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The Episcopal Church / Anglicanism
The Way of Love
Neal O. Michell
Church Publishing
Sep/2024, 256 Pages, Paperback, 6 x 9
ISBN: 9781640657342
The definitive guide to changes in congregational leadership, revised to reflect the needs of today's church
Designed for the clergy and lay leadership of congregations in the midst of transitions, this volume offers a quick start guide to help clergy and lay leadership with topics from defining mission to developing effective decision-making processes. How to Hit the Ground Running contains a program for an effective leadership change that begins one month before a transition and continues for the first eighteen months of a new pastor, priest, or rector’s tenure.
With this revision, author Neal Michell has updated the text throughout to reflect current concerns of church leaders, including more coverage of leadership in small congregations and approaches to empowering lay leaders. Designed in a user-friendly format, the volume includes step-by-step guidance and exercises to ensure that, rather than being stalled and directionless, a period of transition is dynamic and purposeful.
An Episcopal priest and consultant for congregational development, Neal O. Michell has served as the Canon to the Ordinary and Canon for Strategic Development in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. A former practicing attorney, he has been a priest at churches of various sizes in Texas and in Tennessee, where he planted a church in Germantown that grew rapidly. He has led vestry retreats and workshops, focusing on vision-casting and leadership development. He holds a D.Min. in Church Growth from Fuller Seminary, where he researched contemporary Anglican worship. He has also gone on short-term mission trips to Ukraine, South Africa, Mexico, and Honduras. He is the author of How to Hit the Ground Running: A Quick-Start Guide for Congregations with New Leadership and Beyond Business as Usual: Vestry Leadership Development, in addition to numerous articles. He lives in Dallas, Texas.
"How to Hit the Ground Running is addressed to Episcopal priests, yet the examples readily apply to Presbyterian churches. It’s an appropriate choice for a pastor in their first call, and its hands-on guidance will be just as applicable to more experienced pastors in transition, as well as to volunteer leaders and church governing boards wondering how to best work with a new pastor."—The Presbyterian Outlook
"How to Hit the Ground Running, Revised Edition is an essential tool for congregations in transition."—The Rev. Canon Betsy Randall, Diocese of Oklahoma
"How to Hit the Ground Running, Revised Edition has been an invaluable resource for the leadership of our church. It has helped us bring about meaningful change, grow our church, and maintain unity in Christ."—The Rev. Rutger-Jan Heijmen, Rector, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, West Palm Beach, FL
"How to Hit the Ground Running has been a priceless resource to guide me through my first year running a parish on my own. Michell's humor, experience, and keen insight have helped me to guide my parish into new growth, financial health, and overall cooperation among leadership and those in the pews."—The Rev. Sam Cripps, Rector, Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, Wausau, WI
"This book is a great resource for new and long-term clergy to sharpen their thinking about congregational leadership and organization. I have used this book and found it very helpful in parish ministry!"—The Rev. Cynthia Seifert, Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Lebanon, TN
