Living the United Methodist Way: Turning Worlds Upside Down
January 29-February 1
Jacksonville, FL
Annual Conference core leaders and general agency representatives will gather to understand, to embrace and to develop strategies for living The United Methodist Way through inspirational worship and learning around our denominational directions adopted by General Conference.

Transforming Power: Stories from Transformational Leaders for Encouragement and Inspiration
By Hugh Ballou
Church leaders are expected not only to advocate transformation but navigate, with an encouraging smile, the resultant difficulties. While many books promote the need for transformation, few offer leaders hope, guidance and inspiration to persevere in the midst of (and beyond) the struggle. Ballou brings together a collection of stories from leaders who have lived through personal or institutional upheavals and survived.

Vital Signs: A Pathway to Congregational Wholeness
by Dan R. Dick
Like many mainline denominations, The United Methodist Church is ailing. Declining membership, worship and Sunday school attendance, outreach and giving — all troubling signs.

In an age of megachurches, "Ten Steps to …" congregational self-help programs point to models that might not be in the church's best interest.

Following the suggestions of this new conventional wisdom may reverse the trends and attract thousands to highly entertaining services (bolstered by a strong budget and marketing plan) led a charismatic pastor, but is that the true picture of a vital church? Could it be that our measure of success is wrong? Could it be we're diluting the real mission of the church? Advocating Christianity "Lite?"

For more than six years, Dick has visited, studied, surveyed, consulted with and analyzed 700+ congregations across North America to better understand effective structures, processes, leadership and systems for spiritual formation and development. The critically acclaimed result is Vital Signs.

Hot Picks: Deepening Your Effectiveness and The Church Vitality Indicator

Deepening Your Effectiveness
Restructuring the Local Church for Life Transformation
By Dan Glover and Claudia Lavy

Dan Glover and Claudia Lavy develop their own depiction and image of the path of spiritual growth to help church leaders cultivate a more clear awareness of where their people are and how to help them mature in the faith and in their own sense of discipleship. Framing their very workable ideas in a seashore analogy, the authors explain how to identify the stages of spiritual development — from skeptical seekers to authentically functional disciples.

Leading from the Center (Summer 2007) -- Prayer

The Covenant Group - A Case Study
A fictitious account illustrating the complexities of church leadership in modern society.