Book: “Church Unique: How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture, and Create Movement” by Will Mancini (2008) - This book guides a church team through creating a Vision Frame, including identifying their mission, values, strategy, measurables, and short, medium and long-term vision.

Book: “God Dreams: 12 Vision Templates for Finding and Focusing Your Church's Future” by Will Mancini (2016) - This book helps a church team identify and lean into their design and God-given strengths and passions.

Book: “Creating a Missional Culture: Equipping the Church for the Sake of the World” by JR Woodward (2012) - This book explores a church developing a missional mindset and collaborative leadership.

Book: “Not in It to Win It: Why Choosing Sides Sidelines the Church” by Andy Stanley

Podcast: “Grow Leader” with Chris Hodges, growleader.com - Additional resources on the website

Podcast: “Unseminary” with Rich Birch, unseminary.com

Podcast: “Leadership” with Craig Groeschel, craiggroeschel.com

Podcast: “Church Leaders” by Ed Stetzer

Organization: Link 2 Lift, link2lift.com - This organization helps non-profit groups (including churches), develop a strategy for using their space (building and property) to engage with and collaborate in their community.

5 Reasons You Still Feel Disoriented, Dissatisfied, and Depleted (The Challenge of Crisis Leadership) - CareyNieuwhof.com

Burnout Self-Test - Checking yourself for burnout - Burnout Self-Test - Checking yourself for burnout (mindtools.com)

Podcast: “The Place We Find Ourselves” with Licensed Therapist Adam Young - Covers a wide variety of topics to choose from.

Podcast: “The Emotionally Healthy Leader” - Pete Scazzero

Podcast: “Slow Theology” - Nijay Gupta and A.J. Swaboda

Full-Strength Network - Fullstrength.org - Non-profit organization the serves church pastors and staffs with counseling, cohort gatherings and resources.

Book: “The Resilient Pastor: Leading Your Church in a Rapidly Changing World” by Glenn Packiam, Pastor and Barna Author

Note: The below articles on trends in the Church in America are simply informational. You’ll find that some of the trends aren’t positive, but issues we need to be aware of as pastors and leaders, to help us in our decision-making and our discipleship of people. Please read them through that lens.

The Impact of Shifts in American Culture (gallup.com)

Future Church: 8 Church Trends to Watch in 2023 - CareyNieuwhof.com

5 Trends Impacting Church Leadership for 2023 - Lewis Center for Church Leadership (Wesley Theological Seminary)

Ten Major Trends for Local Churches in America in 2023 | Church Answers (Thom Rainer)

Lifeway Research – research.lifeway.com - Wide variety of research regarding the church

Barna Group - www.barna.com - Wide variety of research regarding the church

Book: After Doubt by AJ Swaboda

Book: Telling a Better Story: How to Talk About God in a Skeptical Age by Joshua Chatraw

What to know about Gen Z | Stanford News - Understanding Gen Z (people currently 18-25)

Book: “Meet Generation Z: Understanding and Reaching the New Post-Christian World” by James Emery White

The Open Generation - Barna Group - Comprehensive research study on how teenagers engage with Jesus around the world

How Millennials compare with prior generations | Pew Research Center (from Feb 2019)

‘It’s Life or Death’: The Mental Health Crisis Among U.S. Teens - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

HR Ministry Solutions – hrministrysolutions.com

This organization provides a wide variety of HR services for church, including some free resources, like an Offboarding Toolkit.

Proposed Budget Metrics

Foursquare recommends that churches use this metrics in building their budgets, based on their expected undesignated giving. In particular, fixed expenses should not exceed 75% of their budget.

Recommended Budget Metrics for Foursquare Church - All Documents (sharepoint.com)

Church Management + Budgeting - Online Resource Library

Church Employment Laws by State

Church employment laws are different for every state. For example, in the state of Montana, the rules are different if a staff member is licensed clergy, versus unlicensed. Be sure to do your research, and Foursquare recommends contacting an employment lawyer in your state to verify these laws.

Appropriate Severance Gifts

Because churches are non-profit organizations, there are strict rules that govern what can be given to an employee as a severance gift. A church needs to ensure they avoid what is called “private inurement” – an individual unfairly benefiting from a nonprofit’s resources by virtue of position. If you decide to let someone go and want to give them a severance gift, please contact the District office to discuss and determine an appropriate amount. A severance gift is taxable. This video includes a basic description of private inurement (starting at 14:40). This video also includes a detailed description of employees versus independent contactors.

Avoiding Discrimination

As a general practice, churches should not discriminate against someone based on age, gender, ethnicity, and pregnancy, amongst other things. If you’re downsizing your team, make sure you consider their demographics. For example, is everyone you’re considering downsizing the same gender or older? Again, please consider contacting an employment lawyer for advice specific to your state.

Communicating with Your Team and Your Church

Be sure that you have a good communication plan for both your team and your church. Proactive communication can help avoid rumors and assumptions from forming.