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Sailboat Church: Helping Your Church Rethink Its Mission and Practice
Is your church a rowboat church or a sailboat church? Rowboat churches depend largely on human effort. When church budgets shrink and membership declines, rowboat churches frantically row harder against a current, often frustrated and disappointed at their efforts. Sailboat churches, on the other hand, take up the oars, hoist sails, and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide them.
Arguing that churches should be "sailboats," Joan S. Gray encourages readers to shift concern from the many daily, practical concerns of their local church to fresh ideas that can be found using the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The book includes forty days of sailing prayers, quotes from Scripture, brief reflection questions, and an extensive bibliography that is arranged by theme. Perfect for groups to read together, this book will help leaders reframe their church's mission and practice with the Holy Spirit as their guide.
Arguing that churches should be "sailboats," Joan S. Gray encourages readers to shift concern from the many daily, practical concerns of their local church to fresh ideas that can be found using the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The book includes forty days of sailing prayers, quotes from Scripture, brief reflection questions, and an extensive bibliography that is arranged by theme. Perfect for groups to read together, this book will help leaders reframe their church's mission and practice with the Holy Spirit as their guide.
189 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2014
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February 25, 2016
An Essay: In Sailboat Church, Joan Gray uses a sailboat as a metaphor for what a Spirit-filled Church should be. When the winds fill the sails, the boat moves forward across the water gracefully. Of course, there are those times in which we have to wait for the wind, just as we have to wait for God. But we’re called to a life of faithfulness and trust, not just to mark off so many miles. While in the doldrums, the crew of a sailboat prepares itself as it looks for evidence of wind across the waters. And when the wind rises, the boat will move much faster than a rowboat, Gray’s other metaphor for churches. The sailboat church depends on God’s Spirit, the rowboat church depends on the hard work of the members who often burn out from the toil. Gray mentions another kind of boat, the luxury yacht that seldom leaves the dock, but she doesn’t focus on such boats, concentrating instead on the sailboat and rowboat metaphors. As she notes, just as a boat is designed to move across the waters, a church is designed to move forward and be involved in God’s mission, not to be a haven for parties while moored. As Christians, we are called to sail. This requires us to take a risk and to depend on the wind, which in ancient languages happens to have the same root meaning as “Spirit.â€
I picked up this book because I had my own thoughts of using sailing as a metaphor for church life. Having served as a pastor for over a quarter-century, I have, too often, experienced frustration at the institution and felt as if the church was an ocean liner with a broken rudder and I was on the stern with a canoe paddle trying to direct its course. I’m sure Gray would call me out for such “rowboat mentality†and she would have a point. As I began to sail more regularly, I have pondered the relationship between sailing and the church. I picked up Gray’s book, thinking that she might have also been thinking the same thoughts, but that’s not exactly the case. Gray doesn’t go into the technical details of sailing; instead she focuses on the church and compares it to a sailboat or a rowboat.
In sailing, as in the church, there are often forces opposing the direction in which you hope to go. In the church, this may be the values of the larger society, but in sailing it is wind and/or current. It is impossible to sail directly into the wind and as it is nearly impossible to move a congregation directly into the headwinds of the culture in which a church exists. But in sailing, one can move forward, against the wind, through a series of tacks. In fact, the boat is designed to move even faster upwind, as it sails at “close-haul†(at an angle just off the wind). Here, the wind sweeps through the canvas, giving the boat lift. As the sails tighten, the boat heels to leeward (leaning in the wind) but is held upright by the counter force of the keel, allowing the energy of the wind to be harnessed as the boat is lifted forward across the water. Because of the dynamics involved, a boat can sail faster in this manner than if it was sailing downwind.
Of course, if the direction you want to go is a runningdead into the wind, a close-haul course won’t take you there. To move in a direction upwind, the crew has to perform a series of tacks, in which the boat zigzags upwind. The sailor at the helm begins by announcing his intentions, “Prepare to tack.†The crew responds by taking hold of the sheets (or lines that control the sails) in order to be ready to quickly release them. When all are ready, the sailor at the helm shouts, “Tacking†or “Ready-about,†to alert the crew followed by “hard-a-lee†as the tiller is pulled downwind, which turns the boat into the wind. As he does this, the crew releases the sheets on the jib and brings them in on the opposite side. Once this turn is complete, the boat is sailing on the opposite tack or side of the wind. A series of such turns allows a boat to make its way upwind.
There are several lessons from tacking that also apply to leading a church through change. First of all, everyone has to have a clear understanding of the goal, the direction into which they are ultimately heading. If some want to jibe the boat around and head downwind, while others want to go off to the right or left on a reach, the crew actions may resemble a comedy of errors or worse. There needs to be an understanding in which direction the boat is heading. Communication is important. Even if everyone agrees on the overall goal, they need to know what is happening and when. The “directions†need to be clearly given, otherwise people will be confused and may do things that keep the organization from making a clean tack.
There are other times the tack is not as clean as you’d hoped. Perhaps someone misunderstood a command, a sheet or line became tangled and was hard to release, the wind shifted as you were making the tack, or the sailor at the helm tried to make a smaller adjustment with the tiller instead of the significant commitment required in a tack. A tack requires the boat to make an approximate 80-90 degree change of course, but in a world where people don’t like change, it is tempting to only make a small adjustment. The result of such actions is that the boat goes “into irons,†in other words the boat is pointed directly into the wind and unable to make headway. At this point, the person at the helm has to reverse course and return to the original tack, allowing the boat to obtain enough speed so that the maneuver can be tried again. Likewise, with a church, sometimes only small corrective steps are taken instead of bold new directions, leaving the church in a position where it isn’t moving forward and where, as with a crew on a boat, people blame everyone and everything else for the problem. As with the boat, it is important that the blame game stop and corrective steps taken so that forward progress can resume as the sails fill with wind.
Sailing gracefully is an art, as is ministry. It requires skill, good communication, a common understanding of the objectives, and a willingness to show grace when things don’t go like you plan so that the organization can quickly resume a course toward its goal of sharing Jesus’ love, showing his grace, and making disciples who can come aboard and help sail into a new future. As congregations, we need to be ready for when God sends us the wind, so we might hoist our sails. It also helps and we should be confident for we serve a Lord who commands even the wind and the sea! (Mark 4:41).
I picked up this book because I had my own thoughts of using sailing as a metaphor for church life. Having served as a pastor for over a quarter-century, I have, too often, experienced frustration at the institution and felt as if the church was an ocean liner with a broken rudder and I was on the stern with a canoe paddle trying to direct its course. I’m sure Gray would call me out for such “rowboat mentality†and she would have a point. As I began to sail more regularly, I have pondered the relationship between sailing and the church. I picked up Gray’s book, thinking that she might have also been thinking the same thoughts, but that’s not exactly the case. Gray doesn’t go into the technical details of sailing; instead she focuses on the church and compares it to a sailboat or a rowboat.
In sailing, as in the church, there are often forces opposing the direction in which you hope to go. In the church, this may be the values of the larger society, but in sailing it is wind and/or current. It is impossible to sail directly into the wind and as it is nearly impossible to move a congregation directly into the headwinds of the culture in which a church exists. But in sailing, one can move forward, against the wind, through a series of tacks. In fact, the boat is designed to move even faster upwind, as it sails at “close-haul†(at an angle just off the wind). Here, the wind sweeps through the canvas, giving the boat lift. As the sails tighten, the boat heels to leeward (leaning in the wind) but is held upright by the counter force of the keel, allowing the energy of the wind to be harnessed as the boat is lifted forward across the water. Because of the dynamics involved, a boat can sail faster in this manner than if it was sailing downwind.
Of course, if the direction you want to go is a runningdead into the wind, a close-haul course won’t take you there. To move in a direction upwind, the crew has to perform a series of tacks, in which the boat zigzags upwind. The sailor at the helm begins by announcing his intentions, “Prepare to tack.†The crew responds by taking hold of the sheets (or lines that control the sails) in order to be ready to quickly release them. When all are ready, the sailor at the helm shouts, “Tacking†or “Ready-about,†to alert the crew followed by “hard-a-lee†as the tiller is pulled downwind, which turns the boat into the wind. As he does this, the crew releases the sheets on the jib and brings them in on the opposite side. Once this turn is complete, the boat is sailing on the opposite tack or side of the wind. A series of such turns allows a boat to make its way upwind.
There are several lessons from tacking that also apply to leading a church through change. First of all, everyone has to have a clear understanding of the goal, the direction into which they are ultimately heading. If some want to jibe the boat around and head downwind, while others want to go off to the right or left on a reach, the crew actions may resemble a comedy of errors or worse. There needs to be an understanding in which direction the boat is heading. Communication is important. Even if everyone agrees on the overall goal, they need to know what is happening and when. The “directions†need to be clearly given, otherwise people will be confused and may do things that keep the organization from making a clean tack.
There are other times the tack is not as clean as you’d hoped. Perhaps someone misunderstood a command, a sheet or line became tangled and was hard to release, the wind shifted as you were making the tack, or the sailor at the helm tried to make a smaller adjustment with the tiller instead of the significant commitment required in a tack. A tack requires the boat to make an approximate 80-90 degree change of course, but in a world where people don’t like change, it is tempting to only make a small adjustment. The result of such actions is that the boat goes “into irons,†in other words the boat is pointed directly into the wind and unable to make headway. At this point, the person at the helm has to reverse course and return to the original tack, allowing the boat to obtain enough speed so that the maneuver can be tried again. Likewise, with a church, sometimes only small corrective steps are taken instead of bold new directions, leaving the church in a position where it isn’t moving forward and where, as with a crew on a boat, people blame everyone and everything else for the problem. As with the boat, it is important that the blame game stop and corrective steps taken so that forward progress can resume as the sails fill with wind.
Sailing gracefully is an art, as is ministry. It requires skill, good communication, a common understanding of the objectives, and a willingness to show grace when things don’t go like you plan so that the organization can quickly resume a course toward its goal of sharing Jesus’ love, showing his grace, and making disciples who can come aboard and help sail into a new future. As congregations, we need to be ready for when God sends us the wind, so we might hoist our sails. It also helps and we should be confident for we serve a Lord who commands even the wind and the sea! (Mark 4:41).
June 14, 2023
I love buying and reading these types of books.
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/hunter-legen...
https://numberoneboats.com/hunter-leg...
https://theboatyacht.com/hunter-legen...
https://numberoneboats.com/hunter-leg...
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/hunter-legen...
https://numberoneboats.com/hunter-leg...
https://theboatyacht.com/hunter-legen...
https://numberoneboats.com/hunter-leg...
November 4, 2021
Pastors might disagree with me but this feels like a few articles and a sermon or two expanded into a book. I really tried to hop on board with the book throughout its run but there came a turning point when I couldn’t stomach the metaphor-heavy nature of the book. I appreciate the focus on spiritual discernment and the idea of centering your congregational adjustments around God but I found the early chapters a little too elaborating taking lengths to define the Holy Spirit, prayer, and the extensive metaphor of the entire piece. I don’t mind strong theology but truthfully the early chapters felt a little too basic for the thesis of this whole thing. Later on the advice given almost direct contradicts itself sentence by sentence and some of the abstraction of spiritual language distracts from the lack of answers the author provides. I’m all for profound spiritual enlightenment and even the metaphor of sailing versus rowing but at certain points it just felt like the author was filling gaps to add to the page count. I’m sorry but while I found sections of the book helpful I also found some of it extremely navel-gazing.
March 24, 2024
Our Presbyterian church, which is in transition between called pastors, used this book to begin our exploration to rethink our mission. On reason we selected this book from three our Transitional Pastor suggested for study, was because Rev. Gray is a Presbyterian Pastor and a past moderator of the General Assembly. In this book Rev. Gray presents a lot of food for thought and discussion, and I feel the people who participated in our church's classes benefited from it. I certainly did. Of course, we want our churches to be "sailboat" churches, not "rowboat" churches; we want to follow God's spirit and the direction the wind takes us.
However, I really got hung up on the word "discernment" and its variations. Though I am a college graduate and a lifetime Presbyterian, this is a word that I have NEVER used in my vocabulary and beginning on about page 52, she uses it consistently (much too frequently for my comfort level), and I had to do a lot of research on its meaning, its synonyms, antonyms, etc.
However, I really got hung up on the word "discernment" and its variations. Though I am a college graduate and a lifetime Presbyterian, this is a word that I have NEVER used in my vocabulary and beginning on about page 52, she uses it consistently (much too frequently for my comfort level), and I had to do a lot of research on its meaning, its synonyms, antonyms, etc.
February 24, 2024
This is a highly acclaimed book in dealing with the subject of declining church membership. The premise is a church that only rows is doomed, but one that sails will grow and survive. I thought the book was repetitive and could have been a journal article. I also think the author is a bit too “preachy” and unrealistic. I understand that faith in the Holy Spirit is essential, but some human effort is also necessary. It reminds me of the Church of Prosperity- If you pray enough God will make you rich.
February 22, 2019
A quick read with lots of depth…
Read this in one day, and I'm giving serious consideration to buying this book for my entire Session as we move into a time of discernment and planning for the future. The metaphor of sailing vs rowing is such a good and clear one that I think it makes the rest of the book easily accessible as well.
Read this in one day, and I'm giving serious consideration to buying this book for my entire Session as we move into a time of discernment and planning for the future. The metaphor of sailing vs rowing is such a good and clear one that I think it makes the rest of the book easily accessible as well.
August 6, 2025
I didn’t dislike this book. I think it is a decent resource for church leaders and it has a good message about being led by the spirit. Coming from the Ministry in the Secular Age series where this challenge of following God is also explored, I find this book to be a simpler and better message for lay readers.
August 22, 2025
I read the book for a men's book discussion class at church. A lot of what the author wrote seemed relevant to church in today's society and led to good discussion. However, the writing was sometimes very dry where the longer chapters just dragged. I appreciated the author's inclusion of discussion questions at the end of each chapter. Wish there'd even been more.
July 9, 2022
Super interesting parallels to a process we use at school. Was a bit repetitive at times, but since my church is reading it, I'm glad to have read it too and explore the concepts with them as it comes up.
April 14, 2025
Read this with a group from my church. I "get" the idea of a sailboat vs a rowboat and I want to help those less fortunate, but often I felt it was too "preachy" or I am not just not up to her religious level--and not anxious to get there. 4/25
October 2, 2023
Interesting discussion about the dilemmas that many many churches are facing today.
November 15, 2023
This is an excellent conversation starter for church groups especially church leadership/session members.
September 11, 2025
Being guided by the Holy Spirit, churches can follow this prayer guide.
October 29, 2023
My favorite part of this book is the forty days of prayer. Very well done.
December 30, 2014
Sailboat Church
By Joan S Gray
Using the metaphor of sailing, this book encourages churches to rethink their purpose, mission and the way they operate. It is not a follow these steps for instant success, but rather a book to stimulate discussion around key concepts.
The metaphor – boat is the church, the wind is the Holy Spirit, the Captain God himself, etc is explained, with examples related to actual churches and the early church. Chapters finish with discussion questions to get leaders thinking about their church.
Chapters deal with following with the Holy Spirit, the mission of the church, leadership, elements of church, dealing with issues and more.
I found the book useful to create discussion, leading to change. It is not a book for members of the church to read individually, but for the senior pastor to work with the church to bring about change.
An excellent book to think about it you as a senior leader, are looking about bring change to your church.
By Joan S Gray
Using the metaphor of sailing, this book encourages churches to rethink their purpose, mission and the way they operate. It is not a follow these steps for instant success, but rather a book to stimulate discussion around key concepts.
The metaphor – boat is the church, the wind is the Holy Spirit, the Captain God himself, etc is explained, with examples related to actual churches and the early church. Chapters finish with discussion questions to get leaders thinking about their church.
Chapters deal with following with the Holy Spirit, the mission of the church, leadership, elements of church, dealing with issues and more.
I found the book useful to create discussion, leading to change. It is not a book for members of the church to read individually, but for the senior pastor to work with the church to bring about change.
An excellent book to think about it you as a senior leader, are looking about bring change to your church.
December 30, 2014
Sailboat Church
By Joan S Gray
Using the metaphor of sailing, this book encourages churches to rethink their purpose, mission and the way they operate. It is not a follow these steps for instant success, but rather a book to stimulate discussion around key concepts.
The metaphor – boat is the church, the wind is the Holy Spirit, the Captain God himself, etc is explained, with examples related to actual churches and the early church. Chapters finish with discussion questions to get leaders thinking about their church.
Chapters deal with following with the Holy Spirit, the mission of the church, leadership, elements of church, dealing with issues and more.
I found the book useful to create discussion, leading to change. It is not a book for members of the church to read individually, but for the senior pastor to work with the church to bring about change.
An excellent book to think about it you as a senior leader, are looking about bring change to your church.
By Joan S Gray
Using the metaphor of sailing, this book encourages churches to rethink their purpose, mission and the way they operate. It is not a follow these steps for instant success, but rather a book to stimulate discussion around key concepts.
The metaphor – boat is the church, the wind is the Holy Spirit, the Captain God himself, etc is explained, with examples related to actual churches and the early church. Chapters finish with discussion questions to get leaders thinking about their church.
Chapters deal with following with the Holy Spirit, the mission of the church, leadership, elements of church, dealing with issues and more.
I found the book useful to create discussion, leading to change. It is not a book for members of the church to read individually, but for the senior pastor to work with the church to bring about change.
An excellent book to think about it you as a senior leader, are looking about bring change to your church.
September 21, 2016
I love this book. I love the basic metaphor for church that this book offers (rowboat church vs. sailboat church). There is a lot here that speaks to the interaction of God's Spirit with the church moving towards God's future. It's a short, dynamic book and one that I think will contribute language and ideas to my practice of ministry for some time.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews