Along the way, members of your group may want to explore particular aspects of the Crossroads Discernment Process more deeply. We recommend the following books for those looking to go deeper.

• Ending with Hope by Beth Ann Gaede Ending with Hope grows out of the understanding that although closing a congregation is in many ways about dying, it can also be about new life. Closing a congregation doesn’t have to be about failure but can be about redirecting resources for new ministry.
• Legacy Churches by Stephen Gray and Franklin Dumond. This book was written to offer hope, wisdom, and courage to leaders who must consider the pathway of becoming a legacy church.
• Memories, Hopes, and Conversations by Mark Lau Branson. Appreciative inquiry is an intentional approach for engaging a congregation in the present by beginning with thanksgiving and focusing on strengths.
• Know Your Story and Lead with It by Richard Hester and Kelli Walker-Jones. The authors’ narrative theory focuses on (1) understanding that there are differing narratives about the past as dots are connected and you arrive at the “here and now” and (2) understanding that there are multiple possible next chapters. Which pieces of the story will propel you? Can you integrate the perspectives of hero/victim/villain? The challenge is to live in the reality of the present as a crossroads moment, requiring a balanced, thorough, and prompt discernment.
• The Thin Book of Appreciative Inquiry by Sue Annis Hammond. This brief (56 page) book provides a great introduction on what appreciative inquiry is and how to apply it.
• Ending with Hope: A Resource for Closing Congregations by Beth Ann Gaede. Ending with Hope grows out of the understanding that although closing a congregation is in many ways about dying, it can also be about new life. Closing a congregation doesn’t have to be about failure but can be about redirecting resources for new ministry.
• Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times: Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What by Peter L. Steinke. In this book Steinke goes deep into the requirements of effective congregational leadership. He inspires courage in leaders to maintain the course, unearth secrets, resist sabotage, withstand fury, and overcome timidity or doubts.
• Surprise the World by Michael Frost. This short book clearly lays out five habits of highly missional people. Easy to read; hard to put into practice—but if we did, it would change our lives, our church, and our communities.
• The Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay. This book paints a vision for the church that moves the church out of its building and into the community. A primer is also available for small group study.
• Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger. This book paints a picture of the changed cultural landscape surrounding the Western church today and provides important guidance for navigating this new landscape. Bolsinger describes the purpose of this book in this video.
• The Emotionally Healthy Church by Peter Scazzero. Building on the work of his earlier book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Scazzero helps churches to understand organizational healthiness and unhealthiness. His website has more resources, including blogs and podcasts.
• How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You are Going by Susan Beaumont. A great resource for facilitators and pastors of crossroads churches.