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Praise for Thrive

Recently, denominational executive Ruth Fletcher and her pastor husband Ron had a 3 month sabbatical. Instead of going to Europe or hiking Glacier National Park, they took a road trip across the United States visiting “transforming congregations.” Thrive is the result of that road trip, and a lifetime of pastoral experience.

Fletcher begins with listing “changing conditions” that have had profound impact on how mainline churches respond to society today. They include globalization, interdependence, dispersed power, racial and religious diversity, evolving complexity, new ethical questions, the growing gap between rich and poor, and the end of non-renewable planetary resources.

The bulk of the book is her engaging description of twelve “spiritual habits” she has identified in transforming congregations. For each of the twelve habits—praying, waking up, growing, aligning, engaging, testifying, welcoming, questioning, building capacity, giving thanks, collaborating, and choosing—she tells the story of a congregation finding its vocation through the spiritual practice, whether or not they have identified it.

Thrive is well-researched, ecumenically accessible, and practical. By focusing on the spiritual habits she has observed in transforming congregations, Fletcher describes rather than prescribes. There are no easy answers in this book, only stories of hope and hard work.

Bishop Jessica Crist

Montana Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

In this clear, concise and hope-filled book Ruth Fletcher offers substantive help and direction to congregational leaders and pastors alike. Grounded in her years of experience in a wide variety of church settings, her faithful observation of human life and her deep love of God, Ruth tells us stories of transformation that arise like green shoots from the most unexpected and unlikely of places. This book is a gem and I look forward to sharing it with my leadership team.

Rev. Laurie Rudel

Pastor, Queen Anne Christian Church

Seattle, Washington

That transformation is a spiritual process is well known. What exactly that means is less well understood. Ruth Fletcher fills the gap with this manual on congregational spiritual life. The pattern of spiritual habits she describes provides markers for congregations making their way through the lightly charted territory of transformation and mission in the 21st century. Thrive is a welcome and needed addition to the literature of congregational transformation.

Dr. Sharon Watkins

General Minister and President

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)