Raising The Roof: The Pastoral-To-Program Size Transition

by Alice Mann

Pastoral-to-program size change is frequently described as the most challenging of growth transitions for congregations. Now Alban senior consultant Alice Mann, author of The In-Between Church: Navigating Size Transitions in Congregations, addresses the difficulties of that transition in this resource designed specifically for a congregational learning team. Conceptualized and developed by Mann for an Alban on-line seminar program test event conducted with 12 congregations in transition, her newest book features a five-step process enabling the learning team to engage a wider circle of congregational leaders and members in study, discernment, and planning. Never-before published resources include discussion of a major new concept--passive barriers to growth--plus Mann's "System Change Index" tool to help congregations measure their progress from pastoral-size to program-size ways of operating. From preparing the congregation's board and members, selecting the person to guide the learning process, and recruiting the learning team, to creating and celebrating a plan for congregational learning and action, Mann provides all the resources a congregation needs to address this significant size transition period.

Genres: Church, Religion, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was most engaging in the beginning, laying out well the case for transitioning the management style of a church to allow growth. I found the later part of the book slower and less engaging, but still worthwhile. There is a huge section of appendices, to allow you to zero in on particular resources you might need.

[Kent Dickerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the book as a requirement for an introduction to becoming an interim minister or pastor course.
I am grateful for Alice Mann's and the Alban institute for studying this important aspect of church leadership. I know far more now about the dynamics of how churches operate.

[Rev. Sharon Wylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate that this is a very concrete book. Just over 35% of the book is appendices, providing meaningful reference material for actually making the size transition. The other 65% of the book is helpful and specific, based on Mann's considerable experience in working with congregations going through size transitions. The leadership of any church hoping to grow from pastoral to program size needs to read this book.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for church leaders.

[Erik Hoeke]

Mann helped me envision the questions and practical steps necessary to move the congregation I serve into the next size.