The Inviting Church: A Study Of New Member Assimilation

by Roy M. Oswald, Speed Leas

Ever wonder why some people never return after their first visit? Why some join but you rarely see them? Or why others become active participants in your church family's life and worship? Discover how your congregation can meet growth challenges. Based on Alban Institute research, The Inviting Church includes a self-study design for assessing assimilation processes and analyzing visitors' perceptions.

Paperback

First published December 1, 1987

Reviews

[Robert Bogue]

Whether there’s an overt desire for your church to grow or you’re just hoping to maintain a level of membership and attendance, The Inviting Church: A Study of New Member Assimilation can help you understand how to compensate for the people you lose or grow to be the church you want to be. A fair objection to this assertion was that the book was originally published in 1987 and last revised in 2002. In other words, it’s 20 years out of date, and things have changed. That’s certainly true – however, some of the principles for understanding who comes to church and why haven’t changed. If you want a more up-to-date view on how people approach churches, you might look at The Art of Hospitality.

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[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be informative. The data is obviously out if date but the principles seem sound.

[Lois Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has some interesting ideas to address, consider, implement if your church really wants to grow. The data it is based on is out of date however, I think this book could help a church understand their approach to church growth.

[Jean Marie Angelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for a church committee about 10 years ago. More relevant now that I am on a vestry. Very mindful study on how congregations grow — or don't. So much depends on vision.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dated (the book was published in the 1980's), but with some still-relevant information and suggestions.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dated, but still relevant as a starting point to think about new member integration.