Robert Schnase  
RRP $30.75

From Publisher's reviews: 
“People are searching for a church shaped and sustained by Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. These fundamental practices are critical to the success of congregations. Their presence and strength demonstrate congregational health, vitality, and fruitfulness. By repeating and improving these practices, churches fulfill their mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Robert Schnase astutely weaves theological insight, practical advice, and exemplary stories into an inspiring book for pastors and laity alike.” — L. Gregory Jones, Dean and Professor of Theology, Duke Divinity School

“Stimulating. Challenging. Uniquely helpful. Bishop Schnase gives us powerful language, rich examples, and practical suggestions for fulfilling the mission God gives us.” —Janice Riggle Huie, Bishop of the Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church

Comments provided by Alan Dutton, Rural Resource Minister, MRN

I’d like to highly recommend this book.

Schnase is the Bishop of the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church, and he writes out of that background.

Interestingly, he observes that 21 out of the 900 congregations account for 20% of the total worship attendance, and that 570 small congregations also account for 20% of the worship attendance. The 21 largest churches are growing at about 4% annually; the 570 small churches are declining at about 6% annually. “Nearly 70% of the congregations report worship that is remaining the same or declining, and most pastors have never served in congregations that have reported growth in attendance during their tenure.” These are not the figures we usually hear from the American context – but do they sound familiar?

The Five Practices discussed in this book are:

• Radical hospitality
• Passionate worship
• Intentional faith development
• Risk-taking mission and service
• Extravagant generosity

In each chapter the author first describes what he means by hospitality, worship, faith development, mission and service, and generosity – and then he describes the adjective.

The final chapter focuses on excellence and fruitfulness. There are echoes here of “Christianity for the Rest of Us” by Diana Butler Bass.

This isn’t a deep or “heavy” book, but I reckon it’s helpful and insightful. I suggest it might profitably be studied by a church council or leadership group.

Here are a few quotes from the book:

If we asked a task group to draw up a plan that would cause attendance to fall by 5% annually and the median age to increase each year, we would end up with a plan that looks exactly like what we have now ...

consider changing one practice a year that would accommodate young families ...

every member of the body of Christ is the fruit of someone’s ministry and faithfulness. Who is the fruit of yours?

beware “mediocrity masquerading as faithfulness”

beware measuring input rather than fruitfulness to assess strength

Shalom

Alan Dutton
Rural Resource Minister
Mission Resourcing Network
Uniting Church in Australia,
Synod of South Australia