Here’s a draft of the Table of Contents for Deborah and David’s new book, Flourishing Congregations: Reasons for Hope

INTRODUCTION:  Why We Hope for Flourishing Churches

PART ONE:  What Makes for a Flourishing Congregation:  Their Adaptive Identity

The two basic issues congregations face in the 21^st century are identity and change.  The core identity of a congregation has important elements of constancy in it. Flourishing congregations have the flexibility to adapt to new circumstances while remaining true to their core identity.  We find the metaphor of translation helpful in thinking theologically about identity and change.

1. The Soul of a Congregation is in the Stories it Tells
2. Flourishing Congregations Face Change and Welcome Transformation
3. Flourishing Churches Come Alive in Translation:  A biblical and theological foundation model

PART TWO: What Flourishing Congregations Do:  Essential Practices

How a congregation works out its practices of worship, its choices of how to be in right relationship with God and each other, and how it expresses compassion for those beyond the church are the essential practices of a flourishing congregation.

4. Worship that provides experiences of the holy for the community
5. Right relationships with the Holy and with one another, the practices of faith, mutual caring and fellowship, discernment
6. Compassion/Service beyond the congregation

PART THREE: Available Resources:  Congregational Infrastructure

Adapting and right practices require a minimum of resources.  Flourishing Congregations require the support of basic healthy infrastructure.  Leadership, structures and sustainability do not in themselves guarantee a congregation can flourish.  But without them, it cannot be transformed.

7. Collaborative Leadership
8. Healthy Structures
9. Enough Resources for sustainability

CONCLUSION: Good Enough Churches