Neal O. Mitchell
Church Publishing, 256 pages
Revised edition publishes September 3, 2024
What should a pastor in a new call do first? How do they understand the congregation’s origin story? What’s the best way to engage the staff or structure meetings with the church’s governing body? And where can they best connect within their community?
Episcopal rector Neal Mitchell addresses these and similar practical questions in his updated edition of How to Hit the Ground Running. First published in 2005, this updated edition speaks to the post-COVID church, referencing 2023 data on trends in giving and attendance. Mitchell offers a brisk overview of congregational models based on size, explaining their unique dynamics and relationship to worship attendance, as well as occasional insights from systems theory; he follows with a broad sweep across all areas of church life an incoming leader or existing session should consider.
How to Hit the Ground Running is addressed to Episcopal priests, yet the examples readily apply to Presbyterian churches. It’s an appropriate choice for a pastor in their first call, and its hands-on guidance will be just as applicable to more experienced pastors in transition, as well as to volunteer leaders and church governing boards wondering how to best work with a new pastor.
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