Resources for Church Councils
Scavenger Hunt
(Key)

1.	Spiritual exercises and group-building too
Strengthen your “muscles” for leading its true.
Begin and end meetings with this and you’ll see
It fits your agenda to a tee!
(Growing Together: Spiritual Exercises for Church Committees by Melander and Eppley, Augsburg Fortress)

2.	Nominating Committee work no fun?
Do your current methods make folks run?
This practical, how-to book shows you bit by bit,
How to practice discernment and be led by the Spirit.
(Selecting Church Leaders:  A Practice in Discernment by Olsen and Morseth,
Alban Institute)

3.	A brand-new series from Augsburg Fortress for you
Each council needs the whole set, it’s true.
There are many books and they contain
Several facets of the leadership game.
(Congregational Leader Series    Augsburg Fortress)

4.	Part of the New Congregational Leadership Series, this book
Is Irene’s favorite and worth a look.
Although it’s title brings flow charts to mind
It puts vision and mission first, you will find.
(Our Structure:  Carrying Out the Vision by Brian Hughes, Augsburg Fortress)

5.	Is fun at church council meetings a waste?
Not when these books set the pace.
Trust building and teamwork make decisions fun
Go ahead, and try just one!
(Group Builders: 50 high-impact ideas to revolutionize your adult ministry  Group Publishing)
(Fun Friend-Making Activities for Adult Groups by Dockrey, Group Publishing

6.	An old, faithful stand-by, this book
Helps a church council take a look
At moving from maintenance to mission mindset
With practical suggestions, this one’s a good bet.
(Twelve Keys to an Effective Church by Kennon Callahan, Harper

7.	The sacred cows of control and regulation
Get replaced by a ministry that gives permission.
Look in this book to see how it’s done
There is a chapter, it seems, for everyone!
(Sacred Cows Make Gourmet Burgers by Bill Easum, Abingdon Press)

8.	To celebrate God’s abundance each day,
Is counter-cultural, they say.
But our faith says, yes it’s true,
Stewardship and gratefulness is what we do.
These DVDs, power points and study guides are great
As a reminder that God’s children celebrate!
(Celebrate What’s Right with the World and Everyday Creativity  Star Thrower)

9.	Leadership development for Lutheran Church Councils—it’s great!
In video and notebook form, a workshop complete.
This can set your council on track
Going forward, and not drifting back!
(A Call to Visionary Leadership  Lutheran Brotherhood)

10.	How do family emotional systems work in church life?
These books and videos can help us through the strife.
A non-anxious presence a leader can be
To help a congregation mature emotionally.
(How Your Church Family Works, Balancing Act, Stewardship of Leadership, and Healthy Congregations by Peter Steinke)

11.	A great parable about a trip to the city
Fear of speaking out and false consensus are not pretty.
To see and study what your group can do
Look at this DVD, study guide and power point, too.
(The Abilene Paradox, second edition  CRM Learning)

12.	“Evaluation,” is this such a dirty word?
Or can our ministry, pastors and leaders grow forward?
With help from this book on assessment of ministry
A council can gain direction with great integrity.
(Evaluating Ministry by Hudson, Alban Institute

13.	A sequel to the fun video is our wish
How to keep the vision alive as seen in “Fish.”
A simple formula of just three things
Will help your leadership keep its wings
To fly aloft in effective ministry
Because everyone takes on accountability.
(Fishsticks Chart House Learning)
14.	Multigenerational—a congregation is called to be
“But how,” you ask, “in this age of diversity?”
This book provides tools for leaders to steer
A congregation through new practices and changes this year.
	(The Multigenerational Congregation by Rendle, Alban Institue)

15.	A tour of ELCA Congregations that flourish
This video workshop is aimed to nourish.
A hospitality and discipleship how-to
Your congregational vitality it helps renew!
(Making Christ Known—Inreach to Grow  DCM, ELCA

16.	Eugene Peterson, John Maxwell, to name a few
Have written a leadership training guide just for you.
A biblical passage attached to each of 12 themes
You thought this kind of devotion-training book appeared only in dreams!
(Building Church Leaders Zondervan)

17.	We want our children in church to be safe
These books will help you put policies in place
Our precious children to protect
By giving our kids a safety net.
(Safe Sanctuaries by Melton, Discipleship Resources;  Safe and Secure by Hanna, Alban Institute; The Safe and Caring Church Nursery by Wilger, Group)

18.	What to do in this time of chaos and change?
This video gives strategies for you to arrange
These two forces as positive tools
Where team-team work, creativity and productivity rule!
(Lessons from the New Workplace  CRM Films)

19.	Let’s talk about money, it’s not taboo.
If mission is focused, the money’s there too.
	This book provides a step-by-step guide
	So that on effective methods we can decide.
	(Effective Church Finances by Kennon Callahan, Jossey-Bass)

20.	Wow! Isn’t this website cool?
Click on the filing cabinet for many a tool!
From church policies to job description
A great help to council, that’s the prescription!
(www.koklc.org  Website of King of Kings Lutheran Church, Shelby Township, MI)

21.	Administration, youth, worship, take your pick!
These and more to make ministries tick!
Resource Centers across the ELCA
Have sent these resources Greg Kaufman’s way.
Where he and his great staff post it for all to see
There isn’t even a user fee!
(www.synodresourcecenter.org  Website maintained by NW Wisconsin Synod for Resource Centers in the ELCA)

22.	For latest Synod news and views
At this website you can choose
Forms and files and Resource Center Connection
All posted for your information.   
(www.fbsynod.org Website of the Florida-Bahamas Synod)

23.	Ready-made Bible Studies that aren’t hard to lead.
You can find in this book devotions that succeed.
Compete studies run down the side-margin
Of this Bible—what a great bargain!
(Serendipity Bible Serendipity House)

24.	Scanning the horizon for latest trends is a job
For council to keep ahead of the mob.
Cultural trends can impact the church
So this report can help in your search.
(www.hermangroup.com  Website of The Herman Group)

25.	Don’t have time to read a book?
Then in a magazine you can look
For practical ideas and resources galore
You couldn’t get this in any old store!
(Net Results Magazine)