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…crucial components of the practice of ministry: understanding, empathy, and discernment. Understanding When phrased right, thoughtful questions lead to more understanding in complex or escalating situations. Recently while my husband…
…the experience with open pocketbooks. It takes years to develop the kind of financial commitments that earlier generations would bring almost to the starting line of their church participation. Given…
…website visitor what is going on and why. These can be especially important for those unfamiliar with “church.” Communicate generously about who you are and what you believe. These points…
…survey of 11,377 respondents. The margin of sampling error for the full sample is plus or minus 1.4 percentage points. This material is reprinted with permission from Pew Research Center….
…American Museum in Washington, DC, will have several virtual events during Black History Month, and some are free. There are probably also free virtual educational events in your own community…
…from a racially integrated community in Burtonsville, Maryland, to a homogeneous community in Fulton, Maryland, where 80 percent of the neighboring community is White. The test for New Hope now…
Churches often struggle to determine a fair price when they rent space to community groups. Partners for Sacred Places, an organization helping congregations develop creative community partnerships, says the hard…
…to the narratives, beliefs, practices, and traditions of their faith communities is to participate actively in intentionally age-integrated experiences with others in those faith communities. Truly intergenerational communities welcome children,…
…this practice to anyone in charge of leading anything — whether it is a church, a classroom, a business, a non-profit, or a community organization. Regardless of whether you are…
…on a set of electronic communications skills increasingly vital to virtually every aspect of the practice of ministry. Some congregations are starting to think about hybrid or digital ministry positions….
…community. I know that your social media presence and your messages of inclusion have not only brought millions of views but also quite a bit of critique, which often comes…
…said that having friendly and welcoming people might cause them to continue attending. “The findings point to a desire for genuine community,” said Dan Krause, General Secretary, United Methodist Communications….
…of layers of committees and free time and energy for hands on ministry, discipleship growth, and service. One popular approach is to replace the traditional set of standing administrative committees…
…factor when it comes to engaging with teenagers. I’m not sure that we know all the reasons or where that comes from. But a lot of it comes out of…
…Cormode Why is change so difficult for churches? Scott Cormode explains how church leaders can break free of common myths that cloud our thinking about change and how to embrace…
…community; and care for the vulnerable. Last week our Church Council (governing body) added a new value: continue to adapt and innovate ministry. Clearly communicating these values has taken the…
…the past. Many are more open to participating in a class, reading a book tied to a sermon series, or committing to attendance and other goals because it is Lent….
…yearly stewardship materials with stories and pictures of the impact your ministry has had in your community. Share Stories Many churches try to recruit an influential public figure as their…
…spiritual guides for their children A deliberate approach to identifying, calling, and developing strong adult leaders through training and adequate preparation Careful selection of curriculum and study materials Openness to…
…because of our one-hundred-year history of service to the community. Communicate. Once the vision is clear, it must be communicated in such a way that the majority of church members…
…through Cokesbury or Amazon. Related Resources: Five Keys to Becoming a More Inclusive Community by Mark DeYmaz and Bob Whitesel Church as an Uncommon Community by Henry G. Brinton Multicultural…
…is here to say, and it can be one of the best ways to examine where we are socially and culturally as organizations and churches. When I think about the…
…neighborhood.” 5. Do it together. Remember that no one person can do this work alone. As the church comes together as community, approach community building as Rev. Heather Bailes Baker…
…people and recognize that it will take time to enter into this way of seeing. In the practices of listening, dwelling, and discerning, people are being gently invited into a…
…it. Clergywomen are common in today’s world. Avoid allowing negative voices to dominate. Ask people to keep an open mind. Most resistance is based on the unknown. Avoid stereotyping and…
…equip folks more. Related Resources Bivocational and Beyond: Educating for Thriving Multivocational Ministry, Darryl W. Stephens, editor (Atla Open Press, 2022). The book is available as a free PDF and…
…and managed exclusively by the elite members of society.” Additionally, while the individual is the primary economic actor in free-market capitalism, one’s livelihood was more a communal matter in biblical…
…stage of growth? Here’s an example. A disciple: Worships Is part of a community Commits to spiritual practices Is generous and serves Is seeking to be Christlike 2. Characteristics of…
…the church for the coming year. While this approach is simple and easy to execute, it’s generally not the most effective or meaningful way to communicate with people about their…
…the church for the coming year. While this approach is simple and easy to execute, it’s generally not the most effective or meaningful way to communicate with people about their…
This article is reprinted by permission from Leading Ideas, a free e-newsletter from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary available at churchleadership.com.
