Brian Witwer

Written for a Roman Catholic audience, this resource calls for renewal in Roman Catholic congregations while affirming the importance of the Eucharistic center of the faith.

This easy-to-read resource offers tips on how to improve areas of the Roman Catholic Church, ranging from first communions to getting rid of fundraisers.

This website has a secondary title of "Ideas for Revitalizing Struggling Churches" and focuses on congregational renewal.

This web resource offers an engaging video presentation about how an established but faltering congregation understands and celebrates its congregational renewal.

This article argues that the decline of the African American church arises from the assumptions of the kind of evangelism employed during the Civil Rights Era.

This resource combats the widespread loss of church participants by calling on congregations to define a new mission --- one that involves an understanding of contemporary stewardship, transformational leadership skills, and mission engagement.

This website is a general purpose site containing dozens of articles and blogs on information such as preaching, teaching, worship, reaching, and leadership.

This resource offers 30 questions congregations should consider before undergoing a merger, including logistics such as the commute for congregants, to broader topics like clergy strengths and weaknesses.

This book uses hope as the key component to a healthy renewal of the church and offers a process congregations can follow towards rebirth.

This resource encourages churches to "make the change that changes everything," focusing on the re-emphasis on the experience of the divine in the personal lives of participants and in the church.

This website for The Alliance for Jewish Renewal encourages reform and revitalization of Judaism throughout the world by emphasizing meaningful spiritual practices, reinvigorating Jewish communities, developing leadership, creating scholarly and liturgical resources, and taking stands on social justice and environmental issues.

This book details the story of a Jewish renewal in Massachusetts, and describes successful strategies such as a new form of provisional membership, so that other congregations may prosper as well.

This book advocates for the practice of radical hospitality and focusing the church's mission towards disciple-making in order to draw people back to church.

This organization hosts an annual Renovate Conference as well as many online resources focused on church renewal.

This book will help congregational leaders move their churches towards change through practicing motivational theory and helping congregants accept change.

This resource centers on the role of leadership and how church leaders motivated by vital faith and the ethic of love can create positive change.

This organization provides congregations with information about the Design/Build method of church building construction, and connects them with consultants who specialize in construction, design, furnishings, and technology installation.

This guide equips congregations to move confidently through age and growth cycles, addressing leadership styles, management issues, and communication strategies that must be altered after each change.

This series of essays written from a variety of faith traditions explores the relationship between religion and giving.

Written from a Jewish perspective, this book reflects on the work of twelfth-century scholar Rambam and his ladder of generosity.

This comprehensive book takes readers through the complete building process from analysis to land acquisition to working with architects.

This organization connects congregational facility managers through discussion groups, educational forums, and a yearly certification program. These opportunities allow managers to share new innovations, ask questions, and discuss solutions.

This consulting firm offers a wide range of services for congregations related to facility planning, church health analysis, church conflict, and urban ministry.

The Life Long Faith Journal is an online free magazine available in PDF format that covers a wide range of topics, such as: faith formation in a missional age, cultivating a community of practice, the emerging media and the gospel, church leaders and tech visionaries, hybrid networking, drawing children to the center of congregational life, faith formation in small congregations, less talk-more action, infant faith formation and doing children’ s ministry differently.

Targeted towards African American and other ethnic congregations, this resource discusses how to reach women who have been hurt because of gender.

Written by a fundraising consultant, this book is targeted for congregations trying to reach funders under 40 years of age, and provides insight on social media and the power of grants.

This innovative branch of Fuller Theological Seminary provides research-based articles, curricula, and books for thriving youth ministry.

The Hospitality Audit is a free web resource designed by Chris Walker, Presbyterian pastor and church evangelism coach, which helps congregations take a serious look at the many aspects of how a visitor or outsider might experience a congregation.

Faith and Form is a journal published four times annually. Its mission is to provide and exchange knowledge, insight, and creativity among those who create and use art and architecture in a religious context. A non-profit organization, Faith & Form is the culmination of nearly 40 years of efforts of many dedicated leaders, volunteers, and staff.

This resource examines the role of deacon in the Black Church, beginning with a discussion of the biblical understanding of the role and strategies for training and supporting deacons.

Based on the Sunday Gospels in the Revised Common Lectionary, this series of books and CDs provide an overview of children's ministry and its place in the life of the church.

This resource brings unique insights into the difficult process of successful church planting, focusing specifically on differences between African American church planters and church planting in general.

Written from an African American perspective, this book analyzes the ingredients for growth, providing congregations with the tools to build a foundation on biblical preaching, holy living, and sound doctrine.

This organization helps congregations learn about stained glass installation and find local stained glass artisans for hire.

This resource explores the shift from modernity to postmodernity, addressing how congregations can minister to youth and apply scripture to a postmodern context.

This organization assists congregations in making the best stewardship use of religious facilities, particularly those of historic value or in urban settings.

This practical resource offers a comprehensive view of ministry to black young adults, examining why a new approach to young adult ministry is needed.

This resource captures the impact congregations make when they use a more holistic and organic approach to children's and youth ministry.

Part of the Thin Book Series, this resource present a simple, yet careful approach to building and keeping trust, which will result in congregational growth.

This resource calls on readers to analyze the soul of their congregation --- what makes up their history, values, and traditions --- to begin a process of discernment.

This concise book presents a research-based analysis of the relationship between the processes of congregational leadership and spiritual discernment, giving congregations the tools to reflect on where God is leading them.

This resource helps readers examine daily habits and choices to equip them with the necessary mindset to lead with integrity during times of crisis.

This resource balances insight from the business world with theological constructs to produce an easy-to-follow guide on leadership and the five actions readers can take to transform where they work.

This resource presents a new model for how churches can equip children through faith formation.

Written by the United Methodist Bishop of Missouri, this book outlines five congregational practices of an effective congregation, detailing the importance of each and providing evaluation tools to measure your own congregation's vitality.

This resource presents diverse ways to look at the future of faith formation, highlighting strategies for bringing faith to life.

This resource urgest Christians to stop engaging in a misguided "culture war," and instead, calls upon readers to become culture makers.

Designed as a 40-day study, this book presents a comprehensive analysis of giving as an essential Christian practice.

This resource provides an insightful and useful critique of Christian education, arguing that true Christian education involves a sustained effort to transmit knowledge, attitudes, values, or sensibilities.

This study guide engages small groups in a 10-week consideration of discernment, helping congregational groups determine where the spirit of Christ might lead them.

This leader's guide goes hand-in-hand with "Way of Discernment, Participant Guide." It equips leaders to explore the process of discernment as a way to seek direction in mission discovery.

Based off interviews with several leaders of various fields, this book shows the impact leaders can make by examining the lives of their employees, the community, and environment they work in.

This book takes leaders below the surface to unpack the corporate nature of church relationships and the invisible dynamics at play. Using the Bowen Systems theory to examine the workings of the church, congregational leaders can help the church fulfill its vision.

This accrediting agency upholds members to high standards of financial accountability, such as financial transparency, responsible board governance, integrity in fundraising, and the proper use of charitable resources.

This toolkit envisions how a comprehensive care ministry might work, helping faith communities to be intentional about its care for members and friends.

This resource urges teachers and learners to recapture the spiritual dimension of education, starting by looking at the three sources of knowledge.

A Fortune 500 consultant provides advice on how to communicate responsibly to make others respond with good work and good will.

This resource combines the knowledge and expertise of the three authors to form a comprehensive guide on facilitation and how it can be implemented in a ministry setting.

For congregations who wish to make more effective use of computer technology, this book is a well-crafted and helpful guide. It shares the expertise of Center for Congregations staff members who have worked with thousands of congregations. Included is not only a guide to computer technology itself, but a handy list of warnings, such as the importance of giving software a "test drive" before purchasing, the necessity of appropriate and adequate training, and over-spending on unnecessary features. Central to implementing both appropriate hardware and software is a careful analysis of the congregation's mission, goals, needs and expertise. Who will use it and for what purposes? The authors also warn against too much reliance on persons within the congregation to implement and maintain computer systems. There is more to the book than warnings. Also included are a good assessment form to gauge congregational needs, a series of questions to analyze congregational culture, and questions to facilitate how a congregational team can select software wisely.

Divided into three sections, this book will help congregations discover their assets --- whether it be physical, talent or economic --- and prepare leaders for how to utilize such assets.

This thorough and practical book will help congregations write grants, develop relationships with funders, and integrate grant seeking into the life of the congregation.

This book provides research on the success of short-term mission trips and concludes that they can be beneficial for everyone involved if the trip is well planned and creatively led.

This organization does research and provides resources for those who are homeless, and for congregations who are interested in working to end homelessness.

This comprehensive guide will help churches create a fundraising climate centered around faith and generosity.

Hartford Seminary maintains this website as a service to organizations, groups, congregations and individuals who wish to have information about megachurches.

Based off the premise that charities more often hurt the people they hope to help than not, this resource recommends a new model for charitable groups that shift from relief to the spiritual discipline of compassion.

This article addresses common mistakes congregations make when installing audio, video, lighting, and how to avoid them.

This consulting group assists congregations in developing strategies for finance and fundraising.

This article highlights the ministry of Charlotte/One, an ecumenically-based ministry in North Carolina that brings together young adults.

This resource acts as a guide for congregations struggling with youth ministry, presenting a systemic approach to developing a healthy youth ministry, starting with finding the right minister.

Written by two long-serving white pastors of Black Churches, this resource is both instructive and original in highlighting the ministry and methods of the Black Church, honoring its legacy of preaching and social justice.

Written by a consultant who deals primarily with large congregations, this book is an overview of large congregation dynamics and details the five basic leadership systems needed in order for a large organization to flourish.

Written using the author's personal experience in renewing her church, this resource details her ten year journey and offers advice on how congregations can use similar strategies involving neighborhood outreach and internal growth.

This organization provides programs and resources to help congregations act on combating climate change and practicing sustainable living.

This guide is an accessible question guide designed for group facilitators looking to change the way people think about change through Appreciative Inquiry.

This webpage provides information about Hearing Loops, which allow hard of hearing individuals equipped with hearing aids and cochlear impants to hear better due to the installation of technology.

This organization mobilizes Jewish resources to promote social justice within the United States, including hosting a leadership training program.

This resource looks at the future of small group ministry and offers the missional church model as a way for small groups to move forward.

This website, by Brad Brisco and his associates, contains several resources to help congregations engage the missional church model, teaches leadership seminars, contains blogs and articles, engages social media, and consults with congregations directly.

Part of the Sticky Faith curriculum produced by Fuller Youth Institute, this resource provides youth ministry leaders with conversation generators for eight engaging questions.

This resource offers youth leaders of small churches hope and affirmation.

This organization provides consulting and leadership training in a wide variety of areas, including an interim ministry training and clearing house program.

This organization promotes environmental stewardship through learning, action, and advocacy.

This concise book offers a history and definition of missional theology, focusing on practice and context.

This short but engaging book dives into the work of two urban church planters, detailing their experiences in their ministry settings while looking at what worked and what has not.

This resource provides a frank analysis of poverty from a social science and community development perspective, offering a biblical perspective on poverty while offering helpful suggestions.

This downloadable PDF examines the components of a healthy volunteer culture and provides steps to implement one in your congregation.

Divided into three parts, this resource is filled with realistic advice and timely information for youth ministers and those seeking youth ministry jobs.

This organization offers resources and collaborative opportunities to grow stewards for congregations.

This series invites readers to seize the possibilities of embracing a comprehensive missional church perspective, both in their individual lives and in the actions of the congregation.

Ideal for congregations working on strategic planning, this book offers 10 tools that will prepare leaders to lead in a dynamic setting and turn challenges into opportunities.

Provided by Jeff Maguire, lead pastor of Mariners Church in Mission Viejo, CA, this web resource offers an informative, straightforward 2-minute video that is a simple introduction to missional church ideas and expectations.

This book on worship planning presents resources and exercises to engage the creative process in those who do worship planning.

This book looks towards the Bible to shed light on the Missional church movement, arguing that God is already at work in the community and that congregations should join the work there.

This resource invites teens to consider the larger texts of the Torah so that they may find their own stories within its text, offering insight from more than 100 rabbis and commentators.

This organization provides training programs for existing congregations to refocus their mission on making disciples, and for church planters to learn specific strategies for starting new congregations.

This missional network provides workshops, a national gathering, and online resources focused on social justice issues and urban transformation.

This resource defines and explores the meaning of Midrash --- a method of interpreting scripture by adding oral tradition to the biblical world so that following generations can think about additional possibilities.

Originally published in 2000 with later revisions, this helpful article aids synagogue leadership in answering the question: "our facility is complete, now how do we manage it?" The article is a procedural manual for building use policies, safety issues, management and maintenance. It points out the importance of leadership and suggests duties of building committees and facilities managers. Also included are discussions of building security issues and the advisability of installing an external defibrillator. The article includes a very helpful appendix with sample forms including: Rules for Building Usage, Policies for 3rd party service providers (including caterers), a Rental Contract, Clean-up Policies, Friday and Saturday Worship Checklists, Policies Involving the Burial of Sacred Objects, and Fragrance Guidelines. While the article is written primarily for synagogue use, other religious facilities might benefit from reading the article. It is available in a free-PDF format online.

Published as a part of the Church Tax and Law Ministy of Christianity Today, this helpful article is a user-friendly guide for congregations to use in accessing church safety and security policies.

Published by the American Institute of Architects, this article details five categories of questions congregations should consider asking betore hiring an architect.

This organization provides guidance on many topics related to congregational finance, operations and management through consulting and online resources.

This organization promotes family-oriented solutions to childhood poverty at the state and national level through state-specific information, advocacy tools, and plans.

Learning in congregations is a prerequisite to vitality and growth. Ministry teams that undertake their work with a willingness to acknowledge what they don't know and a pursuit of learning are more likely to build their capacity to address their challenges effectively. What is it that good learners know and practice? What contributes to good learning? Maryellen Weimer, PhD, offers this short one-page guide as part of the Teaching Professor Blog Series of Faculty Focus' Higher Education teaching strategies. While written from the perspective of individual learners in a higher education environment, this article offers pointers that could be used to develop ministry teams into communities of learning. These are the seven characteristics of good learners: 1) Good learners are curious; 2) Good learners pursue understanding diligently; 3) Good learners recognize that a lot of learning isn't fun; 4) Good learners make knowledge their own; 5) Good learners never run out of questions; 6) Good learners share what they have learned. Weimer provides the rationale for each of these points and careful elaboration is added. What might transpire if ministry teams seeking to learn in order to fulfill their mission more effectively acknowledged these characteristics and sought to build them?

This concise article provides a helpful guide for congregations considering sharing space with other congregations or organizations.

This organization provides congregations with resources about energy conservation and ways to cut energy costs.

This two-part article, published by the Union for Reform Judaism, would be very helpful to synagogues considering a building program. Part 1 deals with preliminary considerations. A primary issue is to consider a congregational archive: what are the essential historical features to consider. Next is how to recruit a building committee and what its functions will be. This is followed by considerations of budgets and fundraising, deciding about relocation, and the expectations of an architect. Appendices include checklists, organization and flow charts, sample floor plans and a bibliography. Rejoice In Your Handiwork Part 2 gets at issues of function and design. Included are an analysis of spirituality and identity, and the physical environment. This is followed by practical details of sanctuary space, creating intimacy, acoustics, developmental stages, attention to detail, an accessibility audit, and consideration of the importance of sustainability. These very usable documents are available in PDF formats and easily downloadable online without cost.