How Congregations Thrive: Fostering Community, Identity, and Mission in Today’s Churches explores ten Los Angeles-area Protestant congregations as they emerged from the pandemic. Through interviews, observations, sermon analysis, surveys and focus groups, this book examines ten characteristics of thriving and the connections between particular practices and congregational vitality.

The back cover description reads:

Why do some congregations flourish, while others can barely stay open at all in the face of disaffiliation, aging congregations, financial hardships, and clergy burnout? Grounded in research from 10 Protestant congregations, this open access book explores the characteristics connected to congregational flourishing, and demonstrates how worship, relationships, leadership, sermons, difficult conversations, and mission all play an important role in fostering a strong congregational identity as well as individual and social thriving. From leadership styles to congregational conflict to enacting faith in the local community, this book explores many areas of church life to determine what they reveal about and how they contribute to the overall health of the congregation. Surveys, interviews, focus groups, and participant observation are utilized in the chapters’ findings. These discussions provide an up-to-date examination of congregational life in the Unites States for scholars of religion as well as a thoughtful roadmap for ministers looking to put their faith community on a stronger path toward congregational vitality.

And my thanks go out to Drs. Joel Thiessen and Rich Wood for their endorsements:

“This book stands out for emphasizing congregational thriving as a process, not a state. Grounded in research, Maureen Day helps churches understand the centrality of congregational identity—through challenging and flourishing ministry seasons—for nurturing congregants’ move toward God and one another. She showcases promising practices for congregations who choose to think and act hopefully and imaginatively about their future.”
Joel Thiessen, Ambrose University, Canada

“Based on rich research in real-life congregations, this book offers deep insight into how congregations can thrive in the 21st century—as communities, as worship spaces, and as actors in the world.”
Richard L. Wood, University of Southern California, USA