Compiled by Tom Carpe and members of the Congregational Transformation Task Group:

Ackerman, John, Listening to God: Spiritual Formation in Congregations, Alban Institute

Ammerman, Nancy, Jackson Carroll, Carl Dudley, and Bill McKinney, Studying Congregations: A New Handbook, Abingdon Press.

Bandy, Thomas G, Christian Chaos: Revolutionizing the Congregation, Abingdon

Bandy, Thomas G, Coaching Change, Abingdon

Bandy, Thomas G, Kicking Habits: Welcome Relief for Addicted Churches, Abingdon

Bandy, Thomas G, Moving Off the Map: A Field Guide to Changing the Congregation, Abingdon

Bandy, Thomas, Christian Chaos:  Revolutionizing the Congregation, Abingdon

Barna, George, The Power of Team Leadership,  Waterbrook Press

Barna, George, The Frog in the Kettle:  What Christians Need to Know About Life in the Year 2000,   Regal Books, Gospel Light Publications

Barna, George, User Friendly Churches:  What Christians Need to Know About the Churches People Love to Go To, Regal Books, Gospel Light Publications

Bass, Diana Butler, Christianity for the Rest of Us, Harper San Francisco

Bass, Diana Butler, The Practicing Congregation, Alban Institute

Bass, Dorothy, Practicing Our Faith, Jossey-Bass

Bass, Dorothy, Receiving the Day, Jossey-Bass

Boots, Steven, Living the Vision: Congregational Transformation, PDS# 72-300-00-001

Bohren, H. Benjamin, And Still We Rise – A Six-Part Study on Personal and Congregational Transformation, Chalice Press

Borg, Marcus, The Heart of Christianity:  Rediscovering a Life of Faith, Harper San Francisco

Bridges, William, Making Sense of Life’s Transitions, Strategies for coping with the difficult, painful, and confusing times of your life. Addison Wesley

Bridges, William, Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change, Perseus Books Group

Brueggemann, Walter, Biblical Perspectives on Evangelism, Abingdon

Buckingham, Marcus & Clifton, Donald O, Now, Discover Your Strengths

Buckingham, Marcus & Coffman, Curt, First, Break All The Rules, Simon & Schuster

Bullard, George W., Jr., Pursuing the Full Kingdom Potential of Your Congregation, Lake Hickory Resources

Callahan, Kennon, Effective Church Leadership, Jossey-Bass

Clifton, Donald O. & Nelson, Paula, Soar With Your Strengths, Dell

Collins, Jim, Good to Great, Harper Collins

Dale, Robert D, Seeds for the Future: Growing Organic Leaders for Living Churches, Lake Hickory Resources

Delloff, Linda-Marie, Public Offerings: Stories from the Front Lines of Community Ministry, Alban Institute

DePree, Max, Leadership is an Art, Dell

DePree, Max, Leadership Jazz, Dell

deWaal Malefyt and Howard Vanderwell, Designing Worship Together, Models and Strategies for Worship Planning, Alban Institute

Dick, Dan & Miller, Barbara, Equipped for Every Good Work, Discipleship Resources

Dudley, Carl S. and Ammerman, Nancy T, Congregations in Transition: A Guide for Analyzing, Assessing and Adapting in Changing Communities, Jossey-Bass

Easum, William, Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First,

Abingdon

Easum, William & Bandy, Thomas, Growing Spiritual Redwoods, Abingdon

Carl G. Eeman, Carl G. T., Generations of Faith, a congregational atlas, Alban Institute

Farber-Robertson, Anita, Learning While Leading,

Alban Institute

Foss, Michael, Power Surge: Six Marks of Discipleship for a Changing Church, Augsburg-Fortress

Foster, Richard, The Celebration of Discipline,

Harper & Row

Friedman, Edwin, A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, The Friedman Estate

Friedman, Edwin H, Generation to Generation, Guilford

Gaede, Beth Ann, ed., Ending with Hope. A Resource for Closing Congregations, (A Chapter on Mergers as a New Beginning), Alban

Galindo, Israel, The Hidden Lives of Congregations: Discerning Church Dynamics, Alban Institute

Gelder, Craig Can, The Essence of the Church, Baker Books

Gladwell, Malcolm, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, Back Bay Books

Guder, Darrell, Ed., Missional Church, Eerdmans

Hadaway, C. Kirk, Behold, I Do a New Thing: Transforming Communities of Faith, Pilgrim Press

Halverstadt, Hugh, Managing Church Conflict, John Knox Press

Hamm, Richard, 2020 Vision for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Chalice Press

Hamm, Richard, Recreating the Church:  Leadership for the Postmodern Age, Chalice Press

Hammett, Edward, Spiritual Leadership in a Secular Age: Building Bridges Instead of Barriers, Lake Hickory Resources

Hays, Edward, In Pursuit of the Great White Rabbit, Forest of Peace Books

Heifetz, Ronald A, Leadership Without Easy Answers, Belknap-Harvard

Heifetz, Ronald A. & Linsky, Marty, Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive Through the Dangers of Leading, Harvard Business School Press

Herrington, Jim; Bonem, Mike & Furr, James H., Leading Congregational Change, Jossey-Bass

Herrington, Jim; Creech, Robert & Taylor, Trisha, The Leaders Journey, Jossey-Bass

Hobgood, William Chris, Welcoming Resistance, Alban Institute

Hudson, Jill, When Better Isn’t Enough: Evaluation Tools for the 21st Century, Alban Institute

Hunter, George G. III., How to Reach Secular People, Abingdon

Hunter, George G. III., Church for the Unchurched, Abingdon

Hunter, James C., The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership, Prima

Job, Reuben P., A Guide to Daily Prayer, Upper Room

Job, Reuben P., A People’s Guide to Prayer, Upper Room

Johnson, Spencer, MD, Who Moved My Cheese?, Putnam

Katzenbach, Jon & Smith, Douglas, The Wisdom of Teams, Harper Business School Press

Keck, L. Robert, Sacred Eyes, Synergy Associates, Inc.

Kiefert, Patrick R., Welcoming the Stranger – A Public Theology of Worship and Evangelism, Augsburg Press

Kimball, Dan, The Emerging Church, Zondervan

Kise, Stark, & Hirsh, Life Keys, Bethany House

Klaas, Alan C., In Search of the Unchurched, Alban Institute

Kotter, John P., Leading Change, Harvard Business School Press

Leas, Speed, Discover Your Conflict Management Style, Alban Institute

Leas, Speed, Moving Your Church Through Conflict, Alban Institute

Lencioni, Patrick, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Jossey-Bass

Linn, Dennis, Sheila Fabricant Linn, and Matthew Linn, SJ, Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Gives You Life, Paulist Press

Linn, Jan, The Jesus Connection:  A Christian Spirituality, Chalice Press

Linn, Jan, Reclaiming Evangelism, Chalice Press

Linn, Jan, Rocking the Church Membership Boat, Chalice Press

Lott, David, Conflict Management in Congregations, Alban Institute

Lundin, Stephen C.; Paul, Harry & Christensen, John, Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results, Hyperion

Mallory, Sue, The Equipping Church, Zondervan

Mann, Alice, Can Our Church Live? Redeveloping Congregations in Decline, Alban Institute

Markham, Donna J., Spiritlinking Leadership, Paulist Press

Maxwell, John, The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player, Thomas Nelson

Maxwell, John, The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, Thomas Nelson

McLaren, Brian, More Ready Than You Realize, Zondervan

McLaren, Brian, A New Kind of Christian, Jossey-Bass

McLaren, Brian, The Church on the Other Side, Zondervan

McNeal, Reggie, The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church, Jossey-Bass

McNiff, Shaun, Trust the Process: An Artists Guide to Letting Go, Shambhala

Mead, Loren, Five Challenges for the Once and Future Church, Alban Institute

Mead, Loren, More Than Numbers: The Ways Churches Grow, Alban Institute

Mead, Loren, The Once and Future Church, Alban Institute

Mead, Loren, Transforming Congregations for the Future, Alban Institute

Mead, Loren, A change of Pastors, and How it Affects the congregation, Alban Institute

Melander, Rochelle and Harold Epply, The Spiritual Leader’s Guide to Self Care, Alban Institute

Meyer, Richard, One Anothering, Available through Amazon.com

Miller, M. Rex, The Millennium Matrix, Reclaiming the Past, Reframing the Future, Jossey-Bass

Morgenthaler, Sally, Worship Evangelism:  Inviting Unbelievers into the Presence of God, Zondervan

Muller, Wayne, Sabbath, Bantam Books

Nicholson, Roger, ed., Temporary Shepherds: A Congregational Handbook on Interim Ministry, Alban Institute

Olsen, Charles, Transforming Church Boards into Communities of Spiritual Leaders, Alban Institute

Oswald, Roy, Making Your Church More Inviting, Alban Institute

Oswald, Roy M. & Friedrich, Jr., Robert E., Discerning Your Congregation’s Future, Alban Institute

Payne, Bishop Claude E and Hamilton Beazley, Reclaiming the Great Commission: A Practical Model for Transforming Denominations and Congregations, Jossey-Bass

Peterson, Eugene, Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work, Eerdmans

Peterson, Eugene, The Contemplative Pastor, Eerdmans

Peterson, Eugene, The Message Bible, Eerdmans

Peterson, Eugene, Under the Unpredictable Plan: An Exploration In Vocational Holiness, Eerdmans

Poling-Goldeen, David and Shannon L. Jung, Discovering Hope: Building Vitality in Rural Congregations, Augsburg Fortress

Potter, Rosalie, Living The Vision: Preparing Members for Evangelism, PDS# 72-300-00-002

Randall, Robert L., What People Expect From Church:  Why Meeting the Needs of People is More Important Than Church Meetings, Abingdon Press

Rediger, G. Lloyd, Fit to be a Pastor,

Regele, Mike, Death of the Church, Harper Collins

Rendle, Gil and Mann, Alice, Holy Conversations, Alban Institute

Rendle, Gil, Leading Change in the Congregation, Alban Institute

Rendle, Gil, The Multigenerational Congregation, Alban Institute

Reese, Martha Grace, Unbinding the Gospel, Chalice Press

Reese, Martha Grace, Unbinding Your Heart, Chalice Press

Reese, Martha Grace, Unbinding Your Church, Chalice Press

Richardson, Ronald W., Creating a Healthier Church: Family Systems Theory, Leadership, and Congregational Life, Fortress

Robbins, Harvey & Finley, Michael, The New Why Teams Don’t Work, Berrett Koehler

Robinson, Anthony, Transforming Congregational Culture, Alban Institute

Robinson, Anthony, What’s Theology got to do with it?, Alban Institute

Robinson, Anthony and Robert Wall, Called to Be the Church:  The Book of Acts for a New Day, Eerdmans

Roxburgh, Alan, Crossing the Bridge: Leadership in a Time of Change, Percept (online version)

Roxburgh, Alan, Starting Strong, Percept

Roxburgh, Alan, Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World, Allalon

Roxburgh, Alan, The Sky is Falling!?! Leaders Lost in Transition, Allalon

Rusaw, Rick and Eric Swanson, The Externally Focused Church, Group

Russell, Ronny, Can a Church Live Again?, Smyth & Helwys

Sample, Steven B., The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership, Jossey-Bass

Sample, Tex, Hard Living People and Mainstream Christians, Abingdon

Satterlee, Craig B., When God Speaks through Change, Preaching in times of Congregational Transition, Alban Institute

Schaper, Donna, Sabbath Keeping, Cloister

Schwarz, Christian A., Natural Church Development: A Guide to the Eight Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches, ChurchSmart Resources

Schwarz, Christian A., The Three Colors of Ministry, ChurchSmart Resources

Sellon, Mary K.; Smith, Daniel P. & Grossman, Gail F., Redeveloping the Congregation, Alban Institute

Sellon, Mary K, and Daniel P. Smith, Practicing Right Relationships, Skills for Deepening Purpose, Finding Fulfillment, and Increasing Effectiveness in Your Congregation, Alban Institute

Slaughter, Michael, Unlearning Church, Group

Slaughter, Mike and Warren Bird, Real Followers: Beyond Virtual Christianity,

Southerland, Dan, Transitioning: Leading Your Church Through Change, Zondervan

Spellers, Stephanie, Radical Welcome – Embracing God, the Other, and the Spirit of Transformation, Church Publishing Incorporated

Snow, Luther K., The Power of Asset Mapping, Alban Institute

Standish, N. Graham, Becoming a Blessed Church – Forming a Church of Spiritual Purpose, Presence, and Power, Alban Institute

Stark, David and Keifert, Patrick, People Together – the Next Generation of Small Group Ministries – The Small Church Small Group Guide, Church Innovations Publishing

Steinke, Peter L., Healthy Congregations: A Systems Approach, Alban Institute

Steinke, Peter L., How Your Church Family Works: Understanding Congregations as Emotional Systems, Alban Institute

Stetzer, Ed., Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age, Broadman and Holman

Strauss, William & Howe, Neil, The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy, Broadway Books

Strommen, Martin P., The Innovative Church: Seven Steps to Positive Change in Your Congregation, Augsburg Fortress

Sweet, Leonard, Post-Modern Pilgrims, Broadman & Holman

Sweet, Leonard, A Cup of Coffee at the Soul Café, Broadman & Holman

Sweet, Leonard, Aqua Church, Vital Ministry

Sweet, Leonard, Soul Tsunami, Zondervan

Thomas, Marlin, Transforming Conflict in Your Church, Herald Press

Thompson, Marjorie, Soul Feast, Westminster/John Knox Press

Tracy, Brian, Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less time, Koehler

Ware, Corinne, Discover Your Spiritual Type, Alban Institute

Warren, Rick, The Purpose Driven Church, Zondervan

Weems, Lovet H., Jr., Take the Next Step, Leading Lasting change in the Church, Abingdon

Weisbord, Marvin and Janoff, Sandra, Future Search: An Action Guide to Finding Common Ground in Organizations and Communities, Berrett-Koehler

Wheatley, Margaret, Leadership and the New Science, Berrett-Koehler

Wheatley, Margaret, Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future, Berrett-Koehler

Williamsen, Thomas, Attending Parishioners’ Spiritual Growth, Alban Institute

Williamson, Clark M. and Allen, Ronald J., The Vital Church: Teaching, Worship, Community, Service, Chalice Press

Wilson, Douglas A., Commitment to Evangelism, PDS# 72-310-99-006

Woods, C. Jeff, Congregational Mega Trends, Alban Institute

Additional books

Standish, N. Graham.  Becoming a Blessed Church (Alban Institute, 2005).

Zander, Rosemund and Benjamin. The Art of Possibility–Transforming Professional and Personal Life (Penguin Books, 2000).

Rendle, Gilbert R.  Leading Change in the Congregation (Alban Institute, 1998).

Robinson, Anthony B.  Changing the Conversation–A Third Way for Congregations (Eerdmans, 2008).

Nappa, Mike.  Who Moved My Church?  A Story About Discovering Purpose in a Changing Culture (RiverOak Publishing, 2001).

Tenny-Brittian, Julianna Kristina.  Top 10 Ways to Difuse Your Congregational Time Bomb (Pilgrim Press, 2008).

Kinnamon, Michael and Jan Linn.  Disciples–Reclaiming Our Identity, Reforming Our Practice (Chalice Press, 2009).

Sweet, Leonard and Frank Viola.  Jesus Manifesto–Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ (Thomas Nelson Books, 2010).

Tickle, Phyllis Tickle,  The Great Emergence–How Christianity is Changing and Why (Baker Books, 2008).

Oswald, Roy and Barry Johnson, Managing Polarities in Congregations (Alban Institute, 2010.

They Like Jesus But Not the Church Dan Kimball
Follow Me to Freedom Shane Claiborne and John Perkins
The Culturally Savvy Christian Dick Staub
Churches That Make A Difference Ron Sider, Philip Olson and Heidi Roland Unruh
The Next Christendom Philip Jenkins
Everything Must Change Brian McLaren
Transforming Christian Theology Philip Clayton
The New Christian Tony Jones
Jesus Wants to Save Christians Rob Bell
The Church of the Perfect Church Leonard Sweet, editor
Life After Church Brian Sanders
The Simple Church Thomas Rainer and Eric Gieger
The Great Emergence Phyllis Tickle