Book Review/Reaction by Robert ShawRick Rouse and Craig Van Gelder,

A Field Guide for the Missional Congregation: Embarking on a Journey of Transformation

(Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2008).Each chapter includes a fictional, perhaps composite, case study, “Discovery Questions,” andresources for further study. The authors first focus on attributes that must be diminished then listthe desired attributes. I believe if we focus on the desired state for the church the less desiredtraits will fade into the background.Like any good field guide this book provides a broad spectrum of information, with questionsand references to help focus a reader when additional study is indicated.The authors provide Reggie McNeal's assessment of the church and culture as six new realities:1.Congregation members no longer constitute a majority of a community. Most people are biblically illiterate.2.Congregations must refocus on building the kingdom of God rather than gainingmembers through transfer from other congregations or through confirmation of children born to members.3.Congregations must train people for ministry in their daily living as well as serving theinstitutional needs of the church.4.The congregation must serve its community as a “spiritual fitness center,” cultivatingspiritual formation.5.Congregational structures must be designed for permission giving and cooperation,resulting in empowerment and support for the ministry of all of God's people.6.Church leaders must be open to the leading of the Spirit, to lead the church into a newand exciting future. This represents a shift from Apostolic leadership as being from theTwelve Apostles to Apostolic leadership as being sent out into the fields that are “ripe for the harvest” (John 4:35).Central to this book are seven transformational keys which are developed at length. The keys, asformulated by the authors, tend to be wordy, and I have rephrased them below.1.

Having a clear vision for ministry will support moving forward together.

Once a congregation has collectively formed a missional identity, this identity must beregularly reinforced, evaluated, and adjusted as the community and congregation grow.Appendix A provides the author's understanding of a “Strategic Plan.” This “plan”merely lists aspirations for the future state of their fictional congregation. A collectivelyowned vision statement should be used to generate measurable goals that lead to a timedsequenced plan of action with milestones and entrance and exit criteria for major transitions, such as the addition of a new worship service or staff.2.

Focus on becoming a discipling community while deeply engaging one's context willhelp develop a healthy life that moves beyond institutional survival or just servingthe needs of its members.

The authors list characteristics of a discipling congregation:1.More concerned with how people are living their faith and sharing the gospel thannumbers.September 5, 2008Page 1 of 2