Leading Congregations and Nonprofits in a Connected World: Platforms, People, and Purpose

by Hayim Herring, Terri Martinson Elton

Leading Congregations and Nonprofits in a Connected World shares emerging practices for leading and organizing congregations and nonprofits in our increasingly networked lives. Drawing on studies of congregations across denominations, and nonprofits with historic ties to faith communities, Hayim Herring and Terri Elton share practical, research-based guidance for how these organizations can more deeply engage with their communities and advance their impact in a socially connected world.

Genres: Business, Theology, Leadership

272 pages, Paperback

Published November 2, 2016

About the author

Rabbi Hayim Herring, Ph.D., is an author, presenter and nonprofit organizational futurist, with a specialty in Jewish community. Hayim is known as an organizational visionary, entrepreneur and expert consultant for faith-based and socially responsible nonprofit organizations. Hayim’s areas of expertise include entrepreneurship, organizational foresight and strategic exploration. In addition to over 50 scholarly and popular articles and studies about the contemporary American Jewish community, Hayim authored Tomorrow’s Synagogue Today: Creating Vibrant Centers of Jewish Life (Alban Institute 2012), a companion action guide for use with boards and committees titled, Tomorrow’s Synagogue Today. A Guide for Reflection and Action (UJA-Federation of New York and Alban Institute 2013), Keeping the Faith in Rabbis: A Community Conversation On Rabbinical Education, co-authored with Ellie Roscher (Avenida Books, December 1, 2014), an anthology of essays from rabbis, lay people and educators of rabbis across the denominational spectrum, exploring the question, “What goes into the making of a 21st Century rabbinical leader?” and Leading Congregations and Nonprofits in a Connected World:Platforms, People and Purpose (Rowman and Littlefield November 2016).

Reviews

[David Goldman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good ideas and concepts from two authors that work in jewish and Lutheran worlds. The central argument that traditional organizations must move from hierarchical to networked organizations. I found the comparison between the two useful, but not hugely interesting. I like the chapter on engagement more. In that religious organizations how use the ancient tradition in new ways to fight for attention. As one Lutheran put it - Our faith is two thousand years old, but our thinking is not."

[Lisa Lewton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone in church leadership in a mainline congregation. We are often complicit about expired structures that restrict imagination in the church. This book was both well researched with good examples and stories, and also provides a practical plan to implement its ideas. I'm very glad I read this book.

[Rob O'Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great discussion on leading congregations from a non-profit perspective. Would have liked a more practical approach to implementation, which is what prevented me from giving this 5 stars. Yet the research the book is based on is sound and beneficial for the reader who is looking to lead a 21st-century organization!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is packed full of useful information, though if you're not Jewish or Lutheran you may have to adapt some of the techniques to fit your needs. They have "further faith reading" sections, which I felt were a bit too narrowly focused, but on the whole, an incredibly useful book for those either working in a faith-based non-profit/congregation or wanting to begin one.

[Tyler Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book for my Leadership in Innovation & Design course under Dr. Dean Blevins at Nazarene Theological Seminary.

While this book had some good insights, overall, I did not find it particularly engaging or revealing.