Practics

“I wish I had read this book before starting my twenty-plus years as a human resource professional and also serving as a board director for not-for-profit organizations. Conflict Management for Faith Leaders offers a new and refreshing approach to conflict management.”

John M. Keigher Director of Systems and Human Resources Midwest Transit Equipment, Inc.

Is conflict a dirty word? Does it bring to mind images of disagreement, fights, and shattered relationships? For ministry leaders, the likelihood of conflict comes with the job, but the result does not have to be destructive. Conflict Management for Faith Leaders is about handling conflict in a way that is positive and constructive. With this book you will discover multiple techniques for assessing and managing conflict and learn guidelines for choosing which technique to use in a given situation. A practical resource for pastors and ministry leaders, Conflict Management for Faith Leaders acknowledges that leadership brings with it the risk of opposition. Packed with useful insights and stories based on the experiences of other faith leaders, this book is the ideal tool when the risk of opposition becomes reality.

HOUSTON THOMPSON holds graduate degrees in church management and social work and a doctor of education degree. In 2005, he was awarded the Professional of the Year Award from the Southern Indiana Chamber of Commerce. In 2007, Nazarene Bible College honored him with the Alumna Distinguished Achievement Award. He currently serves as a dean and directs the doctor of education in ethical leadership program at Olivet Nazarene University.

RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Pastoral Resources Thompson

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT FOR FAITH LEADERS

Best Practices for Children’s Ministry: Leading from the Heart*

Andrew Ervin With insight and understanding of the children’s ministry world, author Andrew Ervin provides leaders with the tips, strategies, and skills they need to develop a strong and successful children’s ministry. 978-0-8341-2556-8 // $14.99

Best Practices for Effective Boards*

E. LeBron Fairbanks, Dwight M. Gunter II, & James R. Couchenour Best Practices for Effective Boards challenges your board to become the most effective, God-honoring body to ever serve your organization. No matter where you start, you can develop your board into a strong and effective body working toward a future of growth and development. 978-0-8341-2834-7 // $16.99

The City*

Urban Churches in the Wesleyan-Holiness Tradition David A. Busic David Busic traces the Wesleyan-Holiness history of ministry to, in, and from the urban core, and calls church leaders to remember and honor ancient visions for ministry by returning our faith communities to the city. 978-0-8341-3928-2 // $15.99

College Ministry in a Post-Christian Culture*

Stephen Lutz Lutz translates missional theology to the practice of college ministry: ministry as a proactive movement that is constantly adapting to its everchanging environment. This resource will equip college ministry staff, pastors, churches, and student leaders to minister effectively to today’s college students with both depth and practical insight. 978-0-8341-2765-4 // $14.99

Conflict Management for Faith Leaders*

Houston Thompson Leadership brings with it the risk of opposition. Those studying to become ministry leaders will discover the multiple ways for assessing and managing conflict, and learn guidelines for choosing which techniques to use in a given situation. 978-0-8341-3244-3 // $14.99

Created to Worship: God’s Invitation to Become Fully Human*

Brent D. Peterson Offering a dynamic and grounded theology of worship within the Christian church, Created to Worship will provide practical suggestions and ideas for assisting you in creating and leading communal worship services. 978-0-8341-2792-0 // $19.99

Developing a Giving Church*

Stan Toler and Elmer Towns This text combines pastoral leadership with practical applications to expand the role that giving plays in the life of a vital, growing church. It provides students the opportunity to develop leadership goals and stewardship plans as they prepare for the pastorate. 978-0-8341-3012-8 // $19.99

Discovering Christian Ministry: Theology and Practice*

Ron Dalton Ron Dalton gives a concise yet comprehensive definition of ministry and offers a ministerial vision that encompasses the personal, interpersonal, and social spheres of the pastoral life. 978-0-8341-3241-2 // $34.99

Ethics in Christian Ministry: A Guide for Pastors and Mentors*

Charles W. Christian Ethics in Christian Ministry equips pastors with the tools they need to make healthy and theologically sound ethical decisions in areas of communication, relationships, preaching, counseling, and finances. Respond to the unexpected with well-grounded decision-making that leads to the best in pastoral practices. 978-0-8341-3601-4 // $16.99

The First 100 Days: A Pastor’s Guide*

T. Scott Daniels Great for both brand-new and seasoned pastors, this book gives twelve recommendations for starting a ministry off on the right foot. 978-0-8341-2554-4 // Hardcover // $14.99

The Formational Power of Worship: Leading Your Community with Intention*

Timothy Brooks Begin a journey of why we worship the way that we do by examining different elements of worship and exploring how they can better become formational moments in the life of the church. 978-0-8341-3788-2 // $13.99

Foundations of Church Administration: Professional Tools for Church Leadership*

Bruce L. Petersen, Edward A. Thomas, and Bob Whitesel, Editors This book is an exploration of church leadership responsibilities and a practical guide to navigating through them. Authored by notable experts in the field, they draw from sound experience to help church leaders succeed in the many facets of their responsibilities. 978-0-8341-2521-6 // $34.99

Foundations of Pastoral Care*

Bruce L. Petersen This text introduces both clergy and laity to the ministry skills and personal qualities needed to provide effective care for people inside and outside the church. Topics include the historical development of soul care, the place of pastoral care in the local church, pastoral care roles, and the importance of personal spiritual formation. 978-0-8341-2305-2 // $44.99

God Still Calls: Discerning God’s Direction for Service*

Mark A. Maddix & Stephen Riley, Editors Mark Maddix and Stephen Riley have compiled a group of obedient answerers of the call to share their stories of what God’s call sounded like in their own lives, and of what it looked like to respond to his leading. 978-0-8341-3621-2 // $13.99

Healthy. Happy. Holy. 7 Practices toward a Holistic Life*

Joe Gorman Healthy. Happy. Holy. addresses the whole life, exploring the importance of seven practices that, when intentionally combined, become a routine Joe Gorman calls soul care. These practices are a means of grace to us as we learn to enjoy the life God intends. 978-0-8341-3681-6 // $14.99

The Healthy Small Church: Diagnosis and Treatment for the Big Issues*

Dennis Bickers Bickers identifies the issues that threaten the life of smaller churches, and prescribes practical remedies for resolving them. This is an excellent resource for ministry students and pastors of small churches. 978-0-8341-2240-6 // $13.99

The Healthy Pastor: Easing the Pressures of Ministry*

Dennis Bickers The Healthy Pastor seeks to provide insights into the expectations churches and ministers have of the pastor’s role. Bickers addresses some of the common pressure points every minister experiences, and provides solutions to those pressures. 978-0-8341-2553-7 // $14.99

Inside the Transformative World of Children’s Ministry*

Kyle Tyler Tyler offers an inside look at the unique challenges of children’s ministry. Safety, procedures, volunteer development, ministry philosophy from kids in diapers to kids in puberty—Kyle Tyler gets inside the mind, heart, and world of ministry to kids. 978-0-8341-3749-3 // $14.99

Managing Stress in Ministry*

David & Lisa Frisbie With real-life stories and concrete strategies, the Frisbies help pastors and their families identify and cope with the key stressors that impact the health of their ministries and their personal well-being. 978-0-8341-3220-7 // $14.99

Intentional Ministry in a Not-So-Mega Church: Becoming a Missional Community*

Dennis Bickers This resource is designed to help leaders of smaller churches guide their people in making their primary focus ministering to and meeting the needs of those outside their churches. 978-0-8341-2434-9 // $13.99

Living the Way of Jesus: Practicing the Christian Calendar One Week at a Time*

Michaele LaVigne Rev. Michaele LaVigne helps us understand how seemingly mundane things can become deeply spiritual practices. Using the Christian calendar as a guide, LaVigne invites us into easy, practical, and transformative weekly practices for use across each season of a three-year liturgical cycle. 978-0-8341-3836-0 // $24.99

Pastoral Care in Times of Death and Dying*

Danny Goddard This practical guide offers step-by-step direction and solid advice for handling the difficult responsibility of ministering to others in situations surrounding death. 978-0-8341-2436-3 // $13.99

The Pastoral Counseling Handbook: A Guide to Helping the Hurting*

Ruth Hetzendorfer This text offers the much-needed message of hope for the hurting and for those who desire to help them. It provides steps and ideas to help you gain understanding and wisdom to more effectively counsel others. 978-0-8341-2465-3 // $24.99

Postmodern and Wesleyan: Exploring the Boundaries and Possibilities*

Jay Richard Akkerman, Thomas Jay Oord, and Brent D. Peterson, Editors This collection of essays explores the various dimensions of postmodernism as it relates to theology, church, practices, communities, and missions. 978-0-8341-2458-5 // $15.99

Right from the Start: A Pastor’s Guide to Premarital Counseling*

David & Lisa Frisbie This is a guide for pastors and counselors to help couples prepare for and succeed in married life, not just pass a test. David and Lisa Frisbie explore the art of conversation and the process of good listening and counseling. 978-0-8341-2603-9 // $18.99

Scandalous Obligation: Rethinking Christian Responsibility*

Eric R. Severson Scandalous Obligation delves into the slippery nature of obligation, the dilemma of competing calls for justice, and the perilous temptation to dismiss or avoid responsibility. Using examples from popular culture, Severson casts an expansive and often daunting vision of responsibility that challenges the status quo. 978-0-8341-2612-1 // $17.99

Showing Up: How the Power of Presence Is Reshaping Evangelism*

Kerry Willis & Margaret Michael with Brian Charette With scriptural insights, testimonies, and stories of lives changed, these leaders demonstrate that we don’t all have to be academic theologians or dynamic crusaders to be faithful witnesses to the gospel of Jesus Christ. 978-0-8341-3834-6 // $9.99

Thinking, Listening, Being: A Wesleyan Pastoral Theology*

Jeren Rowell Jeren Rowell offers theological reflections on what it means to live and work as a pastor. He examines different aspects of pastoral thinking, practice, and work, and challenges pastors to continually pursue prayer, the study of Scripture, and theological reflection. 978-0-8341-3246-7 // $19.99

Uncommon Virtues: Seven Saints Who Shaped Our Faith*

Carla D. Sunberg with Richard Alan Hadley Dr. Carla Sunberg uncovers the fragments of details that remain about seven revolutionary women, whom she calls the Cappadocian Mothers. Sunberg introduces us to a group of saints who practiced some Uncommon Virtues. Be inspired by the stories of these incredible women who model a new way of following Christ. 978-0-8341-3747-9 // $12.99

A Very Good God in a Badly Broken World*

Dan Boone Dan Boone says that a helpful way to speak honestly about God in the midst of turmoil is to tell the tough stories: Noah, floating in the chaos; Job, sitting in the rubble; the psalmists, uttering unthinkable prayers. These stories help us to remember how very good God is, empowering us to respond to a broken world with confidence and hope. 978-0-8341-3786-8 // $11.99

Whatever Happened to Evangelicalism?*

Al Truesdale, Editor Al Truesdale, Timothy Gaines, Timothy Crutcher, and other contributors explore the significance of evangelicalism from a variety of cultural, denominational, and historical perspectives. This text is an enduring testimony to the essence of evangelicalism—the evangel—the good news of the kingdom of God. 978-0-8341-3657-1 // $24.99

The Worship Plot: Finding Unity in Our Common Story*

Dan Boone Boone exposes the distorted motives of battling over worship styles and shows how to combine our diversity in order to celebrate our common story. He offers a model of five acts of worship to follow in order to serve the people of the world and share with them God’s amazing story of love. 978-0-8341-2312-0 // $11.99

Women Who Lead: The Call of Women in Ministry*

Mary Paul Mary Paul explores the obstacles women face and the myths about women in leadership that have been fed to both genders for generations. Women Who Lead uncovers these myths, reveals God’s call to women for leadership, and celebrates all who are led to lead. 978-0-8341-2564-3 // $14.99

Worship Where You’re Planted: A Primer for the Local Church Worship Leader*

Dave Clark Worship Where You’re Planted seeks to recognize and respond to the situations music leaders encounter. Dave Clark tackles issues such as transitioning between leaders, navigating traditional and contemporary music styles, and building rapport with the congregation. 978-0-8341-2555-1 // $14.99