Customer Reviews

The Fly in the Ointment: Why Denominations Aren't Helping Their Congregations and How They Can

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Crabtree has created a text that should be required reading for denominational staff in every mainline church, as well as any pastors or laypeople who serve on judicatories, standing committees, or other governing bodies.

With adept reasoning, compelling data, and well-considered arguments, he delivers a vision for strategic re-orientation for the church on a regional level which is both practical and visionary. His charts and diagrams are well set off by anecdotes and examples. Chapters are short and include pithy and relevant questions for discussion. (Unlike the questions found in most texts of this kind, his will actually provoke interesting conversation.)

I had never heard of Crabtree prior to picking up this text but I will certainly be following him and recommending him based on this work. His leadership in creating it can best be honored by the leadership of others who actually enact the type of change he describes.

This book is an excellent guide for church leaders and lay church members who are struggling to make "church" work in fast-changing times. Crabtree, the Dr. Phil of church management, poses the difficult questions and refuses to accept stock answers. His extensive parish experience, coupled with his work in the private sector, provide insight that stands apart from other books on this subject. The book recognizes that the problems facing the modern church are complex and will require cooperation from all involved -- professional church workers, lay people, and even the community. He does not dismiss small churches as other authors do. He recognizes their unique gifts and possibilities. Early in the book he points out that there are congregations with 20 members that will die and there are congregations with 20 members that have what it takes to grow. He stresses measuring vitality as opposed to "butts in the pew." The web site (2x2virtualchurch.com) is offering a free series of book reviews/discussion guides to help congregations use this book to create dialog in their congregations which could very well put many struggling congregations back on track.

I spent 35 years as a management consultant. L. Russel Crabtree knows what he talking about. Our diocesan bishop recommended this to our diocesan council for reading and discussion.

Church attendance has been falling in recent years. "The Fly in the Ointment: Why Denominations Aren't Helping Their Congregations . . . and How They Can" is a guide discussing church attendance, congregations, and denominations and how the three interact, outlining what churches must do to restore themselves to prominence in the community. Churches were once centers of a community, and author J. Russell Crabtree says that's something they must strive for again. "The Fly in the Ointment" is a must-get for modern church leaders.

Very interesting and thoughtful book. Author suggests that denominations seem to have lost their vision of leadership and replaced it with management issues. The church is far more than simply numbers, i.e. members and money. Churches have God's gifts to share. We see very little of that in today's world.