This book follows the journey of ten churches who underwent church consultancies, and explores in depth both the consultancy and its outcomes. Pre-consultancy and post-consultancy ""snapshots,"" four to five years apart, of vitality indicators and attendance figures (using National Church Life Survey and other data) are used to compare these with churches that have not undertaken church consultancies. Theologies of church consultancy, church health, and church growth are also developed and examined, intersecting with a wide body of literature, including contemporary ecclesiologies.
Consultancy outcomes are examined in detail. This includes interviews with pastors of some of those churches, reflecting on their perceptions of whether and how the church consultancy impacted the health and growth of their church. Conclusions are drawn about the efficacy of church consultancy in influencing the health and growth of churches, as well as contexts for the best use of church consultancy.
This is a significant book for denominational leaders, theological lecturers, pastors, and church leaders as they encounter lack of health in churches and seek ways forward for greater health and impact in their local communities.

Dr. Ian G. Duncum has pastored churches and held denominational leadership and research positions. He works across numerous denominations as a church and nonprofit enterprise consultant, intentional interim pastor, trainer, and mentor. Ian has authored many articles, including (with Ruth Powell) "Baptists Responding to Cultural Diversity" in Cultural Diversity, Worship, and Australian Baptist Church Life (2016). Ian is married to Joanne, a speech pathologist, and they have two sons. Ian can be contacted through www.ianduncum.com.au.