Here, in a newly revised edition, is a powerful and pertinent guide for congregations wanting to move away from 'maintenance thinking' to powerful, creative engagement with the world. Visionary yet practical, Nessan's influential book makes a persuasive case for the centrality of mission in the life of the church. Nessan's model of mission-driven leadership is strongly centered on the community of faith's worship and draws unique connections between the worship life of a congregation and every aspect of the church's ministry. Around the twin foci of congregational identity and mission, the...

While many manuals advise clergy and congregants on tactics for church survival or thriving, few address the deepest identity, shape, and imperatives of the church in its identity in Christ and the tradition of discipling that stems from his life, work, death, and resurrection. As compelling as it is clear, Craig Nessan's important new work retrieves biblical metaphors of the body of Christ and, following Dietrich Bonhoeffer, sees church today as "Christ existing as community." To theological-probing Nessan then adds contextual analysis and describes the four chief imperatives that mark...

Radicalizing Reformation provides critical perspectives from North American theologians involved in the international project, "Radicalizing Reformation - Provoked by the Bible and Today's Crises." This project explores the radical roots of what was ignited 500 years ago in order to bring more attention to the systemic challenges that must be addressed today, drawing from both the strengths and the weaknesses of the Reformation legacy. Authors in this all-English volume include: Brigitte Kahl, Paul S. Chung, Samuel Torvend, Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Craig L. Nessan, Peter Goodwin Heltzel, Charles...