Studying Congregations: A New Handbook

by Nancy Tatom Ammerman (Editor), Jackson Carroll (Editor), Carl Dudley (Editor)

This handbook for seminarians and clergy professionals places the congregation itself, rather than individual scholarly disciplines, at the center of congregational analysis. Using a comprehensive systems approach to congregations, this volume enables readers to analyze the ministries, stories, and processes that are at work in congregations. It provides techniques for studying the congregation as well as a framework for understanding the nature of the congregation.

Theology in the congregation : discovering and doing / Robert J. Schreiter --
Ecology : seeing the congregation in context / Nancy L. Eiesland, R. Stephen Warner --
Culture and identity in the congregation / Nancy T. Ammerman --
Process : dynamics of congregational life / Carl S. Dudley --
Resources / William McKinney --
Leadership and the study of the congregation / Jackson W. Carroll --
Methods for congregational study / Scott L. Thumma

Genres: Religion, Reference, Church, Leadership

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1998

Reviews

[Justin Dewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides practical ways for a pastor to learn about the community their church exists in. This would be an excellent resource for a pastor in a new congregation. The tools Ammerman explains can help a pastor discover the culture of the church and help the congregation see it too with fresh eyes.

[Taylor Diehl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would be great for someone who is doing a study on a congregation, or for the pastor of a church that wants to discover its mission. Otherwise, it's a bit boring to read. Great activities and steps to take when discovering the heart of a church.

[Thomas]

Very dry.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Resourceful book.

“One of your first tasks in understanding the culture of your congregation is to take an inventory of the important pieces of the outside culture your members share. … information … that includes questions about education, occupation, ethnicity, and residence, for instance.” Ammerman, Culture, 80.

Nancy T. Ammerman, “Culture and Identity in the Congregation,” in Studying Congregations, eds, Nancy T. Ammerman, Jackson W. Carroll, etc (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1998).

[Larry Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

you have to like sociological research to really get into this book - it tends to be dry - but it has some good insights to help pastors understand the dynamics of congregational life, which of course is different with each individual congregation.

[Wendy Beckman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great assistance for people in churches that are looking for change. This could be in the form of different missions, change in pastor, etc. Very helpful.