Churches Adopting Churches: New Life for Healthy and Struggling Churches

(Paperback)

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Description

Churches Adopting Churches: New Life for Healthy and Struggling Churches is a practical, how-to handbook providing a road map for churches interested in adopting a church and for churches exploring being adopted. Churches Adopting Churches focuses on the process of church adoptions, providing insights and best practices from pastors and churches who have experience with adopting or being adopted. The book also explores the dos and don'ts of church adoptions, highlighting key learnings and best practices, as well as potential pitfalls to avoid. Overall, it aims to guide churches in making informed decisions and navigating the adoption process successfully, ultimately enabling healthy congregations to thrive in their ministries.

Reviews

While the basic mission of the church to bring persons into a transformative relationship with God through Jesus Christ remains constant, the forms of the church have changed over the years to meet the needs of the time. In our rapidly changing religious landscape, adopting is one creative way for churches to adapt for vibrant ministry. Dirk Elliott has been at the forefront of working with church mergers and here he consolidates his experience and reflection into practical guidance for churches considering adopting or being adopted. This book is an essential guide, taking congregations from initial discernment and necessary preparatory work, through the completion of an adoption merger and the work of taking on shared values. Such mergers will be a necessary part of revitalizing ministry into the future, and Dirk Elliott is among our wisest guides for making them happen.
Bishop David A. Bard
Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church

I have found the "bonding step" to be the most challenging step in the adoption/merger process. For the parent church and the joining church to become one body of Christ in two locations, the bonding of church culture requires much intentionality. This is all about embracing a common church culture. Thanks for your book - we have needed this practical, step by step guide for pastors and lay leaders seeking a healthy, effective merger.
Dr. Richard A. Hunter
Associate Director: The Center for Congregational Excellence
The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church

As Christians, we are people of resurrection. Most churches in our country today are in need of a resurrection. Churches Adopting Churches by Dirk Elliott offers a wonderful process and resources for pastors, church leaders, and judicatory leaders of all types. The season of "if-you-build-it-they-will-come" has long passed. We are now in a new season which many of us believe will include churches adopting churches. This book should be a "must -read" for Bishops and cabinets everywhere.
Ken Willard, PCC
Director of Congregational Vitality
West Virginia Conference UMC

Author Bio

Dirk Elliott served as a Congregational Developer for 22 years after serving 18 years in pastoral ministry. Dirk currently leads Healthy Leadership Coaching, where he coaches and consults churches and leaders to grow healthy churches and helps them accomplish their ministry goals. He is a certified PCC coach with specializations in Executive Leadership Coaching and High-Performance Coaching. Dirk has authored two books, Vital Merger: A New Church Approach that Joins Church Families Together and Churches Adopting Churches: New Life for Healthy and Struggling Churches.