Loren B. Mead, an ordained Episcopal priest, is an educator, consultant, and author who works to strengthen religious institutions, especially local congregations. Loren has collaborated with lay people, clergy, executives and bishops, teachers and others committed to ministry. A pioneer in congregational studies, he brought together the methods of organization development consultation and applied research for working with congregations. The title of his lecture is, "Five Challenges for Churches of the 21st Century - Challenge Two: To Make Congregations Our Basic Communities."