Brian Witwer
book
Liberating Hope: Daring to Renew the Mainline Church
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.
web resource
Kol Aleph
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.
book
Revolution of Jewish Spirit: How to Revive Ruakh in Your Spiritual Life, Transform your Synagogue & Inspire Your Jewish Community
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.
organization
The National Association of Church Design Builders (NACDB)
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.
organization
National Association of Church Facilities Managers (NACFM)
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.
periodical
Lifelong Faith Journal
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.
periodical
Faith & Form: The Interfaith Journal of Religion, Art and Architecture
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.
book
The Serving Leader for the People of God: Five Powerful Actions That Will Transform Your Team, Your Church and Your Community
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.
book
The Hidden Lives of Congregations: Discerning Church Dynamics
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.
book
Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (and How to Reverse it)
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 shifts from relief to the spiritual discipline of compassion.
book
Real Good Church: How Our Church Came Back from the Dead, and Yours Can, Too
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.