Membership Matters: Insights from Effective Churches on New Member Classes and Assimilation

• Publisher:   Zondervan
• Number Of Pages:   208
• Publication Date:   2005-08-01
• ISBN-10 / ASIN:   0310262860
• ISBN-13 / EAN:   9780310262862

Based on a national study, this book shows how churches can move both new and old members into ministry by implementing effective new members’ classes.

Chuck Lawless wrote "Membership Matters" as a guide for churches to use membership classes to help their church grow. By growing, I'm referring to 1) an increase in membership, 2) knowledge of the local church and its doctrinal stands, 3) relationships in the church, and 4) involvement of the members in the local church. Of course, one would expect most books to represent the views of the authors. But while Lawless occasionally gives his recommendations on action, a lot of it is reporting results of his polling research and giving options allowing the reader to adapt the findings to his or her situation. Every pastor should have this book. So should anyone involved in Christian education. I would even suggest it as a textbook for Bible colleges and seminaries.

Chuck has done a marvelous piece of work evaluating the processes of successful churches. It is an easy and enjoyable read. Personally used it for a small group discussion and also enjoyed giving it to a friend that is in the process of beginning a church. kudo's Chuck!!!

This book is THE book to own for a pastor or church leader who needs a resource on new member classes. I've seen several approaches described in various places, but nothing until now that brings the numerous concepts together in one cover. In addition to sound advice in the narrative, there are 15 appendices that offer sample forms and outlines for nearly every step of the new member assimilation process. Lawless has hit a "home run" here -- for me this title is a keeper!

I've known Chuck since he was my grader in Thom Rainer's "Introduction to Church Growth" class at Southern Seminary in the Fall of 1995. During my own M.Div. and Ph.D. work, he became more than a grader. Chuck became my friend. I'm currently serving as chairman of my home church's Long-range Planning Committee. One area in which we've identified a great need for improvement is in our new member orientation and current member commitment and service. I consider it providential that in researching books to aid in our task, I came across Lawless' work on those very subjects. I read "Membership Matters" over two days, taking copious notes in the margins and underlying liberally. Few books address membership classes and church member assimilation. Thom Rainer's "High Expectations" called churches to ask more from members as a means of increasing church health and commitment. Lawless' book moves a step further by providing a practical guide for church pastors and leaders to design and implement membership classes, not only to better incorporate new members, but also to inspire older, non-serving members to get involved in ministry service. Buy this book. Digest it. Discuss it. But more importantly, put its suggestions into practice.

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