Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / Alban Books
Pages: 128
•
Trim: 6½ x 9¼
978-1-56699-754-6 • Hardback • August 2014 • $60.00 • (£46.00)
978-1-56699-722-5 • Paperback • August 2014 • $28.00 • (£19.99)
978-1-56699-723-2 • eBook • August 2014 • $26.50 • (£19.99)
Gil Rendle serves as senior consultant with the Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas, and as an independent consultant working with denominational leaders on issues of change and leadership. Prior to this position he served the Alban Institute as an author, seminar leader, and senior consultant. He is the author of seven earlier books including Journey in the Wilderness: New Life for Mainline Churches and Back to Zero: The Search to Rediscover the Methodist Movement.
Introduction
Chapter 1: Counting Resources and Measuring Ministry
Chapter 2: Getting to Why: Turning Intentions into Outcomes
Chapter 3: Phronesis and the Task of Figuring It Out for Ourselves
Chapter 4: Counts, Measures and Conversations: Using New Tools for Fruitfulness
Chapter 5: Cascading Questions
Chapter 6: Be Careful What you Measure
Resources
Endnotes
Bibliography
Doing the Math of Mission is a seminal work that merits a deep embrace by struggling mainline Protestants. Rendle challenges us to move beyond counting to measuring purposeful outcomes related to the deep mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ. The critical shift of focus from inputs to measurable outcomes which reflect clarity of purpose offers specific and concrete guidance to any congregational leader (lay and clergy alike) or any judicatory executive. Framed in a sound theology, Doing the Math of Mission provides crucial material to build a bridge to the future of God’s preference of the Church.
— Mike Lowry, Resident Bishop, Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church
Gil Rendle helps church leaders translate their hard work and good intentions into changed lives and redeemed communities by understanding the “math of mission.” He carefully outlines and illustrates how churches can move from activities to outcomes in ways that are both understandable and realistic.
— Lovett H. Weems Jr.
Gil Rendle has provided the church a useful analysis of a difficult topic. Congregations and their leaders will find what numbers motivate and what numbers do not. Rendle points to a system that can move faith leaders to a greater sense of purpose.
— Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk, General Assembly, Presbyterian Church USA
As a denominational official responsible for monitoring our progress, I can testify to the incredible usefulness of Gil's work. By holding up the "competing truths" about measuring he allows us to move beyond the usual polarities into something truly useable as well as faithful. This work has already helped us transform our relationship to our Board, and hopefully our ultimately accountability to those we serve and to those whom we aspire to serve.
— Dr. Terasa G. Cooley, Program and Strategy Officer, Unitarian Universalist Association
Gil Rendle sparks a new and needed conversation about metrics and congregational experience. Do you sense some resistance? Well, it is worthwhile to manage your discomfort. The book functions as both a spirituality of evaluation and a practical toolkit. Pay close attention to the section on talking about outcomes instead of process. It just might change your ministry.
— Tim Shapiro, President, Indianapolis Center for Congregations
Doing the Math of Mission is not for the faint of heart but the message is clear. The numbers show North American protestant denominations declining. For any pastor or leader, this is a painful but necessary book that can guide our churches toward a better future.
— The Farmville Herald
Distinguishing Features:
- Offers theory, models, and tools
- Addresses the great difficulty of non-profit organizations in naming clear outcomes for their work
- Uses a systems approach of appropriate leadership rather than offering a program or prescribed steps
- Identifies the pluses and minuses of current practice
- Takes a new look at the process of spiritual discernment as a means of setting vision and mission
- Offers nine “cascading questions” which, together, shape the narrative – the story – that the congregation or denomination seeks to live out
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Lecture Notes. The Lecture Notes provide the tables and figures from the text.