William O. Avery is both Professor of Field Education and the Larson Professor of Stewardship and Parish Ministry at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He is also Executive Director of the Stewardship of Life Institute. Among his three previous books are Cooperating Congregations and Revitalizing Congregations. Beth Ann Gaede is a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and an editorial consultant to the Alban Institute. Alban publications she has edited include Ending with Hope: A resource for Closing Congregations and When a Congregation Is Betrayed: Responding to Clergy Misconduct.