New Church Handbook

OUR DEAR YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN, we have great confidence in you. You are beloved sons and daughters of God and He is mindful of you. You have come to earth at a time of great opportunities and also of great challenges. The standards in this booklet will help you with the important choices you are making now and will yet make in the future. We promise that as you keep the covenants you have made and these standards, you will be blessed with the companionship of the Holy Ghost, your faith and testimony will grow stronger, and you will enjoy increasing happiness.

Most seminary graduates will begin their ministries with plenty of important head knowledge to share--but with a deficit of some of the most practical aspects of doing ministry, such as - which ministry role most suits them - how to start out strong at a new church - persevering during difficult seasons of ministry - leading meetings and delegating tasks - safeguarding their family - fighting discouragement, pastor envy, and a lack of contentment - navigating special ministry needs, such as hospitals, weddings, and funerals - and much more Through his hard-won wisdom, Jason Helopoulos comes alongside new pastors as a trusted friend and mentor, ready to guide them through their first years of ministry with intelligence and compassion.

"Part of this book was orginally published as The Lutheran handbook, c2005, Ausburg Fortress"--T.p. verso.

This is a book on church membership to place in the hands of members to help them know the meaning of their membership and understand the doctrines and polity of Baptists. Chapters include The Meaning of Church Membership, The Church covenant, Christian Growth, Baptist History, Baptist Doctrine, Baptists and Other Denominations, God's Plan of Church Finance, and Baptist Churches at Work.

Now is the time for the church to reclaim its role as a center of creativity. Among your members are artists and musicians whose gifts can enhance your worship, inform your theology and impact your community. Christian arts advocate J. Scott McElroy gives a comprehensive vision and manual for unleashing creativity in your congregation.

"The original Episcopal Handbook, published in 2008, was an instant classic and has been a bestseller ever since. Still providing helpful and insightful information about the Episcopal ethos with a ertain amount of whimsy and complete accessibility, this revision maintains the best features of the original work, but adds an update and an expansion on the church today. In addition to updating out-of-date references, the revision highlights Episcopal diversity--including more women and people of color in the biographical material--as well as focusing more on Episcopalians rather than Anglicans. Some new illustrations are included as well. Some material originally presented in tabular form has been adapted into a more accessible narrative format. This includes new sections on church governance, the origins of religious belief, and a capsule summary of church history. The glossary has also been expanded. The goal is to provide a book suitable for a wide range of uses and settings: for Sunday schools, confirmations, inquirer classes--and for everyone from visitors to vestries. The revision brokers an incredible compendium of information in an informal, user-friendly, and accessible format. For lifelong Episcopalians, newcomers, and those wishing to sample and explore the beliefs and organization of the denomination."