Vital Signs: A Pathway to Congregational Wholeness
by Dan R. Dick
Like many mainline denominations, The United Methodist Church is ailing. Declining membership, worship and Sunday school attendance, outreach and giving — all troubling signs.

In an age of megachurches, "Ten Steps to …" congregational self-help programs point to models that might not be in the church's best interest.

Following the suggestions of this new conventional wisdom may reverse the trends and attract thousands to highly entertaining services (bolstered by a strong budget and marketing plan) led a charismatic pastor, but is that the true picture of a vital church? Could it be that our measure of success is wrong? Could it be we're diluting the real mission of the church? Advocating Christianity "Lite?"

For more than six years, Dick has visited, studied, surveyed, consulted with and analyzed 700+ congregations across North America to better understand effective structures, processes, leadership and systems for spiritual formation and development. The critically acclaimed result is Vital Signs.

Hot Picks for October 2007: Deepening Your Effectiveness and The Church Vitality Indicator

Deepening Your Effectiveness
Restructuring the Local Church for Life Transformation
By Dan Glover and Claudia Lavy

Dan Glover and Claudia Lavy develop their own depiction and image of the path of spiritual growth to help church leaders cultivate a more clear awareness of where their people are and how to help them mature in the faith and in their own sense of discipleship. Framing their very workable ideas in a seashore analogy, the authors explain how to identify the stages of spiritual development — from skeptical seekers to authentically functional disciples.

Leading from the Center (Summer 2007) -- Prayer

The Covenant Group - A Case Study
A fictitious account illustrating the complexities of church leadership in modern society.