Resources for Innovation in Ministry

Gone for Good? 

Editor: Mark Elsdon
A collection of essays guiding church and civic leaders through the wave of church closures, offering strategies to transition property thoughtfully so communities don’t lose mission-bearing places but reinvent them for good. (Amazon, eBay)

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We Aren’t Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry 

Author: Mark Elsdon
Drawing on real-world stories, this book shows churches and nonprofits how to unlock overlooked assets—like property, endowments, and social enterprise—to fund mission, transforming scarcity into creative opportunity.(Amazon, Eerdmans Publishing Co)

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Old Buildings New Vision: Repurposing Church Property for the Common Good

Editors/Authors: (Compiled by experts in historic preservation and community development)
A practical PDF guide detailing how to adapt redundant church and historic buildings for community-serving purposes such as housing, arts spaces, and nonprofits—filled with case studies and adaptive reuse best practices. (PDF, hrballiance.org.uk)

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You’ve Decided to Build Affordable Housing

Author: Nadia A. Mian
A clear and practical Faith & Leadership article walking you through the crucial pre‑development phase of launching affordable housing on church property—from site planning to stakeholder alignment. (faithandleadership.com)

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God’s Mixed Ecology: The Changing Spiritual Landscape

Author: Lisa Greenwood (Vice President for Leadership Ministry, Texas Methodist Foundation)
This concise resource explores today’s spiritual landscape—especially the growing “Spiritual but Not Religious” category—and invites church leaders to see how diverse forms of ministry (attractional churches, missional communities, nonprofits, fresh expressions) can form a vibrant ecosystem of witness. It offers reflective questions and frameworks to help congregations discern where they fit and how they might participate faithfully in this mixed mission field. 

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Leading Faithful Innovation

Authors: Dwight J. Zscheile, Michael Binder, Tessa Pinkstaff
This book introduces a simple, Spirit-led process—listen, act, share—that helps congregations faithfully experiment and respond to the needs of their communities. Grounded in theology and real-world stories, it offers practical tools for nurturing grassroots innovation. Designed for churches ready to move from surviving to imagining a hopeful future.

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Imaginable: How to See the Future Coming and Feel Ready for Anything—Even Things That Seem Impossible Today

Author: Jane McGonigal
A hopeful, hands-on guide to building "future thinking" skills through imaginative simulations, forecasting exercises, and strategic foresight tools. McGonigal invites readers to stretch their imaginations so they can better prepare for—and shape—the future. Ideal for individuals and groups wanting to build resilience and creativity.

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Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading Innovation

Authors: Linda A. Hill, Greg Brandeau, Emily Truelove, Kent Lineback
This book reveals that the key to innovation isn’t a lone visionary—it’s a leader who creates the space for collaborative problem-solving and unleashes the genius of a diverse team. Drawing from deep research and case studies at companies like Pixar and Google, it offers insights into building cultures of sustained innovation.
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The Innovator’s DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators

Authors: Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregersen, Clayton M. Christensen
Based on groundbreaking research, this book identifies five essential skills of innovators—associating, questioning, observing, networking, and experimenting—that can be learned and developed. It’s a guide for individuals and organizations looking to consistently generate fresh, impactful ideas.

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The Innovation Imperative

Editor: Vanessa Ellingham
This edited collection features thought leaders and practitioners who explore how innovation is reshaping systems, institutions, and culture. It offers insights into the conditions that make innovation possible, sustainable, and equitable. A compelling read for those seeking to lead change across diverse contexts.

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Rome Call for AI Ethics

Promoted by: Pontifical Academy for Life & RenAIssance Foundation; first signed by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, Microsoft, IBM, FAO, and Italy’s Minister of Innovation (Feb 28, 2020)
This foundational declaration—often referred to as "algorethics"—lays out six core principles (transparency, inclusion, accountability, impartiality, reliability, security & privacy) and three impact areas (ethics, education, rights) to guide AI development in ways that uplift human dignity and serve the common good. It represents a shared commitment by faith leaders, governments, institutions, and tech companies to design AI that benefits all—particularly the most vulnerable—rather than focusing solely on profit or automation (romecall.org).
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