Emergent Brethren

Oh, how I wish I had time to do more reading! I’m not the kind of person who likes to sit around alot. I learn better in seminar environments. Martin asked in a prior post what books I’m reading. Here’s a list of some of the books I’ve read and want to find time to read:

Living Your Strengths, Albert L. Winseman, Donald O. Clifton, and Curt Liesveld, Gallup Press, 2003-2004

Last week, I attended the faith-based Strength’s Coaching training at the Gallup headquarters in Omaha. It was one of the most energizing things I’ve done. I’ve been coaching people through my church now for 4 years in helping them understand their strengths for leadership and marriage (pre-marital counseling). This has been a good experience. Many young adults seem to like this approach to understanding how God has wired them much better than the traditional spiritual gifts approach. I’m recommending this book for the Annual Conference Bookstore.

If you’ve done the Gallup Strengths Finder survey, please let me know about your impressions!

The Relevant Church: A New vision for Communities of faith, Edited by Jennifer Ashley with Mike Bickle, et. al., Relevantbooks, 2005

This is a book with each chapter written by an emergent church pastor. It looks good. I picked it up at the National Pastor’s Convention.

Vital Signs: A Pathway to Congregational Wholeness, Dan R. Dick, Discipleship Resources, 2007 <just off the press!>

I attended a meeting at the Discipleship headquarters of the United Methodist Church this Spring. We were handed a copy of this book before it was sent-out to book stores. The author studied over 700 United Methodist congregations. From his study, he divides them into four categories: decaying, dystrophic, retrogressive and vital. I’ve not read the whole book, but it looks VERY interesting and helpful!

Web-Empower Your Church: unleashing the power of internet ministry, Mark M. Stephenson, Abingdon Press, 2006

For any of you who have websites or thinking of creating one, this is a MUST have! For more information about this book and the author go to http://webempoweredchurch.com/index.php?id=379. Here you’ll find a video-streaming presentation about the topic.

They Like Jesus But Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations, Dan Kimball, Zondervan, 2007

I like any book by Dan Kimball. More than any other emergent author, I like the practicality of the information he shares.

The following are books I have, but haven’t taken time to really look at:

Just Walk Across the Room:Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith, Bill Hybells, Zondervan Press, 2006

The Power of Asset Mapping: How Your Congregation can Act on Its Gifts, Luther K. Snow, Alban, 2004

Systems-Sensitive Leadership: empowering diversity without polarizing the church, Michael C. Armour and Don Browning, College Press, 2000

Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures, Eddie Gibbs and Ryan K. Bolger, Baker Academic, 2005

The Gospel According to Starbucks: Living with Grande Passion, Leonard Sweet, Waterbook, 2007

The Blogging Church: Sharing the Storyof Your Church through Blogs, Brian Baily with Terry Storch, Jossey-Bass, 2007

Blessings to you!

Jeff Glass

From today’s CoB Newsline (3/29/07) I read,

“Vital Pastor program continues to launch and conclude pastor groups.

In late 2006 and early 2007, six pastoral cohort groups in the Church of the Brethren were awarded Sustaining Pastoral Excellence (SPE) grants that launched a two-year, self-chosen study focus for each group. SPE is administered by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, a joint ministry of Bethany Theological Seminary and the Church of the Brethren General Board, and is funded by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. Following are the groups of pastors, their congregations, and their questions for study:

Ryan Braught, Hempfield Church of the Brethren in Manheim, Pa.; Dennis Garrison, Spring Creek Church of the Brethren in Hershey, Pa.; Steve Hess, Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; John Hostetter, Lampeter (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; Bob Kettering, Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; Phil Reynolds, Mohler Church of the Brethren in Ephrata, Pa. Question: “What leadership skills are needed to pastor disciple-forming communities in a postmodern world?”

Dennis Lohr, Palmyra (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; Twyla Rowe, Westminster (Md.) Church of the Brethren; Dick Shreckhise, Lancaster (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; Jim Zerfing, Lake View Christian Fellowship Church of the Brethren in East Berlin, Pa. Question: “What are the insights and skills needed for effective pastoral leadership to minister amid the intersections of our Anabaptist/Pietist identity and the emerging postmodern church/culture?”

I hope these pastors will add to this website with their questions, insights and learnings. I would love to hear from them! Perhaps by posting here, we could contribute to their learnings, too.

So. . . what do you all have to say?

Jeff Glass

This past week, I attended the National Pastor’s Convention (its only 7 miles away). I miss the emergent convention, but there are still some great opportunities at the pastor’s convention, too. I have some notes that I’d like to share with you in coming weeks from the sessions I attended.

At the convention, I’m always impressed by the young adults who are there and their passion for ministry. While I rejoice and enjoy the fellowship with these 20 somethings, I mourn the loss of this age group in the Church of the Brethren. How many do you have participating in your congregation? How many do you have contacts with? Have you done anything which has drawn-in new young adults?

Today, at the Christianity Today website, I read the following article,

Leader’s Insight: What Disillusioned 20-Somethings Want.

I really enjoyed the article! If you’d like to take a peek, here’s the link: http://www.christianitytoday.com/leaders/newsletter/2007/cln70212.html

Also, if you are ever interested in attending the convention (there’s about 2000 clergy there each year from all denominations), please let me know. I can help you find free housing through the San Diego congregation or lower priced motels within walking distance.

Blessings to you!

Jeff