Part one
1. Believing without belonging
Church membership trends
The working groups
Unusable answers
The new believers
Mainline church dilemma
2. Portable, affordable religion
The American dream
Suburban strategy
Mobility as a mind-set
Affordable faith
3. Where have all our people gone
Family life cycle
Values in conflict
Young believers
Part two
4. Choices for churches
Three choices
Strong Christian churches
Cultural Christian churches
Exceptional growth
Mediating Christian values
Low middle ground
The choice of a future
5. Programming to include the outsider worship
The church school
Small-group experiences
Dropouts
Organizing for new members
Local church leadership
Denominational policies
6. Something that works
Congregations in community context
Patterns of growth
The city church
The church in the stable suburban community
Regional members
The church in the growing suburb
The church in the small city
The town and country church
The ethnic church
7. Leadership: a good word for pastors
Believing in the church
Pastoral care
Faith in the middle
Good management
Personal faith
Independent identity
8. Facts, faith, and strategy
Appendices
Factors affecting church membership growth by type of community
Large cities
Suburban areas with stable populations
Suburban areas with growing populations
Small cities
Town and country
Worksheets for church groups