Our Work
Publishing:
Cultivating Communities Book Series
The Cultivating Communities Book Series (published in partnership with Englewood Press) equips churches to deepen their life together in their place. These books are brief, accessible, and practical, ideal for reading in conversation with one another.
The Shape of Our Lives: A Field Guide for Congregational Formation by Phil Kenneson, et al.
The Virtue of Dialogue: Becoming A Thriving Church Through Conversation by C. Christopher Smith
The Form of the Word: Making Sense of Scripture in the Body of Christ by Stephen E. Fowl
The Englewood Review of Books
The Englewood Review of Books has been connecting thoughtful Christian readers to quality books since 2008, and we’re thrilled to have the ERB as an essential part of our Cultivating Communities network. Every week, the ERB publishes book reviews, poetry collections to accompany the Revised Common Lectionary, and more! We believe reading widely and well is essential to the flourishing of our congregations and communities. Click here to subscribe to the free ERB email newsletter to stay up-to-date on all the ERB is doing.
Events
Connect with us at one of the following events!
Ekklesia Project Gathering: July 9-11 (Indianapolis, IN). Click here for more information and to register.
Asset Mapping Workshops: Are you interested in bringing our team to your congregation for asset mapping? Reach out via the contact page.
Interested in having Cultivating Communities present at your event? Check out our speakers roster
Learning Journey
We walk alongside congregations as they deepen roots in their congregations and in their neighborhoods
We love to connect with congregations who are eager to cultivate a more robust theology and praxis around congregational life and community flourishing.
From 2020-2025, this work was done in cohorts of churches around the country. Now, we do this work individually with interested congregations, creating a custom learning journey informed by your church’s gifts and desires.
While adapted for each congregation, we explore seven signs of a thriving congregations:
A coherent theology of the church centered on the way of Jesus
A growing capacity for ongoing conversation and discernment
A commitment to a common life
A robust economy of the Spirit where work and play are shared
A place-based, permeable identity
A community of exiles practicing hospitality
A missional community of “being with”
Interested in learning more about what the learning journey might look like for your congregation? Contact us.