Denominational Resources for Congregations and Classes

Congregational Resource Guide
Rethinking Ministry
The Prayer Paper
The Praying Church Idea Book
The Praying Church Source Book
The Bullard Journal
NETResults
Alban Institute

Denominational Resources for Congregations and Classes

This binder has been facilitated by the Classis Renewal Ministry Team (CRMT) and compiled by Ms. Elizabeth Guillaume-Koene. We appreciate the many hours that Elizabeth has spent, as well as the cooperation of many agencies and their staff that have assisted in collecting the material.

It is our prayer that as you click on the links and use the information contained herein to advance your ministry that we will succeed in advancing the Kingdom of God. 

Rethinking Ministry

Rethinking Ministry: From Church-Shaped Missions to a Mission-Shaped Church examines some changing aspects of contemporary society and discusses how churches can look closely at themselves and see if they are meeting the ministry needs of their communities. This solution oriented publication is put out by the Classis Renewal Ministry Team. If you'd like to order Rethinking Ministry email crmt@crcna.org.

The Praying Church Source Book

This book presents ideas on how to implement effective prayer strategies, including:

• concerts of prayer
• solemn assemblies
• houses of prayer
• prayerwalking

The Praying Church Idea Book

A companion to the popular Praying Church Sourcebook, this resource includes prayer strategies and sample worship services, retreat plans, and a comprehensive list of prayer initiatives.

The Prayer Paper

The Prayer Paper is the newletter of the CRC Home Missions Prayer Mobilizer's Office. Contact Marideen Holtrop to subscribe. 1-800-266-2175 In time the current issue will be available at this location.

The Bullard Journal

George Bullard., director of Hollifield Leadership Center and Lake Hickory Learning Communities in North Carolina, focuses on congregational, regional, and denominational leadership issues. His resource, Denominational Futures: Measuring Transformation One Congregation at a Time, features the following articles, of which copies can be ordered from Thea Leunk:
• Do Local Denominational Organizations have a Future?
• How Do We Mobilize the Resources of Our Denomination to Help Grow Healthy Congregations?
• A Judicatory Framework for Congregational Conflict Transformation
• A Fork in the Road: Emerging Trends in Judicatory Operations
• Regional Denominational Organizations Who Once Gave Roots Must Now Give Wings

For more information, email BullardJournal@cs.com, call (828) 256-2126 or write to
The Bullard Journal
6692 Valwood Rd.,
Conover, NC 28613-8759

You can also subscribe to the Bullard Journal by sending an email with the word "subscribe" in the subject or body to TheBullardJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

NETResults

A monthly publication with practical ideas for church leaders. Columnists include: Bill Easum, Dale Galloway, George Bullard, Lyle Schaller, and Tom Bandy.

The Alban Institute

The Alban Institute produces and distributes research based information on how to minister more effectively.

The following two special papers are available on line from the Alban Institute:

Transforming Regional Bodies for Mission by Roy M. Oswald and Claire Schenot Burkat. This paper explores how middle judicatories can move from maintenance to mission.

Finding the Path in the Wilderness: Middle Judicatory Case Studies and Learnings by Gil Rendle. The author introduces two case studies of middle judicatories that have struggled with varying degrees of success with redirection as "enforcers" to "resourcers".

To get your copy, go to www.alban.org, click books, search by title and then buy, download, and print.

Same Issues, Different Perspectives (1pg/24k): an essay by Gil Rendle on the various systems in our church bodies that are all asking the same questions.

Congregational Resource Guide

The Alban Institute and the Indianapolis Center for Congregations have created the Congregational Resource Guide to help leaders connect with resources they need to gain insight into problems and to encourage transformation in their communities of faith.

A focus of the site is on the Middle Judicatory. Click on Middle Judicatories on the opening page for a listing of conversations and recommended resources. Current articles cover issues of vision, polity gridlock, and servicing congregations.