This down-to-earth workbook gets to the heart of modern congregational life: how to live creatively together despite differences of age, race, culture, opinion, gender, theological or political position. Alban Senior Consultant Gil Rendle explains how to grow by valuing our differences rather than trying to ignore or blend them. He describes a method of establishing behavioral covenants that includes leadership instruction, training tools, resources (visual models, examples of specific covenants), small-group exercises, plans for meetings and retreats.

Gil Rendle is a senior consultant with the Alban Institute. An ordained Methodist clergyperson with 15 years in parish ministry, he has extensive experience as a congregational and judicatory consultant, focusing on organizational development and systems theory.