My text books have arrived! Well, almost all. Of the seven course texts, two books were already in my own library.

• Reach A Team Approach to Evangelism and Assimilation ,Scott G. Wilkins, (Baker Books: Grand Rapids)
• Projects That Matter, Successful Planning & Evaluation for Religious Organizations, Kathleen A. Cahalan, (Alban Institute)

Four textbooks ordered from Amazon were delivered today.

• Church Marketing 101: Preparing Your Church for Greater Growth, Richard Reising, (Baker Books)
• Reaching Out in a Networked World, Lynne M. Baab, (Alban Institute)
• Thy Kingdom Connected: What the Church Can Learn from Facebook, the Internet, and Other Networks, Dwight Friesen, (Baker Books)

I have added an additional book to the collection. This book offers some direction on what information not to share opening, and the reasons why.

• Healthy Disclosure: Solving Communication Quandaries in Congregations, Kibbie Simmons Ruth & Karen A. McClintock, (Alban Institute)

And… one book is on back order from the Alban Institute.

• Reframing Hope: Vital Ministry in a New Generation, Carl Howard Merritt, (Alban Institute)

Interesting… This is the one book that I ordered directly from the Alban Institute. Not only did they notify me by email that the book is on backorder. The Alban Institute shipped me a packed with UPS that contained but only one slip of paper with the backorder notice. I appreciate great service, however I question how fiscally sound this practice is.

Now the challenge is which work to begin with. I am seriously considering instead of the usual bulling through each book, I may go into the texts with a more thematic approach. Right now I am interested in the theology of this project, trying to see how Christ has called us to this new electronic ministry.

More news tomorrow! I have met with the session of church with the challenge “to go where no church has gone before”. Or at least, a road that this particular church has yet to travel.