New for Congregations: From the Alban Institute

Here are recent findings on new and emerging trends and issues—as well as some new resources—all from the Alban Institute!

The Roller Coaster of Change. Gil Rendle invites us to recall a time of great change in our lives and to record the sequence of feelings we experienced as a result. He then presents a graph which resembles a roller coaster. During change, positive excitement morphs "downward" into anxiety, guilt, and detachment. It then morphs "upward" into informed choice, internal commitment, and excitement again. This article discusses the systemic reasons for such roller coaster experiences and advises leaders to stay the course when congregants give negative feedback during change.

This House We Build: Lessons for Healthy Congregations and the People Who Dwell There. Rabbi Terry Bookman and psychologist William Kahn draw on the realities of synagogue life to illustrate the components of congregational vitality. Case studies reveal that vital congregations are "healthy houses" that are mission-driven, not market-driven. They foster healthy congregants committed to building community, healthy clergy committed to leading effectively, and healthy relationships between leaders and followers. This book helps us learn about creating and sustaining faith communities during inevitable transitions and everyday challenges.

A Congregation of Mystics. Graham Standish notes that mystics are not defined by the appearance of being cloistered or contemplative, but rather by lives that are centered in God. They are always pointing to the truth that God "can be encountered, experienced, and united with through love, prayer, and cultivating the fruits of the Spirit." This article explores mystical leadership and emphasizes that it frames issues in terms of Christ's call to us. It also encourages us to ask God to lead us—even in directions that we might not otherwise choose ourselves.