Signs of Hope and Health in Mainline Churches: Guidelines for Creating Hopeful and Healthy Congregations

This book features findings from a new research project with this surprising conclusion: It's time to replace lament over problems facing twenty-first-century mainline churches with aspirations of hope and possibilities for health. Core beliefs about hope and guidelines for making hope happen are introduced. Eighteen models of healthy congregations over four decades are highlighted--some research-based, others denomination-based or book-based. Markers of flourishing congregations are derive...