This project is designed to describe congregational social work and to serve as the basis for a textbook for social work educators and students in preparation for social work practice with congregations. It will explore the practice of social workers employed as congregational leaders and consultants, what they are contributing to the missions and ministry of the congregations where they serve, the challenges and opportunities they face, and the preparation they need for this work. We will begin with in-depth, open-ended telephone interviews of 50 social workers employed as consultants or staff members of congregations. We will transcribe and analyze these interviews, using the qualitative software analysis program, ATLAS-ti., in order to develop descriptions of congregational social work grounded in the experiences of these church leaders. We will develop a survey instrument from these initial interviews and administer it to all other social workers in congregations identified by the project. Outcomes will include professional conference presentations, professional and academic journal articles, and a book to be used as a textbook in social work education.