Steinke, Peter L.

"Peter Steinke writes simple sentences about complex systems. He assures us that there is a way to understand the life of a congregation, and to do reasonable things to address its health.

"Drawing from his own experiences for all sorts and conditions of church families, Steinke makes helpful suggestions for nurturing church systems without giving specific directions for quick fixes (which don't exist).

"This is a book for people who want ideas, not directions; hope, not well-charted diagrams; and encouragement, not rigid rules.

"Healthy Congregations does not pretend to tell you what to do about an unhealthy congregation. It does tell you how to exercise responsibility in effecting a cure."

Philip H. Young

Synod Executive Synod of the Pacific Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Petaluma, California

"Confused about family systems applications to congregational life? Stumped by repeated congregational troubles? This is your book! This is a user-friendly. theologically grounded guide to congregational wholeness. Supported by a breadth of data and humorously presented anecdotes, this work offers new insight into the life system of the congregational organism.

"Peter Steinke engaged, enlightened, entertained, and educated me, offering new perspectives about things I already knew, and introducing helpful new insights such as ten principles of health, a sample congregational 'genogram,' and health resources. This is a book I will enthusiastically give to congregational leaders."

The Rev. Canon Nancy A Roosevelt

Canon to the Ordinary, Episcopal Diocese of Rochester Chair, Council of Advisors of the Cornerstone Project

A Ministry of the Episcopal Church Foundation