Janet Hoover is a certified spiritual director in private practice and an American Baptist pastor. She graduated from the University of Indianapolis and earned her MDiv and DMin from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.
Contributions From Janet Hoover
book
Called to Serve: Creating and Nurturing the Effective Volunteer Board
Formatted as a letter, the author uses his business and nonprofit board experience to discuss...
book
The Equipping Church Guidebook
This biblically-based guidebook details a vision and strategy for implementing a...
book
Critical Minds and Discerning Hearts: A Spirituality of Multicultural Teaching
Written by a professor of ministry and pastoral theology, this resource argues that providing...
organization
Updated
Stephen Ministries
This organization provides resources and training for congregations to establish a ministry of...
article
Volunteering and Its Surprising Benefits: Helping Others While Helping Yourself
This resource describes the four benefits of volunteering, which range from the physical to...
book
Christian Education in the African American Church: A Guide for Teaching Truth
This book focuses on providing a Christian education for African Americans, equipping...
book
The New Breed: Understanding and Equipping the 21st Century Volunteer
This resource argues that 21st century volunteers are different, and thus, congregations must...
book
Teaching Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Learning and Teaching
This resource combines anecdotes, information, and explanations to equip teachers with the...
book
Discover Your Conflict Management Style
This resource will help the reader identify their conflict management tendencies before...
organization
Group Publishing
This organization provides Biblically based resources on volunteers and volunteer management,...
organization
Gallup Strengths Center
Gallup provides the CliftonStrengths assessment tool for users to identify, understand, and...
book
365 Ideas for Recruiting, Retaining, Motivating and Rewarding Your Volunteers: A Complete Guide...
This resource shows how to properly recruit, retain, and motivate volunteers, and covers...
organization
Energize, Inc.
This comprehensive website provides information to manage volunteers and programs through...
book
Church Marketing 101: Preparing Your Church for Greater Growth
This resource lends practical marketing strategies for congregations, using examples from...
book
The Little Book of Dialogue for Difficult Subjects: A Practical, Hands-On Guide
This peacebuilding book offers a group dialogue process and conversation skills to build...
article
Michael Slind: Part of an Ongoing Conversation
This interview excerpt with a communications professional discusses the dynamics, content, and...
web resource
Church Tech Today: Technology for Today's Church
This website views technology as a vehicle for congregations to communicate and also shares...
article
Anne Curley: Do the Right Thing
This resource teaches lay leaders how to better handle a crisis and promotes collaboration...
article
Essential Guide to Children's Ministry Safety
This resource provides an overview of how to keep children safe, touching on subjects ranging...
software
WeShare: Online Giving for Churches and Other Community Organizations
This company makes online donation software that can be used with computers, tablets, and...
software
Vanco Payment Solutions
This software offers online giving and electronic financial services for organizations...
article
Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations: Benefits and Responsibilities under the...
Created by the IRS, this booklet helps congregations ensure their compliance with the...
software
SimpleGive: Online giving made simple
This customizable giving platform allows congregations to select a variety of services a la...
book
Ministry and Money: A Practical Guide for Pastors
Written by an accounting professor and theology professor, this book is a practical overview...
book
2022 Church & Clergy Tax Guide
This annual publication provides current information about tax laws, equipping treasurers and...
web resource
Financial Information & Tools
This website provides links and information about finance in congregations.
organization
Updated
CapinCrouse, LLP
This company offers consulting on a wide range of accounting, financial, and management...
book
Effective Church Finances: Fund-Raising and Budgeting for Church Leaders
This classic book can help your congregation attain future financial stability. Believing...
book
The Color of Church: A Biblical and Practical Paradigm for Multiracial Churches
Drawing from the author's experience leading a multi-racial church, this book looks at the...
book
Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community
Based on research from more than 100 interviews and site visits, this resource offers best...
book
Deep & Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend
This book argues that congregations should focus on designing their church for the unchurched,...
book
Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults
This resource draws upon five years of research on emerging adults to help congregations from...
book
Welcome Them Home, Help Them Heal
This resource combines the authors' military, medical, and faith backgrounds to address the...
book
Unbinding the Gospel: Real Life Evangelism
This book focuses on the concept of evangelism --- its challenges, the reason for doing it,...
book
Many Colors: Cultural Intelligence for a Changing Church
This resource uses theory and practice to help congregations understand the dynamics of...
periodical
Outreach Magazine
Outreach Magazine is a by-monthly, non-denominational magazine for Christian churches that...
article
Beyond Hospitality
This article reflects on hospitality and the stranger through the lens of immigration,...
article
10 Signals That Say "You Are Not Welcome In This Church"
This article identifies ten negative messages congregations unknowingly send to guests and...
organization
McIntosh Church Growth Network
This organization provides consulting and online resources focused on a variety of topics,...
article
7 Do's and Don'ts of Welcoming Guests to Your Congregation
This article draws from the author's experience visiting various congregations to offer seven...
article
Pope Francis Calls All Catholics to Evangelize
Written by a theology professor, this article reflects on evangelism, the role of the...
book
Christians and the Color Line: Race and Religion After Divided by Faith
This collection of essays from various scholars explores race relations and the role religion...
organization
EvangelismCoach
This website provides tools and strategies to train and send evangelists to fulfill the Great...
book
Cut Dead But Still Alive: Caring for African American Young Men
Based off the author's personal experience, along with the stories of six young black men,...
book
Worship for the Whole People of God: Vital Worship for the 21st Century
This practical guide gives readers a theological background on worship and expands...
book
A Many Colored Kingdom: Multicultural Dynamics for Spiritual Formation
This book examines how America's increased diversity impacts spiritual formation, addressing...
book
They Are Us: Lutherans and Immigration
This resource offers a Lutheran perspective on immigration, tracing its roots in the Bible and...
book
Community: The Structure of Belonging
This book provides the process and strategy to build a community in a fragmented world.
book
Racial Justice and the Catholic Church
This informative book analyzes the Roman Catholic Church's response to racism in America,...
book
When Not to Build: An Architect's Unconventional Wisdom for the Growing Church
This resource asks congregations to assess their needs and explore alternatives before...
book
The Facility Management Handbook
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about managing a facility, ranging...
book
7 Simple Steps to Green Your Church
This two-part guide to become environmentally friendly includes case studies and tips,...
book
Catholic Church Architecture and the Spirit of the Liturgy
Written in five parts, this book explores the relationship between Roman Catholic beliefs and...
book
Building for Ministry: The Book That Will Save Your Church 1,000's of Dollars
This resource provides an overview of the building process, and covers the importance of...
book
God's House is Our House: Re-imagining the Environment for Worship
Targeted towards Roman Catholics, this book summarizes a twelve-step process that can be...
article
Who Moved my Tabernacle? The Ruckus Over Renovation
This article details the stories of several Roman Catholic congregations during the renovation...
book
Guidelines for the Building and Renovation of Churches
Written by The Diocesan Commission on Church Art and Architecture for the Archdiocese of...
book
The ADA Companion Guide: Understanding Accessibility Guidelines and Architectural Barriers
This resource specializes in understanding the American with Disabilities and Architectural...
article
Zeal for God's House: An Architect's Reflections on Sacred Space
Written by an architect, this reflective article asks questions about how God's presence is...
article
Construction Cost is Only Part of the Church Project Budget
This straightforward article lists the phases of a building project and highlights costs to...
book
Holy Places: Matching Sacred Space with Mission and Message
This resource divides renovation and building projects into a three part process, showing how...
book
A Place of Encounter: Renewing Worship Spaces
This book makes the connection between worship goals and worship spaces with tips on how to...
software
SecureGive
This customizable giving platform provides many giving and reporting options for large...
book
Administration In the Small Membership Church
This book identifies administration and leadership as crucial components for the small church,...
web resource
The Rural Ministry Blog
Bi-vocational pastor Harry Colegrove’s leadership experience in a small town informs...
organization
Rural Home Missionary Association
This organization offers resources and trainings with the goal of planting and supporting...
web resource
Rural Church Network of the United States and Canada
This web resource, by Rural Church Network, provides space for congregational leaders in...
web resource
Catholic Rural Life
This website offers free resources for rural and small town congregations to address outreach,...
article
Smaller Congregations Share Ideas in Quest to Stay Vibrant
This article looks at the efforts of Jewish congregations and judicatories to address the...
organization
Small Church Pastor
This organization provides coaching, consulting, and free online resources for leaders of...
book
The Indispensable Guide for Smaller Churches
Designed to help small church leaders improve their ministry, this book examines small...
article
Does a Congregation's Location Influence Its Effectiveness?
This article argues that congregations can be successful regardless of their location,...
book
Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church
Written by someone with first-hand experience, this book shows how the part-time clergy model...
article
The Challenges of Pastoring a Smaller Membership Church
This article identifies ten challenges that small church pastors might face while offering...
book
Shepherding the Small Church: A Leadership Guide for the Majority of Today's Churches
This book presents the meaning of church vitality in a new light, and begins a conversation...
book
The Gifts of the Small Church
This book offers a look inside the world of the small church, paying a tribute to the...
article
Updated
Life on the Edge: A Small Church Redefines Its Mission
This article dispels negative myths about the small church's future.
book
Intentional Ministry in a Not-So-Mega Church: Becoming a Missional Community
This book argues that churches must move from an internal to an external focus, giving...
book
Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change
Written by an organizational consultant, this book contains examples and strategies for...
web resource
ChurchJobFinder.com
This free website contains job postings from a variety of ministry positions.
article
50 Ways to Welcome a New Pastor
Written by a United Methodist leader, this article offers 50 helpful actions that...
book
Calling Clergy: A Spiritual and Practical Guide Through the Search Process
This book provides spiritual and practical processes to search for a new clergy, offering...
organization
Intentional Interim Ministry
Healthychurches.org shares good practices about intentional interim ministry and offers a...
organization
Interim Ministry Network
This organization provides training for clergy, intentional interims, or interim...
book
Navigating Pastoral Transitions: A Parish Leader's Guide
This book completes a three-part series on navigating pastoral transitions. This specific...
book
Navigating Pastoral Transitions: A Staff Guide
This book completes a three-part series on navigating pastoral transitions in Roman Catholic...
book
Navigating Pastoral Transitions: A Priest's Guide
This book completes a three-part series on navigating pastoral transitions in Roman Catholic...
book
A Change of Pastors... and How it Affects Change in the Congregation
This resource frames clergy transitions as a period with potential to strengthen relationships...
organization
Vanderbloemen
This premier consulting agency works with churches for hiring staff, succession planning,...
book
Next: Pastoral Succession That Works
This book uses case studies, biblical examples, and interviews to offer a fresh perspective...
article
A Future for Interim Ministry
This article advocates for an increased number of trained intentional interim ministers and...
book
Leading Your African American Church through Pastoral Transitions
This resource identifies the nine leadership behaviors that will aid in a smooth transition to...
organization
Faith Trust Institute
This organization offers online trainings, resources, and consulting addressing sexual and...
book
Lives Entrusted: An Ethic of Trust for Ministry
This resource looks at topics such as misconduct, authenticity, testimony, vulnerability, and...
article
We Dare Not Fall: Dealing with the Peril of Clergy Sexual Misconduct
This article helps male clergy understand and identify the risks of clergy sexual misconduct...
book
Healing the Scars of Emotional Abuse
Written in four parts, this resource gives readers clarity about emotional abuse and paths to...
book
Understanding the Impact of Clergy Sexual Abuse: Betrayal and Recovery
This volume examines clergy sexual abuse from several angles based on a series of...
book
Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church for Children and Youth
This resource tackles the difficult topic of abuse and religious communities --- how to...
book
Clergy Sexual Misconduct: A Systems Approach to Prevention, Intervention, and Oversight
This comprehensive book offers a systemic approach to clergy and congregation recovery after...
book
Nothing to Hide: Secrecy, Communication, and Communion in the Catholic Church
Written by a journalist, this resource argues for a Roman Catholic church that is open,...
book
Staying in Bounds: Straight Talk on Boundaries for Effective Ministry
This resource offers tools and practical applications for ministry to embrace healthy...
web resource
Safe Sanctuaries
This United Methodist online resource has links to articles, webinars, and contact information...
web resource
Areyvut
This web resource promotes areyvut, a term that means "mutual responsibility", as a...
book
The Other Philadelphia Story: How Local Congregations Support Quality of Life in Urban America
Based on multi-faith research, this book highlights the value congregations add to their...
web resource
Community Tool Box
This free web resource is a public service of the University of Kansas and its KU Work...
book
Jewish Choices, Jewish Voices: Money
This book provides a variety of Jewish voices and opinions on the topic of money --- how it...
book
Effective Staffing for Vital Churches
This resource simplifies church staffing into the "Four Core Processes": evangelism,...
book
Empowering Laity, Engaging Leaders: Tapping the Root for Ministry
This practical resource gives readers helpful approaches and suggestions for engaging laity...
book
Tomorrow's Synagogue Today: Creating Vibrant Centers of Jewish Life
This resource contemplates the identity of the synagogue as a religious center for Jewish...
book
The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World
This resource views missional churches as the best response to modern-day malaise in many...
book
Taking Flight with Creativity: Worship Design Teams That Work
This resource tackles the ins and outs of vibrant worship, and provides suggestions on how to...
article
Children's Ministry Check-In and Check-Out Procedures
This article focuses on how to keep children safe while they are in church facilities.
book
Essential Guide to Youth Ministry Safety
This resource addresses a range of topics to help youth ministers navigate issues of safety,...
article
Medical Emergency Preparation
This article argues for a health ministry team that can be integrated into the congregation...
article
Record Keeping
This comprehensive article is a review on what constitutes as a church record, which records...
book
Arts Ministry: Nurturing the Creative Life of God's People
This resource offers a history of the arts in Christianity and shows readers how to establish...
book
Youth Leader Training on the Go: Practical Leadership Development for Busy Volunteers
This DVD curriculum allows youth pastors to train volunteers remotely by sending video...
book
The Wisdom of Group Decisions: 100 Principles and Practical Tips for Collaboration
This slim guide offers principles and accompanying tips that can easily be applied to any form...
book
Facing Decline, Finding Hope: New Possibilities for Faithful Churches
This book offers solutions for congregations who hope to grow a vibrant faith community...
book
The Emotional Intelligence of Jesus: Relational Smarts for Religious Leaders
This resource uses the Bible, brain science, and psychology to depict the uses of emotional...
book
Not Safe For Church: Ten Commandments For Reaching New Generations
Using the Old and New Testament, this book provides readers with ten practices or...
book
Plan and Conduct Effective Meetings: 24 Steps to Generate Meaningful Results
This resource will increase the effectiveness of your congregation by providing a guide to...
book
Spiritual Discovery: A Method for Discernment in Small Groups and Congregations
This user-friendly resource encourages congregational leaders to use the Spiritual Discovery...
book
Better Bylaws: Creating Effective Rules for Your Nonprofit Board
This comprehensive guide outlines how to create bylaws and is easily adaptable for...
book
The Circle Way: A Leader in Every Chair
This resource provides the history and basics of The Circle Way, a structure of conversation...
book
A Precious Fountain: Music in the Worship of an African American Catholic Community
This resource uses the lens of worship music to explore the culture of a Black Catholic parish...
book
Big Lessons from Little Places: Faithfulness and the Future in Small Congregations
This book argues that small congregations offer relevant lessons appropriate for any size of...
book
The Skilled Facilitator: A Comprehensive Resource for Consultants, Facilitators, Managers,...
This comprehensive guide looks at the theory and practice of facilitating conversations as a...
book
Sanctifying Art: Inviting Conversation Between Artists, Theologians, and the Church
Written by an artist and seminary professor, this resource bridges the divide between the two...
book
For the Beauty of the Church: Casting a Vision for the Arts
This collection of essays offers an expansive vision of the arts for the church.
book
Preaching Funerals in the Black Church: Bringing Perspective to Pain
This resource provides theological reflections and suggestions for clergy seeking to provide...
book
Mobilizing Congregations: How Teams Can Motivate Members and Get Things Done
This resource examines all aspects of ministry teams --- how they function, benefits, and...
book
Building a New Church: A Process Manual for Pastors and Lay Leaders
This resource covers a range of broad to specific topics relating to the building or...
book
From A Mustard Seed: Enlivening Worship and Music in the Small Church
Designed for small membership Christian congregations, this resource explores new ways...
web resource
Helping Small Churches Thrive
A plethora of information about small churches is available on this website that is...
organization
Church for Men
This organization provides resources that help congregations reach more men and boys, such...
organization
American Community Gardening Association
This organization provides online resources and in-person services for food and gardening,...
organization
Association of Consultants for Liturgical Space
This organization offers a list of artists, architects, and liturgical consultants who are...
organization
BoardSource
This organization provides conferences, trainings, and assessments to help nonprofit board...
organization
ChurchSmart Resources
This organization provides workshops, online resources, and assessment tools focused on church...
article
5 Reasons People Volunteer
This article discusses five motivations people have for volunteering so that leaders can guide...
event
International Catholic Stewardship Council Annual Conference
This annual four-day conference is dedicated to advancing Christian stewardship, Catholic...
article
Church Facility Maintenance
This article offers best practices for maintaining a church facility with the goals of safety...
organization
Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership
This organization promotes and teaches the principles of servant leadership through...
organization
Journey to Baptismal Living
This organization offers an e-newsletter, conference, and articles to help congregational...
article
50 Ways to Welcome New People
This three-page document is full of practical suggestions for making your congregation...
article
25 Simple Ways to Be Missional in Your Neighborhood
This article describes 25 practical and easily implemented ways for congregations and...
article
Child Sexual Abuse Response Plan
This article equips congregations with ways to prevent child abuse and what to do if abuse is...
article
Dealing with Dangerous People
This article helps churches identify dangerous behaviors and outlines strategies for keeping...
article
Do-It-Yourself Energy Audit for Congregations
In this article, Kansas Interfaith Power and Light offers a five-step process to help...
article
Five Strategic Advantages of Small Churches
This article identifies and details five strengths of smaller congregations while providing...
article
Choosing a Site
This article offers congregations topics to consider before selecting a piece of property to...
article
Flexible Space
This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of converting your facility into a...
web resource
Prayerscapes
This website, provided by Prayerscapes, a group of Christian musicians, dramatic readers, and...
article
Six Characteristics of a Missional Church
This article identifies the foundation of the missional church outlining six characteristics...
periodical
Religious Buildings
The annual Traditional Building magazine is targeted to professionals in architecture,...
web resource
Governance in Small Congregations
This article has advice for small congregations to create a right-sized governance system....
article
Alternative Worship
This article summarizes alternative worship's history and offers eight alternative worship...
article
Communication Strategies for Addressing Conflict
This article discusses the role that miscommunication plays in congregational conflict and...
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