Here are two highly recommended books on social action, both from the practical point of view. The first is from the Midwest Academy, a Chicago-based social change activist school that since the 1970s has been training organizers for communities, unions, women's groups and other social movements.
Organizing for Social Change: Midwest Academy: Manual for Activists by Kim Bobo, Jackie Kendall and Steve Max.
The Activist's Handbook: A Primer Updated Edition with a New Preface by Randy Shaw
Many religious organizations have adopted Carver Policy Governance® as a model for their boards. The Policy Governance® model is, according to its originators, "the world’s only complete, universal theory of governance—a conceptually coherent paradigm of principles and concepts (not of structure)." It is not simply a quick-fix for part of the organization -- it changes the whole organization. The theory "informs board planning, mission, committee work, agenda control, budgeting, reporting, CEO evaluation, management relationships, fiduciary responsibility, and all other aspects of the board job."
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Here are key books in the series by Kennon Callahan:
 | Twelve Keys to an Effective Church: Strategic Planning for Mission Kennon L. Callahan |
 | Twelve Keys to an Effective Church: The Study Guide Kennon L. Callahan, Ian B. Tanner |
Twelve Keys to an Effective Church: The Leaders' Guide (The Kennon Callahan Resource Library for Effective Churches) Vol 2 Kennon L. Callahan / Hardcover / Published 1997
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Some key books using Family Systems Theory to look at congregational life and development:
Healthy Congregations: A Systems Approach
Peter L. Steinke - 1996
How Your Church Family Works: Understanding Congregations as Emotional Systems
Peter L. Steinke - 1993
Creating a Healthier Church: Family Systems Theory, Leadership and Congregational Life
Ronald W. Richardson - 1996
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Edwin H. Friedman's fables illustrate the sticky issues of leadership and family relationships and can help to trigger recognition and problem-solving.
Friedman's Fables (with booklet)
Edwin H. Friedman
Audio Cassette (abridged) also available
Friedman's full-scale treatment of family systems - specifically written with clergy in mind but useful for parents, counselors, leaders and others as well
Generation to Generation
Edwin H. Friedman
Hardcover - 1985
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The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization
Peter M. Senge / Hardcover / Published 1990 -- Audio Cassettes / Published 1994 -- Paperback / Published 1994
The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook: Strategies and Tools for Building a Learning Organization
Peter M. Senge (Editor), et al / Paperback / Published 1994
Web site for more info on this series and concept: http://www.fieldbook.com
Also see: What is organizational learning?
A great book about how to study a congregation -- as a learning experience (for interns, for instance) or as a baseline study for successful congregational growth. It may be hard to find but be persistent!
Handbook for Congregational Studies
Carl Dudley, et al / Paperback / Published 1986
Lyle Schaller's books are classics of church growth and development.
The New Context for Ministry: The Impact of the New Economy on Your Church
Lyle E. Schaller - 2002
What Have We Learned?: Lessons for the Church in the Twenty-First Century
Lyle E. Schaller - 2001
The Small Membership Church: Scenarios for Tomorrow
Lyle E. Schaller - 2000
Discontinuity & Hope: Radical Change and the Path to the Future
Lyle E. Schaller - 1999
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Peter Senge is a leading organizational consultant whose ideas about individuals in organizations I find attractive and consonant with my deepest beliefs about human worth and dignity.
The Dance of Change: The Challenges to Sustaining Momentum in Learning Organizations
by Peter M. Senge, Art Kleiner, Charlotte Roberts, George Roth, Rick Ross, Bryan Smith
published 1999
On sustaining change in learning organizations
The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook: Strategies and Tools for Building a Learning Organization
by Peter M. Senge (Editor), Art Kleiner (Editor), Charlotte Roberts, Rick Ross, Bryan Smith
Practical guide, with help in designing exercises and activities to promote the five disciplines of a learning organization
The Fifth Discipline
by Peter M. Senge
published 1994
The original book that got the movement started.
Also:
Ten Steps to a Learning Organization
by Bernard Saunders, Peter Kline
published 1998
Transitions, whether in our personal relationships, in our professional lives, or in communities and congregations, pass through predictable phases. We can learn to handle change -- whether for the good, or in grief and loss -- by understanding how we experience change.
Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change
William Bridges / Paperback / Published 1991
A practical guide for making real-life transitions -- whether through a tragedy or loss, or even when the change is long-sought and great news.
Transitions
William Bridges / Paperback / Published 1980
This one -- Bridges' earlier book -- is a classic: the reconceptualizing of change into the three stages is very helpful, especially to those who find themselves confused and think they should be more focused.
The Way of Transition: Embracing Life's Most Difficult Moments
by William Bridges
When his own wife died, Bridges learned even more about making sense of transitions and learning how to move on and grow in the process.
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Personality Type and Religious Leadership
By Roy M. Oswald and Otto Kroeger
Paperback
(1988)
In this Alban Institute publication, the ideas of personality type are applied to religious leadership (ministry, etc.). To believe that any religious leader can be all things to all people is a recipe for disaster: each of us has preferences and strengths. Many different personality types make excellent religious leaders, but each will have its unique strengths and difficulties. The book's now a few years old, but it's still quite relevant to understanding congregational dynamics.
