Facing Decline, Finding Hope New Possibilities for Faithful Churches [Hardcover]

When I read a book on leadership, I ask myself two questions: Would I use this book in a course I teach on congregational leadership at the seminary? Would I draw upon the authors perspectives as I resource congregations in their visioning and strategic planning processes? In response to these questions, Facing Decline, Finding Hope receives an enthusiastic yes. . . .Church leaders framing conversations around these questions will benefit considerably from Joness biblical, theological, congregational, cultural, and sociological insights, as well as the possible implications he explores in each area. . . .This entire book, from my perspective, hinges on this statement that calls attention to the identity and purpose of the church. As such, I would begin classroom and congregational discussions at this point, move into other dimensions of the text, and anticipate a much improved level of substance and clarity as we consider what it means to be both faithful and hopeful in this time and place.There's so much to love about Jeff Jones' new book on decline and hope. He offers deep biblical insight on the tension between the priestly and prophetic. He traces intriguing parallels between biblical dynamics and the work of contemporary organizational theorists. He demonstrates the connection between honest personal spiritual vitality and congregational vitality. But my favorite thing: he doesn't just propose new answers to old questions. He proposes new questions entirelyand they're exactly the questions we need. Here's a book to help congregations face reality, including the reality of declineand face the future, with hope.Churches that find their membership numbers dropping sometimes consider that fact to be the center of their identities. Jeff Jones suggests a different center, without avoiding the realities of decline, and thus his book on hope becomes in itself a source of hope. Jeffs experience in ministry, coupled with his deep commitment to leadership studies, mal“9