LARC - Leadership and Administration Resource Center
Online Resources
BUILDING AND SITE PRESERVATION
- The Beltline Partnership
This 22-mile track of railroad encircling downtown and midtown Atlanta is the focus of urban planning to increase green space and mobility for the city's quickly growing population. - Church Restoration Group
Provides construction and renovation services to churches, including recovery planning for congregations that survived natural disasters. - International Committee on Monuments
and Sites
The international organization (associated with UNESCO) that sponsors research and advocacy for preservation of historic sites, including many religious structures and landscapes. Library of Congress Historic Resources
A guide to photo and other historical collections in the American Memory site of Library of Congress. - National Trust
for Historic Preservation
Preservation site with links to Preservation magazine, books, and information. - Partners for Sacred
Places, Philadelphia, PA.
Provides research and planning materials for congregations with older facilities to help them assess their value to surrounding communities and find resources such as foundation grants to help renovate and preserve historic structures; individual and institutional memberships available. - The
Reuse of Historic Places of Worship
A collection of case studies from the National Trust of Historic Preservation regarding the conversion of churches and other worship spaces for a variety of uses. -
Rural African American Church Survey Project
Tennessee's Center for Historical Preservation works with Middle Tennessee State University to preserve rural churches in the African-American Heritage. - Sizemore Group
An Atlanta architecture firm with a mission of sustainable design, including religious structures.
CONGREGATIONAL STUDIES
- Alban Institute, Washington, DC.
Offers extensive publications on many specific aspects of administration, planning and leadership development; workshops held in all regions of the US; consultants available to work with congregations and agencies; newsletter "Congregations" available for subscription. - American Religion Data Archive
A source of quantitative data on churches, memberships, and religious groups (congregations, individuals, and denominations). Funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. - Center
for Congregations
Books, articles, links, and resources from the Center for Congregations in Indianapolis, affliated with the Alban Institute. - Hartford Institute
for Religion Research
Dr. Scott Thumma, Hartford Seminary; links to many useful ethnographic and sociological studies of congregations and denominations, religious trends in the USA; bibliography on congregational studies. - Lilly
Endowment research projects
Reports on congregational and denominational research studies supported by the Lilly Endowment.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
- Eco-Justice
An ecumenical agency that provides resources for churches raising awareness of social justice in environmental issues. - Eco-Justice Articles of Clark Atlanta
University
A database of articles regarding ecojustice issues, specifically in the African American community. - Environmental Stewardship
An emerging network of resources for congregations to improve their stewardship of natural resources. - Evangelical Environmental Network
Resources for individuals, congregations, and communities seeking to raise natural and spiritual awareness of environmental issues. Also the home of Creation Care magazine. - Episcopal Ecological Network
A network of individuals and congregations within the Episcopal Church USA that educate and promote stewardship of the earth. - Georgia Interfaith Power and Light
A site for communities of faith to learn more about becoming good stewards of creation. Includes resources for energy efficiency, worship, and religious education surrounding environmental issues. - Keeping It Wild
An effort by the Wilderness Society to promote awareness of Southeastern wild lands and to recognize African American leadership in conservation. -
Piedmont Project, Emory
Site for Emory's own interdisciplinary initiative on stewardship of natural resources and a sustainable society. - Presbyterians for Restoring Creation
A national, grassroots organization formed by the Presbyterian Church (USA) to educate individuals and congregations on eco-justice. - The Regeneration Project
National site for religious communities seeking to raise awareness of energy conservation and renewal.
RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP & ADMINISTRATION
- Center for Parish Development,
Chicago, IL
Offers a variety of seminars in church development, including missions, leadership training, education, worship and planning; consultants available to work with congregations and agencies; newsletter "Transformation" available for subscription. - Church Administrators'
Chatroom
Queries and responses from church administrators on policies, procedures, and decisions in the daily operations of local church congregations. - eMinistry Newsletter
Consulting and resources for electronic ministries, specializing in megachurches and non-profits. - Harvard Business School
Resources in organizational management and leadership. - Institute for Church Administration
and Management, Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, GA
Extensive program of seminars and workshops oriented toward the particular needs and situations of African American churches, with emphasis on lay and pastoral leadership development in areas of church administration, finance, and planning for mission. - Journal of Religious Leadership and
other Resources for Christian leaders
Professor Scott Cormode, Claremont School of Theology; a web page with links to a wide range of articles on leadership, as well as useful case study with comments and related articles. - "Leadership"
- A Journal for Church Leaders
Published by Christianity Today, Inc., tending to reflect an independent evangelical free church viewpoint; mainly stories and simplified guidelines for addressing problems and issues in church leadership and administration. - Leadership Network, Dallas, TX.
Consulting services, publications, workshops and events based on large church experience and corporate entrepreneurial models; includes "Church Champion" consultants and leaders such as Lyle Schaller and Herb Miller (editors of "The Parish Paper"). - Leadership Site: Wharton
School of Business
Articles and links focussed on current issues in leadership, especially in business organizations. - National Association of Church Business
Administration, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
Interdenominational association of professionals in church administration, promoting certification of full-time CBA's as Fellows in Church Business Administration; publishes "NACBA Ledger" magazine; sponsors seminars for certification training at six sites, including Candler School of Theology. - Written Projects
for NICFA
Written projects from certified applicants available online here. - "Net Results"
Publication and consulting on issues and methods of church growth and vitality. - Resources for American
Christianity
Provides links to numerous studies of American congregations, denominations, and religious trends through projects funded by The Lilly Endowment, Inc., Indianapolis, IN. - The Society for Organizational Learning
Society for Organizational Learning continues the principles of learning organizations as developed in "The Fifth Discipline." - Strategy + Business
Resources in organizational management and leadership, produced by major business consulting firm (Booz/Allen/Hamilton) - United Methodist Association of Church
Business Administrators
One of several denominational associations for professionals in church administration, offering an annual meeting and quarterly newsletter.
Contact Information
Dr. Thomas E. Frank
Professor of Religious Leadership and Administration
Candler School of Theology
Emory University
Atlanta, GA 30322
thomas.frank@emory.edu
404.727.6325