Below is a list of blogs, online articles, reports, books, a list of innovative Churches and Sacred programs, and other resources focused on Church vitality and visioning. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but it’s a curated list of resources that Pastor Jason has found helpful over the past decade for learning and inspiration as he has sought to straddle “modern” and “post-modern” cultures within Christian communities.

 Blogs:

• Still Waters, by Theresa Cho

• Liturgy Beyond Words Blog, by Jess Fisher

Online articles & Resources:

• Art and Faith Converge at a Hybrid Church/Community Arts Center

• Soul-Care Toolkit by the National Benevolent Society’s Mental Health Equity Cohort

• How We Gather, Faithful, Something More, & Care of Souls Millennial Reports

• Renew 52: 50+ Ideas to Revitalize Your Congregation From Leaders Under 50

• Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Articles and Podcasts

Books

Books on Church Vitality/Growth:

• Fishing in a Shallow Sea: Church Strategies for the 21st Century by Rev. Michael Piazza

• Weird Church by Paul Nixon & Beth Ann Estock

• Real Good Church: How Our Church Came Back from the Dead and Yours Can, Too by Molly Phinney Baskette

• We Were Spiritual Refugees: a story to help you believe in CHURCH by Katie Hays

• Thriving Church: What We Can Learn From Faithful Congregations by Erin Cash & Kory Wilcoxson

 Books on Postmodern Faith:

• Beyond Resistance: The Institutional Church Meets the Postmodern World by John Dorhauer (former UCC General Minister and President)

• Church Tomorrow?: What the 'Nones' and 'Dones' Teach Us About the Future of Faith by Stephanie Spellers

Books on Practical Resources Around Change, Conflict and Culture

• Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

• Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg

• Heart:  A Journey Toward Cultural Humility by James L. Knight

• Organizing Church: Grassroots Practices for Embodying Change in Your Congregation, Your Community, and Our World, by Time Conder and Dan Rhodes

• Sacred Cows Make Gourmet Burgers: Ministry Anytime, Anywhere, by Anyone, by William M. Easum

Books on Liturgical Resources

• The Gathering, A Womanist Church: Origins, Stories, Sermons, and Litanies by Irie Lynne Session, Kamilah Hall Sharp , et al.

• A Liturgy for All Bodies: New Words for a New World by Kimmothy Cole 

• Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human by Cole Arthur Riley

• When we Talk: Prayers & Poems for Black Women by Sharifa Stevens

Books on Christianity and Inclusion:

• What It Takes To Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World by Prentis Hemphill

• This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley

• Queering Contemplation: Finding Queerness in the Roots and Future of Contemplative Spirituality by Cassidy Hall

• Don't Just Give Me That Old Time Religion by Christine Y. Wiley

• Where the Edge Gathers: A Theology of Radical Inclusion by Yvette Flunder

• The Post-Black and Post-White Church: Becoming the Beloved Community in a Multi-Ethnic World by Efrem Smith

• Church Together: An Essential Guide to All-Age Ministry by Traci Smith & David M. Csinos

• Blessed Minds: Breaking the Silence about Neurodiversity by Rev. Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund

Books on Christianity and the Arts:

• Finding Hope: How to Cope with Loss Using Art Therapy by Jennifer Alward

• Arts Ministry: Nurturing the Creative Life of God's People by Michael J. Bauer

• Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life by Makoto Fujimura

• Creative Church Handbook: Releasing the Power of the Arts in Your Congregation by Scott J. McElroy

• How to CARE: Crisis, Trauma, and Mental Health Ministry with the Arts by Scottt J. McElroy

• “Art and Spirituality.” Oneing.  Volume 12, No. 1: A publication of the Center of the Center for Contemplation and Action by Richard Rohr

• Windows Into the Soul: Art as Spiritual Expression by Michael Sullivan

A List of Innovative Congregations In No Particular Order or Denomination

• Convergence Church

• Due West Methodist Church

• Judson Memorial Church

• Union Avenue Christian Church (DOC)

• Sunday Super Church

• Wild Goose Christian Community video

• Roots + Branch Church (DOC) 

• Valley and Mountain Church

• Galileo Church (DOC)

• The Garden Church

• The Community Church of Lake Forest & Lake Bluff

• Good Shepherd UCC Arizona

• Liberation UCC

• St. John’s Presbyterian Church

• St. Peter’s Catholic Church Cleveland

• The Gathering: A Womanist Church (DOC)

• First Church of Sommerville MA (UCC)

• First Congregational Church, Memphis TN (UCC)

Church-related or Church-sponsored Sacred Organizations & Programs:

• Just Love New Orleans (DOC)

• Co-Conspirator’s Institute (DOC)

• Come As You Are Collective (DOC)

• Global Arts & Theology Experience (DOC)

• Battlefield Farms video

• Queer Quest (Galileo DOC)