Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations is a modern classic (particularly within Methodist circles) which helps us think about critical elements of church leadership. Written by now-retired Bishop Robert Schnase, the book covers these five core items:
- Radical Hospitality
- Passionate Worship
- Intentional Faith Development
- Risk Taking Mission Service
- Extravagant Generosity
This is another text which is useful for group work within church leadership; I would recommend it for the Church Council or other oversight board.
Anyone who reads this book (or related books and guides – there are quite a few), Bishop Schnase is high-energy, and he has high hopes and expectations in terms of church potential. As my students – or churches I have consulted with – would tell you, I get concerned about some concepts such as “Radical Hospitality.” That concept, in particular, has turned into a buzzphrase over the last few decades, and is problematic in that, initially, it anticipated that people needed to actually enter the doors of the church to experience the hospitality; Schnase’s work nudges people out the doors of the church into the (“Risk Taking Mission Service”) but I remain a little bothered by the terminology nonetheless.
Overall, however: this is a valuable resource. I highly recommend it.
