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The Road to Growth: Towards a Thriving Church

Author:	Bob Jackson
Published By:	Church House Publishing (London)
Pages:	250
Price:	£12.99
ISBN:	0 7151 4073 6

Reviewed by Alun Brookfield.

Bob Jackson is an Anglican priest with a background in statistics, so it’s no surprise to find that much of what he wants to say in this book is backed up or demonstrated with statistical evidence, which will appeal to some and not others. Nevertheless, this reviewer urges perseverance, even if statistics are not your thing, because Jackson has some vitally important guidance in this book for local church leaders of all denominations.

The author begins by describing and analysing the current state of the Church (all denominations, but with an emphasis on the Church of England) in the UK. He argues, rightly in this reviewer’s opinion, that we have become experts at managing a decline caused by multiple factors, some of which are within our control (e.g. the length of clergy appointments) and some of which may not be (e.g. social change in the wider culture). However, he concludes that we are in a vicious cycle within which financial constraints result in fewer ministers which results in fewer churchgoers which exacerbates the financial constraints which results ……

The trick (and it will a clever one if it can be achieved) is to increase one of the above three factors, which will have a knock-on effect of increasing the other two. And the rest of the book is about how to convert a cycle of decline into a cycle of growth. Much of it is not rocket-science (good practice, train leaders properly, spiritual renewal), but it is sad how few churches are doing even the basic things well.

There are ideas aplenty here for even the most experienced and/or jaded minister, pastor or parish priest. If, in your church/parish, you are managing decline, buy and devour this book. If you’re not in the Church of England, you’ll have to work a little harder, but I promise you won’t regret the effort.