More than a month ago, I had a post about finding a title for our forthcoming book. We’d been working on it for a long time at that point. We’ve been discussing it and working on it ever since too. Today, I got a telephone call from my editor to report back on another meeting they had to discuss it. And guess what? Still no title.
Well actually, we have lots of titles. Titles that they generated that we didn’t like, titles that we generated that they didn’t like. Titles that nobody liked.
It’s actually not just a title we’re looking for, there is the title, the sub title, and something called “the reading line.” In a sense the title represents the book, it should speak to the “arc” of the book, the whole of it. Then it is the job of the sub title to explain the title. The reading line attempts to engage you in the style of the work. All three are working together to try and capture and hold the attention of your target audience while building a bigger one. Such a lot of work for just a few words.
Turns out everyone always judges a book by the cover. Oh well, we’ll just keep working on it.
Here’s a sampling of some of our titles, sub titles and reading lines.
The original working title was:
Beyond Retail Religion
Shaping consumers into authentic disciples
All of our earliest working titles centered around the word matter, as in:
matter
Grow Healthy Catholic Parishes
making church matter more
Growing Robust Parishes by Bringing Back Lost Catholics
make church matter
Grow Vibrant Congregations
simply make church matter
Authentic Parish Renewal
Then we played with the word move:
Move!
Gaining momentum in a Catholic parish
It’s a Movement (so…its gotta move)
Growing Momentum in Catholic Parishes
And the word church:
Pretty Churches (and other lies).
Building strong Catholic parishes
Extremechurch
Changing the culture of a Catholic parish
Church Different
A strategy for parish growth and health
lost on planet church
Evangelization, discipleship and parish renewal
critical mass
Make church matter | Make your church matter more
Church is Not Easy
Shaping Effective Parish Renewal
Then there were also these interesting approaches.
Ch**ch
Putting church back into the vocabulary of your community
betterchurch
Growing a Healthy Catholic Parish
Why you’re not crazy to think this can work
Got any ideas? Let us know.
It could end up on the cover…and it will be judged.
Title: Catholicism Works; Catholic Churches Don’t
Subtitle: How to make catholic churches relevant, competitive and compelling in the age of instant gratification
Fr White
I have a book title suggestion. Here goes!
GOING TO CHURCH
Experiencing all aspects of Mass
The word, the sacrament , and everything else that matters.
How about:
Church Moves
Bringing the Mission Back to the Church
Making Church Matter.
Changing the culture of a Catholic parish.
Most parishes need help and change. If it weren’t for Nativity I too would be searching and like Father White’s friend I probably wouldn’t find what I need in any Catholic church. Aside from the Eucharist, Nativity is the only church that gives me the spiritual satisfaction that can be found at North Point in Georgia and even Grace right around the corner. Keep up the good work. And now I am going on line to get my spiritual boost from the 5:30 service. By the way, I am in Singapore. Isn’t technology amazing!!!
Father,
Whatever is decided upon, I am sure it will be great. The real story here is that you and Tom have written a book, and the content is about the compelling work that God has put on your hearts. I am over the top with the work you are doing in leading souls to Christ and lifting them up to be all that He intended them to be. Keep up the great work – you are an inspiration to me and many others like me. Those who love our faith, but feel that we are under serving the flock by limited thinking and irrelevance. We forget how big our God is in helping us to know how to reach His people for Him. I thank Him for you and Tom and your vision more than you know.
Lou
how bout?
being third
A story of one catholic parish
some thoughts..third has so many angles… our target audience of former catholics…. God, others then self… the Trinity…being humble… outward focus
Ch**ch
Putting Church back into the vocabulary of your community
Because “U R” the Church
I like this idea, just think it needs a little more to it
YES ! IT DOES Church Does Matter
How about:
Getting The “Masses” Back to Mass
How one parish has made church exciting and irresistible!!
or for the second line – How we made church exciting and irresistible, depending on in what person the book is written. The 3rd line could be a partial quote from the book
“Our Answer” to Jesus’s Call.
One way to grow a thriving Catholic parish in the 21st century.
Good luck Father White. Stay close to Jesus. You are in our prayers.
Mending the Broken
A New Paradigm for Catholic Parishes
Church Matters
Lessons from the Megachurch Movement
Humble Enough to Learn
How about:
Bringing the “Masses” Back to Mass
How one parish made church exciting and irresistible!
The third line could be a quote from the book
Kind of off the wall, but how about
“No BINGO This Week” — Awakening a Sleeping Parish.
From there, you can go to the premise that staying with the old ideas prevents growth and can get in the way of worship, message, and ministry.
Can substitute raffle or church supper for BINGO.
As long as you are willing to rewrite your book, I’m willing to suggest a title!
Creating an EPIC Parish
Building a Catholic model of ministry in a postmodern culture.
Leonard Sweet summarized a framework you are living. He notes effective churches of the future will have the following characteristics. They are:
E- Experiential (drives toward a relationship with God)
P- Participative (engages interactively)
I – Image driven (rich media supported)
C – Communal (creates connection with the community and the Church)
Being a virtual visitor to Nativity I see these characteristics. Keep up the great work, and thanks for your inspiration!
ACTS OF APOSTLES
in the 21 Century
Walking with Christ
Becoming the church He wants
Moving the bar
ACT NOW
MAKE “church” MATTER
As the editor, I am as you know, energized and maybe a bit overwhelmed by the effort. Thanks to all for the ideas and the heartening interest in the book! Good stuff going on.
Making Sunday relevant in people’s lives: renewing parish worship in the world’s oldest bureaucracy
Nativity has meant joy, peace and spiritual growth to me. These emotions are almost unique in my experience of worship in the Catholic Church.
I am not sure of the intended audience – I assume it’s the priests, parish professionals and parish council members.
So….
Building a Parish with Joy or The Joyful Church or Creating Joy in Church
A guide to Parish Renewal
A practical guide to make church matter
Creating An Irresistable Environment: Making Sunday All It Should Be In Your Parish
My two cents for what its worth:
AMAZED BY GRACE
My two cents:
AMAZED BY GRACE
Captivating Catholicism
Give More, Take Less
WWJD?
One Parish’s Answer
Church – It’s Not For Me or Is it?
How one Catholic Church touches the untouchables
Got Church?
Making what you got matter
Creating Mass Appeal
– The story of how one Catholic church turned the modern exodus into a prolific (and still growing) flock.