michael Stewart, Director of Connectional Ministries, North Alabama Conference

Leading Change by John P. Kotter - Michael Stewart, Director of Connectional Ministries, North Alabama Conference

Planning Blended Worship: The Creative Mixture of Old and New by Aubrey Malphurs This book is a guide to planning creative worship for congregations that follow the traditional fourfold pattern of worship (gathering, word, table, and dismissal), or those who prefer a free-church, evangelical style, but who are also interested in the core practices (space, texts, and so forth)

that have characterized Christian worship throughout the centuries. Robert Webber designed this volume to show pastors, music directors, and other worship leaders the practical, structural, and theological steps for designing worship services characterized by biblical depth, historical awareness, and contemporary relevance. The author includes charts and forms at the end of each chapter that clearly show how music and other arts can be integrated with liturgical texts. - Dick Freeman, Director of Office of Congregational Development, North Alabama Conference

Planting Growing Churches by Aubrey Malphurs A comprehensive guide for new churches and those desiring renewal. - Dick Freeman, Director of Office of Congregational Development, North Alabama Conference

Christian Chaos by Tom Bandy In his previous books -- Kicking Habits, Growing Spiritual Redwoods, and Moving Off of the Map -- Thomas Bandy has drawn a compelling contrast between two kinds of congregational systems: The thriving church system, whose focus on hands-on ministry and shared core values propels it toward the future into which God's Spirit is leading; and the declining church system, whose focus on control and hierarchical structures leaves it bound to the past. In this book, Bandy argues that the organization of a congregation -- its boards and committees -- will be directed toward one of these two kinds of systems. In other words, the means by which a church makes decisions and conducts its corporate life will determine the kind of church it will become. Drawing on a helpful contrast between prescriptive and proscriptive thinking, Bandy argues that congregational organization should focus on setting the larger boundaries within which its programs and ministries should operate. This frees leaders and members to express their God-given creativity in ministry, rather than forcing them to follow a prescribed set of functions and tasks laid out for them in advance. The book concludes with a compelling call for "tuning the laity loose" through cell-group ministry, unleashing the Spirit-driven Christian chaos by which a congregation can thrive in the challenging days ahead. - Dick Freeman, Director of Office of Congregational Development, North Alabama Conference

Discontinuity and Hope: Radical Change and the Path to the Future by Lyle Schaller Giving examples of large-scale changes that have occurred during the past three decades, Schaller helps church leaders embrace new challenges and opportunities for ministry. - Dick Freeman, Director of Office of Congregational Development, North Alabama Conference

Jesus CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership by Laurie Beth Jones - Dick Freeman, Director of Office of Congregational Development, North Alabama Conference

Worship Evangelism by Sally Morgenthaler Combining the best of traditinal and contemporary worship music and practices, Sally Morgenthaler offers a fresh vision of worship evangelism and provides strategies and practical resources to implement it. - Dick Freeman, Director of Office of Congregational Development, North Alabama Conference

The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren This step-by-step process helps churches grow warmer through fellowship, deeper through discipleship, stronger through worship, broader through ministry, and larger through evangelism. "I must say that this is an absolute must-read for pastors." - Rev. Amy Bowers, pastor Faith UMC, Birmingham-East District

Waking to God's Dream by Dick Wills Wills shares the spiritual disciplines and insights which he believes account for the transformation of the congregation he serves from a large church in decline to one that is growing and reaching out to its community in a variety of creative ministries. Detailing the steps and initiatives that led to this turnaround, Wills demonstrates how personal commitment on the part of the congregation's leaders and ministers have been the key to the work they have accomplished. - Rev. Barbara Harper, pastor Asbury UMC, Birmingham-East District

The Female Advantage -- Women's Ways of Leadership by Sally Helgesen - Rev. Barbara Harper, pastor Asbury UMC, Birmingham-East District

The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey by William Oncken, Jr.; Hall Burrows and Ken Blanchard "This is about helping people care for their monkeys (problems) vs. taking them onf for yourself." - Barry Turner, Director of Worship Arts, Columbiana UMC, Sylacauga District

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Steven Covey - Barry Turner, Director of Worship Arts, Columbiana UMC, Sylacauga District

The Preaching Life by Barbara Brown Taylor "Not a book about nifty techniques but about the character and person of the pastor who leads." - Rev. Bill Morgan, District Superintendent, Birmingham-East District

Leadership in the Wesleyan Spirit by Lovett Weems The purpose of this book is simple -- to reclaim a vision for church leadership from the great spiritual awakening know as the Wesleyan movement. In oder to achieve this, Weems identifies such principles of early Wesleyanism as beginning with where people are, focusing on service, and remembering the poor. He then enumerates practices of Wesleyan leadership, such as leading from teh center and the edge, living in tension, and making "connection" happen. Finally, he names the core passions of the Wesleyan spirit: knowing God, proclaiming Christ, and seeking justice. - Rev. Bill Morgan, District Superintendent, Birmingham-East District

Learning While Leading by Anita Farber-Robertson - Rev. Bill Morgan, District Superintendent, Birmingham-East District

Fast Company magazine " . . . a business magazine that I think is essential to keeping up with the 'cutting edge,' even from a ministerial/congregational perspective. It helps me to stay connected with where my people either are or will be in the next few months." - Rev. Brad Henderson, associate pastor Canterbury UMC, Birmingham-East District

Leadership and Self-deception from Abinger Institute A great, short book that reminds leaders and team members to treat people as people and not as objects. - Rev. Brad Henderson, associate pastor Canterbury UMC, Birmingham-East District

Leadership on the OtherSide by Bill Easum Most Christians would agree that the purpose of the church is to lead people into active, commited discipleship to Jesus Christ. Yet, if this is the case, shouldn't the goal of making disciples drive everything the church does? For example, shouldn't the primary job of staff members be to recruit and mentor the laity in fulfilling their own call to ministry, rather than the staff members performing the tasks of ministry themselves? Shouldn't the task of reaching out to those who have yet to answer Christ's call to discipleship be more improtant than maintaining programs for those who already have? Thus, Easum opens the portal to the OtherSide, that place beyond the Christiandom Era and its mechanistic, by-the-numbers approach to church life. Be prepared for a bumpy ride, with treasured assumptions, privileges, and traiditons shattered along the way. - Dave Fegenbush, lay leader new church off I-20, Anniston District

Beyond Church Growth by Robert E. Logan - Dave Fegenbush, lay leader new church off I-20, Anniston District

The Celtic Way of Evangelism by George Hunter Celtic Christianity -- the form of Christian faith that flourished among the people of Ireland during the Middle Ages -- has gained a great deal of attention lately. George G. Hunter III points out that, while the attention paid to teh Celtic Christians is well deserved, much of it fails to recognize the true genius of this ancient form of Christianity. What many contemporary Christians do not realize is that Celtic Christianity was one of the most successfully evangelistic branches of the church in history. The Celtic church converted Ireland from paganism to Christianity in a remarkably short period, and then proceeded to send missionaries throughout Europe. North America is today in the same situation as teh environment in which the early Celtic preachers found their mission fields: unfamiliar with the Christian message, yet spritually seeking, and open to a vibrant new faith. If we are to spread the gospel in this culture of secular seekers, we would do well to learn for the Celts. If we are to succeed in "reaching the West . . . again," then we must begin by learning from these powerful witnesses to the saving love of Jesus Christ. - Dick Freeman, Director of Office of Congregational Development, North Alabama Conference

Kicking Habits by Tom Bandy The ground-breaking book that has shown thousands of congregations how to overcome the destructive attitudes and systems that prevent them from focusing on their true mission: making disciples of Jesus Christ. - Dick Freeman, Director of Office of Congregational Development, North Alabama Conference

Small Strong Congregations by Kennon Callahan This wise book offers clear insights into the rich possibilities for the future and encourages members and leaders of small congregations to develop a healthy, constructive approach to their mission together. Callahan argues that the 21st century will be the age of small, strong congregations. Jossey-Bass. - Dick Freeman, Director of Office of Congregational Development, North Alabama Conference

Transforming Church Boards into Communities of Spiritual Leaders by Charles M. Olsen Olsen sees church board work as an integral part of lay leaders' faith development. - Gloria Holt, North Alabama Conference Lay Leader

Doing Church as a Team by Wayne Cordeiro - Gloria Holt, North Alabama Conference Lay Leader

Coaching Change: Breaking Down Resistance, Building Up Hope by Tom Bandy Tom Bandy has come to be known as one of today's most insightful interpreters of congregational life and the cultural changes that are affecting it. In previous books he has addressed issues such as the addictive behaviors congregations exhibit, the cultural situation that makes this a "pre-Christian" era, and the organziational changes that must occur if bold new congregational systems are truly to work. By evaluating the responses to all of these concerns, the author has heard a recurring set of questions: How do I help people overcome the fear of change? How do I persuade them to accept the cost? Why is there a sense that change is inherently unfaithful? When I go to my church next Sunday and drink coffee with that little group of people God has gathered in our place, how in the wold do I convince them to take such risks? - Rev. Jeff Armbrester, pastor Bellevue UMC, Gadsden District

Developing the Leader within You by John Maxwell - Rev. Jeff Armbrester, pastor Bellevue UMC, Gadsden District

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell - Rev. Jeff Armbrester, pastor Bellevue UMC, Gadsden District

Who moved my cheese: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson "This is a great book about change, and that is something we as church people are dealing with right now." - Mollie Stewart, member of Mt. Moriah UMC, Huntsville District