Thriving Church: What We Can Learn from Faithful Congregations

Christian Theological Seminary alumnus Kory Wilcoxson (MDiv ’01) has written his fair share of sermons and seminary papers. With degrees from CTS and Lexington Theological Seminary, where he earned a Doctor of Ministry, Wilcoxson is no stranger to academic writing. His more than twenty-five years in ministry have given him extensive experience in congregational leadership and preaching. Recently, however, he reached a new milestone: the publication of his first book. 

In Thriving Church: What We Can Learn from Faithful Congregations, Wilcoxson and co-author Erin Cash share insights from a five-year study of more than twenty congregations, exploring what helps churches flourish in faithfulness and resilience. 

The book grew out of three key elements: a grant, an idea, and a conversation. 

The grant came through the Thriving Congregations Project, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and housed at Lexington Theological Seminary under the leadership of Erin Cash, Project Director. The research project was designed as a five-year study involving congregations from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) across the United States. Over the course of the study, Cash provided adaptive and persistent leadership, guiding the project through numerous pivots – most notably those necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its disruption of in-person gatherings. Despite these challenges, the project was carried through to completion. 

The idea behind the project was deceptively simple: identify what makes congregations thrive and explore what other churches might learn from those that do. The Thriving Congregations Project defines thriving as “a congregation’s ability to embrace its identity fully and faithfully, while still allowing for adaptation and resilience as cultural shifts and challenges arise” (Cash and Wilcoxson, Thriving Church, 2025). 

Cash worked with congregations representing a wide diversity of geographic settings, ethnic identities, congregational sizes, ages, and staffing models. Crestwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Lexington, Kentucky—where Wilcoxson serves as Senior Pastor—was invited to participate, an opportunity he gladly accepted. At a culminating retreat for project participants in Phoenix, Cash presented ten shared traits common among thriving congregations. Participants then worked collaboratively to refine and sharpen the final list. 

The conversation that led to the book emerged from a shared desire to ensure that the initiative’s powerful insights reached congregations beyond the grant’s participants. Wilcoxson recalls the moment fondly: 

“Erin and I have been friends for years. We did our DMin degrees together at Lexington Theological Seminary as part of the same cohort. I said to her, ‘When are you going to write a book about this? Because this is great stuff!’ She told me she wasn’t sure she had the time or what shape a book might take. So I said, ‘Well, I’ll write it with you!’” 

After some initial brainstorming, the pair sent a proposal to Chalice Press, the publishing house of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), which agreed to publish the book. Cash and Wilcoxson formally committed to co-authoring the project in September 2024. Encouraged by Chalice Press to move quickly, they submitted an initial draft by the end of the year, allowing the book to be released in July 2025 in time for the denomination’s General Assembly. 

The research identified ten shared traits of thriving congregations. According to Thriving Church, thriving congregations: 

• Are rooted in Scripture 
• Know their mission and vision 
• Understand community and rest 
• Reject a fear mentality 
• Are collaborative 
• Are generous 
• Are flexible 
• Are willing to take risks 
• Are forward-thinking 
• Refuse to be stagnant 

Each chapter focuses on one of these traits, told through the story of a congregation that exemplifies it. The authors explore how each trait is lived out in a particular context while inviting readers to reflect on how the same trait might take shape in their own congregations. Readers are encouraged to consider where their communities are already living faithfully and where God may be calling them toward greater intentionality. 

Wilcoxson drew on his journalism background to tell the stories of the participating congregations, while Cash synthesized the research findings and theological insights behind each trait. Together, they sought to present the study’s conclusions in a way that would be accessible to clergy and lay leaders alike. 

Early responses to the book have been encouraging. “We were really intentional about choosing churches that were diverse – geographically, in makeup, in size, and in worship style,” Wilcoxson explains. “Our hope was that anyone who picked up the book could see their own congregation reflected in one of the stories. The feedback we’ve received is that people really can see themselves in it.” 

One of the book’s central themes is a redefinition of what it means for a church to thrive. “Thriving is not about the budget, attendance numbers, buildings, or programs,” Wilcoxson notes. “It’s really about asking, ‘How are we being who God is calling us to be, right here and right now, in our specific context?’” 

Some of the most meaningful feedback has come from congregations that may not be considered “successful” by conventional standards but are deeply faithful in their witness. “One of the questions Erin and I wrestled with was, ‘Can a church be thriving and dying at the same time?’” Wilcoxson shares. “We came to the conclusion that a church can absolutely be thriving right up until the day it closes its doors if it is being authentic to who God is calling it to be.” 

Written in a conversational and approachable style, Thriving Church blends storytelling with practical reflection. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions designed to help congregations discern how the traits might be embodied in their own settings. As Wilcoxson reflects, “We hope the book offers not only practical tools, but also hope—that churches can thrive faithfully even amid the real challenges they face today.” 

For Wilcoxson, the project has reinforced a vision of ministry deeply shaped by theological education and lived experience—one that resonates strongly with his formation at Christian Theological Seminary. The book’s emphasis on faithful presence, contextual discernment, and collaborative leadership reflects the kind of ministry CTS seeks to cultivate in its students and alumni. As Thriving Church finds its way into congregations across the country, it stands as both a practical resource and a hopeful witness: that thriving is not measured by numbers or notoriety, but by a community’s commitment to live fully into God’s calling, wherever—and however—that calling unfolds. 

 

Reflection Questions: 

• How might you and your congregation benefit from reading Thriving Church: What We Can Learn from Faithful Congregations? 

• Which of the ten shared traits are already present in your congregation? Which invite further growth? 

• Where might God be calling your congregation to live more intentionally in the year ahead?