Book for Fall Congregational Study

I am suggesting the congregation read and discuss "Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory" by Tod Bolsinger. This book was recommended to me by Bishop Briner and I have been reading it over the last several weeks. I think the book covers much of the material the congregation missed when First Lutheran withdrew from the Missional River project a couple years ago.

I encourage you to get the book and start reading it this summer. The first few chapters are introductory for those who are not familiar with transformational change and the last several chapters are the real meat of the book. Much of the book will sound familiar to those who have studied family systems theory, community organizing, or research from the Harvard Business School. I found the integration of these sources of research to be the main strength of the book.

I have not decided when the study will begin or when during the week it will take place. The book has fifteen chapters and a six-session study guide. Let me know when would be a good time for you to participate in the study.

In my last parish I used book studies as a means of developing new leaders and hope that strategy will also work here.