Branson, Mark Lau. Memories, Hopes, and Conversations: Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change. : Alban Institute, 2004
To Acquire Contact: Downloadable Chapter One PDF Document. Alban Institute, Amazon, Barnes and Noble Notes: Downloadable resources for those who have purchased the book are available at Alban Institute. "Memories, Hopes, and Conversations recounts the experience of First Presbyterian and outlines a process that any congregation can utilize to harness the energies of the congregation at all levels of its common life. Branson first leads readers through the foundations of Appreciative Inquiry and bracingly explores biblical texts for understanding the practice in a faith context. He then outlines and illustrates a four-step process--Initiate, Inquire, Imagine, Innovate--that creatively employs constructive conversations and questions to evoke storytelling and spur imaginations." (Amazon)ISBN/ISSN: ISBN: 1566992885
Related Subject(s): Revitalizing Congregations, Appreciative Inquiry, Case Studies
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Stabler, Jack C; M. Rose Olfert. Saskatchewan's Communities in the 21st Century: From Places to Regions. : Canadian Plains Research Center, 2002
To Acquire Contact: Amazon Notes: Report of evolution of Saskatchewan trade centre system from 1961-2001. Describes reorganization and how the province can successfully enter 21st century.ISBN/ISSN: ISBN: 0889771472
Related Subject(s): Rural Conditions - Saskatchewan, Economic Conditions
Jung, L. Shannon; Pegge Boehm; Deborah Cronin; Gary Farley; C. Dean Freudenberger; Judith Borter Heffernan, Sandra Lablanc; Edward L. Queen II; David C. Ruesink . Rural Ministry: The Shape of the Renewal to Come. Kingston, Ontario, Canada: Abingdon Press, 1998
Recommended By: Queen’s Theological CollegeTo Acquire Contact: Amazon, Barnes and Noble Notes: "The authors of Rural Ministry: The Shape of the Renewal to Come names the primary issues that leaders of Protestant and Catholic churches must ponder: the greying of the rural population; the closing of schools, hospitals, and factories; the corporate buyout of farms during the farm crisis of the 1980s; and the changing face of poverty in rural areas." (Publisher's description)ISBN/ISSN: ISBN: 0687016061
Related Subject(s): Rural Crisis, Church-community engagement
Dudley, Carl S. Community Ministry: New Challenges, Proven Steps to Faith-Based Initiatives. Hartford, Connecticut, US: Alban Institute, 2002
Recommended By: Hartford Institute for Religion Research To Acquire Contact: Alban Institute, Amazon, Barnes and NobleNotes: "In this volume, Carl S. Dudley revises and updates his earlier book, Basic Steps toward Community Ministry, which Loren Mead called 'the most valuable book on parish ministry I’ve seen in a decade.' Once again, Dudley offers guidance for congregational leaders who need to create tools, get started, and take next steps to respond to God’s call to extraordinary ministry in their community." (Alban Institute)ISBN/ISSN: ISBN: 1566992567
Related Subject(s): Rural Ministry, Community Engagement Models
Clark, Gill M. The Changing Role of Churches and Religion in Rural Scotland (Rural Scotland Today -- Policy Briefing). Aberdeen, Scotland, 1997
Recommended By: Arkelton CentreTo Acquire Contact: Downloadable PDF DocumentNotes: The research project was conducted by a research team at the University of Aberdeen between 1993 and 1995 in four case study areas in rural Scotland: Harris, Wester Ross, Angus and North Ayrshire. The population in each area was less than 5000. Through surveys and qualitative interviews they discovered that respondents saw the role of the Church in rural communities as critical to both the spiritual and 'moral' well-being of thecommunities, as a vital part of the secular social life of communities and as a focus for community wide projects. They discovered that clergy were often the sole remaining professionals in the community and were called on to fill many gaps in social service provision. Their influence on the political/social/economic life of the community was perceived as very strong by community members, but weak by the clergy themselves who tended to see their role as restricted to spiritual-theological influence. The authors were also surprised at the lack of similar studies. They comment that "perceptions of political or ideological sensitivities in relation to 'religion', and notably fears of bias, have dissuaded researchers and policy funders from engaging in a practical and pragmatic assessment of the 'theological', 'sociological' or even 'secular' aspects of the role of the Church in rural communities." In the conclusion they insist that much more work needs to be done on the very substantial impact of rural churches on rural communities.ISBN/ISSN: 1900399040
Related Subject(s): Church-community engagement, Scotland, Sociological Studies
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