Futuring: Leading Your Church into Tomorrow

by Samuel R. Chand, Cecil Murphey

The church's task is to communicate a holistic, life-changing gospel. To do that, says Samuel Chand, leaders are compelled to meet the needs of the times. In Futuring, this vibrant voice underscores the foundational message of the gospel but insists the messaging methods must change or lose all effectiveness. Chand introduces a fresh metaphor for church leadership, that of working with both "natives," longtime church members who dutifully carry on as usual, and "immigrants," newcomers mobilized by compassion and community. He outlines ten traits of potent leaders, who go before both natives and immigrants, - sensitivity to a celebration of racial, vocational, generational, and gender diversity - future leaders need to embrace emerging technology - healthy biotechnology changes the face of pastoral care - lifelong continuing education is no longer a luxury - future futuring church leaders forecast trends, envision scenarios, and help create the desired future Sure to create a buzz, this effervescent manual is for any church leader who wants to respond to changing needs by moving out of the past and into the future.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002