Description
Book SynopsisA Leadership Network Publication With this much-needed handbook, the authors brilliantly combine their experience guiding dozens of churches through the change process with both the study of Christian disciplines and the sophisticated understanding of such important business thinkers as John Kotter on leading change and Peter Senge on learning organizations. In this eminently readable book the authors have distilled their insights and practices into simple but powerful concepts for leading congregations, whether long established or recently formed, through profound change.
Leaders using this guide will also be interested in the companion Leading Congregational Change Workbook, which offers assessment questions, planning worksheets, activities, and case examples for each stage of the process.
Trade Review"Leading a church to change from being tradition- or program-driven to being purpose-driven is a task filled with all kinds of potentially explosive and divisive issues. This is a book you ought to read before you change anything."
—
Rick Warren, author,
The Purpose-Driven Church "This is a landmark book for churches and change. Effecting change is never easy in congregations. Leading Congregational Change is a practical guide for congregational leaders that includes spiritual wisdom and its application from the best thinkers of our day."
—Bob Buford, founding chairman, Leadership Network
"This book spotlights the universal principles for navigating the rapids of change between chaplaincy and mission. Identifying the simplicity-within the complexity-of this challenging leadership role, pastors and leaders learn how to go from hopeful to possible."
—Herb Miller, editor, The Parish Paper
"A creative and helpful guide for assisting congregations through the necessary process of change by weaving together firm biblical foundations, the best of what's available from the social sciences, and insightful examples from the years of experience the authors have had in working with churches."
—Craig Van Gelder, professor of congregational mission, Luther Seminary, ELCA
"Leaders will appreciate the insight of these three writers." (The Clergy Journal, 1/02)
Table of ContentsAbout Leadership Network ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xvii
Learning to Lead Change: A Transformational Journey 1
Spiritual and Relational Vitality: The Driving Force in Congregational Change 16
Laying the Groundwork for Change 28
Discerning and Communicating the Vision 49
Achieving and Maintaining Widespread Impact 69
The Disciplines of Transformational Leadership 95
Discipline One: Generating and Sustaining Creative Tension 100
Discipline Two: Harnessing the Power of Mental Models 113
Discipline Three: Enabling Team Learning 128
Discipline Four: Practicing Systems Thinking 143
The Art of Transformational Leadership 158
Resource: An Annotated Bibliography of Useful Publications 163
References 167
The Authors 169
Index 173
