Dear Friends,

Thank you for subscribing to Alban Weekly. It has been a busy and exciting year for publishing at the Alban Institute. We’ve published more books than ever before. We’ve shipped more copies of books than ever before. The number of people subscribing to Alban Weekly and becoming members continues to grow. We are grateful for the confidence you have shown in our materials as you have engaged with them and shared them with others in your congregations.

As we approach the end of 2007, we want to show our appreciation with a special Web offer. There will be no shipping and handling fees for book purchases made on the Alban Web site through December 31. This offer applies only to Web orders for individual customers.

With best wishes for a happy holiday season,

The Alban Weekly Team

Copyright © 2007, the Alban Institute. All rights reserved. We encourage you to share Alban Weekly articles with your congregation. We gladly allow permission to reprint articles from the Alban Weekly for one-time use by congregations and their leaders when the material is offered free of charge. All we ask is that you write to us at alban@div.duke.edu and let us know how Alban Weekly is making an impact in your congregation. If you would like to use any other Alban material, or if your intended use of Alban Weekly does not fall within this scope, please submit our reprint permission request form.

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PUBLISHED BOOKS

AL326_SMHumble Leadership: Being Radically Open to God’s Guidance and Grace by N. Graham Standish

Read the Foreword and the Preface to the book

Read the articles “Whatever Happened to Humility?” and “Humble Leadership” by N. Graham Standish

Visit www.blessedchurch.org to learn more about Humble Leadership

AL325_SMKnow and Be Known: Small Groups That Nourish and Connect by Brooke B. Collison

Read the Foreword and the Preface to the book

Read the article “Inviting People into Small Groups” by Brooke B. Collison

 

 

AL331_SMWinning Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry by Joy Skjegstad

Read the Foreword and the Preface to the book

Read the article “Winning Grants: The Case for Faith-Based Organizations” by Joy Skjegstad

 

 

AL332_SMThe Meandering Way: Leading by Following the Spirit by Gary Shockley

Read the Foreword and the Introduction to the book

Read the article “Following the Spirit’s Leading” by Gary Shockley

Visit Gary Shockley’s Web site at www.garyshockley.com

 

AL333_SMChoosing Partnership, Sharing Ministry: A Vision for New Spiritual Community by Marcia Barnes Bailey

Read the Foreword and the Preface to the book

Read the articles “Border Crossings: Churches Living Boldly into the Future” and “Redefining Power” by Maricia Barnes Bailey

 

AL334_SMThe Honest to God Church: A Pathway to God’s Grace by Doug Bixby

Read the Foreword and the Preface to the book

Read the article “Grace and Graciousness” by Doug Bixby and “Using The Honest to God Church as a Resource for Establishing Small Groups in Your Church”

Read Doug Bixby’s blog at imperfectchurches.org

 

AL342_SMByachad: Synagogue Board Development by Robert Leventhal

Read the Introduction to the book

Read the article “The Sy
nagogue Leadership Agenda: Redesigning Boards to Unleash Congregational Energy”
 by Robert Leventhal

 

AL340_SMShaping Spiritual Leaders: Supervision and Formation in Congregations by Abigail Johnson

Read the Foreword and Preface to the book

Read the article “Exploring Learning Narratives” by Abigail Johnson

 

AL337_SMTribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation by Carol Howard Merritt

Read the Foreword and the Introduction to the book

Read the article “Ministering to the Missing Generation” by Carol Howard Merritt

Read Carol Howard Merritt’s blog at www.tribalchurch.org

 

AL336_SMHealthy Disclosure: Solving Communication Quandaries in Congregations by Kibbie Simmons Ruth and Karen A. McClintock

Read the Foreword and the Introduction to the book

Read the article “Speaking the Truth in Love” by Kibbie Simmons Ruth and Karen A. McClintock

 

 

AL341_SMWhen Moses Meets Aaron: Staffing and Supervision in Large Congregations by Gil Rendle and Susan Beaumont

Read the Introduction to the book

Read “Effective Delegation” by Gil Rendle and Susan Beaumont and “Designing Staff Positions” and “Designing a Staff Team for Ministry” by Susan Beaumont

 

 

AL338_SMChurch on the Edge of Somewhere: Ministry, Marginality, and the Future by George B. Thompson, Jr.

Read the Foreword to the book

Read the article “Middle of Anywhere” by George B. Thompson, Jr.

 

AL345_SMIf This Is the Way the World Works: Science, Congregations, and Leadership by William O. Avery and Beth Ann Gaede

Read the Preface to the book

Read the article “Self-Organizing Congregations” by William O. Avery and Beth Ann Gaede

 

AL335_SM Holy Places: Matching Sacred Space with Mission and Message by Nancy DeMott, Tim Shapiro, and Brent Bill

Read the Introduction to the book

Read the articles “Your Building Speaks” by Nancy DeMott, Tim Shapiro, and Brent Bill, “Leaking Gutters and Sacred Spaces: Practical Tips for Facility Repair” by Nancy DeMott and Brent Bill, and “Homegrown Theology: Understanding God in Everyday Life” by Tim Shapiro

 

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COMING SOON IN 2007

 

AL344_SM Starting Simple: Conversations About the Way We Live by Bob Sitze

Read the Preface to the book

Read the articles “Need-Based Planning versus Asset-Based Planning” and “Brain Science: Coming to a Church near You” by Bob Sitze

 

 

AL347_SMIn Dying We Are Born: The Challenge and the Hope for Congregations by Peter Bush

Read the Prologue to the book

Read the article “Worship in the Small Church” by Peter Bush and Christine O’Reilly

 

 

AL343_SM When God Speaks Through You: How Faith Convictions Shape Preaching and Mission by Craig A. Satterlee

Read the Foreword and the Preface to the book

Read the article “Holy and Active Listening” by Craig A. Satterlee

 

 

AL348_SMThe Church of All Ages: Generations Worshiping Together edited by Howard A. Vanderwell

Read the Foreword and the Preface to the book

 

 

AL351_SMPreaching Ethically: Being True to the Gospel, Your Congregation, and Yourself by Ronald D. Sisk

Read the Preface to the book

Read the article “A Time to Every Purpose: Competent Time Management” by Ronald D. Sisk

 

AL349_SMChoosing the Kingdom: Missional Preaching for the Household of God by John A. Dally

Read the Introduction to the book

 

 

AL321_SMStepping Forward: Synagogue Visioning and Planning by Robert Leventhal

Read an excerpt from the Introduction to the book

Read the articles “Defining the Role of the Executive Committee” and “Reimagining the Rabbi-Lay Leader Partnership” by Robert Leventhal