January 11, 2007

MINNEAPOLIS – Kelly Fryer's book Reclaiming the L Word introduced one congregation's journey through renewal and helped readers see and interpret guiding principles employed by that congregation as illustrative of and rooted in Lutheran theology.

Now Dave Daubert, in his newly released book, Living Lutheran: Renewing Your Congregation, provides a practical how-to guide that will enable church leaders to help individual congregations walk through the process for themselves. Creative and informative, the book provides a straightforward approach that helps congregations reclaim Lutheran tradition for the 21st century.

"I am so thankful for this book! If your congregation wants to reclaim the "L" word for itself, for the sake of God's mission to love and bless the world, this is the place to start. You won't find a wiser or more articulate partner in renewal than Dave Daubert anywhere in the church today. He makes the process of developing your vision, purpose, and principles sound so important-and so simple-you'll be wondering why your congregation didn't do it sooner!" – Kelly Fryer, Executive Director of A.R.E.: A Renewal Enterprise and best-selling author of Reclaiming the "L" Word: Renewing the Church from It's Lutheran Core and Reclaiming the "C" Word: Daring to Be Church Again.

"With two-thirds of Protestant congregations in need of renewal in mission, Dave Daubert supplies a way for achieving such revival. Written in an engaging conversational style, his book offers a realistic and practical process that can be used in almost any church. Step-by-step procedures, centered in a pattern of Bible study, prayer, and conversation, present a path to identify and apply a faithful vision and core values for the rejuvenation of churches. I commend this book to pastors, lay leaders, and seminary students." – Dr. William O. Avery, The Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Professor of Field Education and the Arthur L. Larson Professor of Stewardship and Parish Life.

Filled with examples, stories, and Lutheran theology-both the thoughts of Luther and confessional materials-the chapters include:
What Is God Up to in the World?
Participating in God's Work
The Importance and Difficulty of Vision
Using Purpose and Principles to Make Decisions
What Is the Purpose of the Congregation?
How Do We Develop Principles for Our Congregation?
Resources for Congregational Use

Living Lutheran: Renewing Your Congregation is a straightforward process that helps congregations reclaim Lutheran traditions for the 21st century. It includes questions for individual or group reflection and an additional resources section.

Dave Daubert is Executive for Renewal of Congregations for the Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He lives in Elgin, Illinois.

Living Lutheran: Renewing Your Congregation, By Dave Daubert, Format: 5.25" x 7.75," paperback, 96 pages, Item No: 978-0-8066-5334-1, Publisher: Augsburg Fortress, Price: $10.99.

To order Living Lutheran please call Augsburg Fortress at 1-800-328-4648 or visit the Web site at http://www.fortresspress.com/.

Augsburg Fortress