July 2--“Becoming a Healthy Church: Ten Characteristics,” is not a textbook. Nor is it intended to be a history of the church in New England. Rather, it is a tool designed to be adapted and used by churches and other organizations to evaluate and revitalize their ministries. Rather than laying down hard-and-fast models of growth or organizational structures, the author, Stephen A. Macchia, relies on time-honored principles and success stories from around the region.

The book is organized, as its title implies, around 10 principles.  "The ten characteristics of a healthy church were not pulled out of  thin air,” says Maachia. “They grew out of an intense strategic planning process that involved Board members, staff, area ministry leaders, with both genders, all ages levels, and a variety of denominations represented."

The resulting book is a reflection of the organization for which Maachia has served as president for the past decade--“Vision New England.” Linking the book with the mission of Vision, Macchia says that, "Throughout the more than a hundred years of our history, Vision New England has been promoting evangelism, but we were not concentrating on whether the church was healthy enough to be prepared for every phase of the evangelism and discipleship process. Once the strategic planning group asked itself what it would take for a church to be healthy enough for all aspects of evangelism, we came up with the 10 characteristics of a healthy church. That process transformed Vision New England and has  given us the focus we needed as we enter the new millennium."
 
“Vision New England,” in its continuing quest to help churches become healthier, offers several helps to accompany the book. A "Leadership Team Discussion Tool can provide both the diagnosis and a hope-filled prognosis," says Macchia.  Vision also offers seminars to aid church leaders in understanding how to use the tools.

Vision’s website also offers other resources for church leaders seeking better health for their groups. A full description of the book's contents and a brief explanation of the 10 characteristics can be found on that site.