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Leading Ideas
Delivered every Wednesday, our free e-newsletter Leading Ideas offers articles by thoughtful, cutting-edge leaders on subjects you care about — navigating change, reaching younger people, financing your ministry, communicating effectively — to help you be the leader God is calling you to be.

The Lewis Center is committed to helping congregations and denominations thrive and grow by providing ideas, research, resources, and training for vital and fruitful leadership. Through Leading Ideas, we share vignettes of leaders and congregations, book reviews, leadership quotes, and helpful “right questions” built around the premise that leaders don’t need answers — they need to know the right questions.

Leading Ideas
0 Helping Rural Congregations Thrive

Rural congregations are often overlooked yet are vital to their communities, offering relational, volunteer-driven support. They thrive on strong relationships, emphasizing belonging and community well-being. To help rural churches flourish, Anna Hall says we must understand their unique contexts, celebrate their strengths, address challenges, and create programs that fit their specific needs Rural congregations are often overlooked. Newspaper articles on…

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Leading Ideas
0 Martin Luther King Jr.’s 4 Key Principles of Prophetic Witness

C. Anthony Hunt explains how Martin Luther King Jr.’s prophetic witness was grounded in four principles—call, conviction, courage, and commitment. Even 50 years after King’s assassination, these principles are still relevant to leaders engaging in prophetic witness and public ministry. Este artículo está disponible en español. — This article is available in Spanish. This article was originally published on January…

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Leading Ideas
0 Belong, Believe, Become: Engaging Millennials and Gen Z in Faith — An In-depth Interview with Dexter Nutall

How can congregations faithfully engage in ministry with Millennials and Gen Z? Dexter Nutall shares how New Bethel Church engages these generations by fostering belonging, social justice, and leadership to create a welcoming and impactful community for young people. Watch the interview video, listen to the interview, or continue reading. Doug Powe: I want to begin the conversation by having you…

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Leading Ideas
0 Reimagining Discipleship at the Table of Grace

Stephen Handy says Jesus captured the imaginations and hopes of people around a simple table. He says we can nurture discipleship in others by simply breaking bread together and sharing a story of hope. Discipleship is a process and practice, not a program. It is a process of becoming more Christlike by living into the patterns, practices, and behaviors of…

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Leading Ideas
0 How Healthy is Your Church Culture?

Jim Ozier says a healthy church culture is critical to the long-term growth and viability of a congregation. He shares a list of attributes that can help diagnose whether your church culture is healthy or in need of change. It is often said that the best way to take the temperature of a church is to put a thermometer in…

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Leading Ideas
0 Howard Thurman: Embodying Contemplative Leadership

Lerita Coleman Brown shares how the life and teachings of Howard Thurman are a prototype for contemplative living and leadership. She explains how Thurman’s prophetic, mystical spirituality was a lever for activism and social change.    How is a contemplative leader different from other leaders? The life and teachings of Howard Thurman (1899-1981), the great mystic, theologian, modern-day shaman, sacred activist,…

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Leading Ideas
0 Leading the Small Membership Church

Small membership churches thrive on self-reliance, requiring leaders with strong relational skills. Lew Parks writes that preaching in these churches reinforces corporate identity, tells the congregation’s story, addresses key issues, and guides the church toward faithful growth and action. This article was originally published on May 27, 2009. Small membership churches have a history of making do without a lot…

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Leading Ideas
0 Exploring Spiritual Direction: An In-depth Interview with Eunhyey Lok

How can spiritual direction impact leaders and congregations? In this interview Eunhyey Lok reflects on the role of spiritual direction, its benefits for personal and church growth, distinctions from counseling, and tips for finding a spiritual director.   Watch the interview video, listen to the interview, or continue reading. Jessica Anschutz: What is spiritual direction?     What I understand spiritual direction to…

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Leading Ideas
0 3 Reinvention Pillars of Change

Reinvention involves anticipating, designing, and implementing change. According to Jim Merhaut, effective reinvention requires a leadership mindset ready to disrupt, experiment, and stabilize, ensuring meaningful, lasting change that shapes the future identity of the church. Reinvention is an emerging field of study inspired by the work of organizational behavior scholar and reinvention guru Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva (Zhexembayeva, The Chief Reinvention…

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Leading Ideas
0 8 Adjustments Needed as Bivocational and Covocational Pastoral Roles Become the Norm

The shift to bivocational work is reshaping expectations in the church as many pastors now rely on multiple income sources. As bivocational and covocational roles become the norm, Karl Vaters highlights 8 adjustments churches, denominations, and seminaries must make as we move into the future.  Bivocational is the new standard. And not just in the church. Gone are the days…

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Leading Ideas
0 10 Reasons Churches Aren’t Attracting People Who Need Jesus

Many churches bemoan the absence of newcomers but fail to consider how their own failure to meaningfully engage others contributes to this reality. Phil Maynard outlines 10 reasons churches aren’t attracting the many people in their communities who need Jesus. Why are our churches empty and our communities full of people who need Jesus? The church seems to have circled…

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Leading Ideas
0 Stages in Leadership

Lovett Weems reflects on stages of leadership through the experience of making a difficult journey. This article was first published on January 5, 2005. A few years ago, I was scheduled to preach on the first Sunday of January in a community about two hours from where I lived. When the day of the service came, I got up very…

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Leading Ideas
0 The Future of the United Methodist Church: An In-depth Interview with Doug Powe and Lovett Weems

What does the post-pandemic and post-disaffiliation United Methodist Church (UMC) look like? Jessica Anschutz speaks with Lewis Center Director Doug Powe and Senior Consultant Lovett Weems, who discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the United Methodist Church. They highlight regionalization, the need for structural reform, and changes to the ordination process, while advocating for renewed focus on mission. They say…

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Leading Ideas
0 10 Features of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Beloved Community

C. Anthony Hunt identifies 10 features of the Beloved Community in the work of Martin Luther King Jr. He describes how King’s concept of Beloved Community, rooted in the biblical notion of God’s unconditional love, connects faith to action.  Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s singular vision was for the realization of the Beloved Community. King’s perspective on the Christian…

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Leading Ideas
0 12 Tips for Preaching Online

Jim Tomberlin shares best practices for churches delivering digital sermons to their online audiences or satellite campuses. He highlights how simple adjustments to language and camera strategies can make those not in the room feel valued and included. Most of the 300,000-plus Protestant churches across America offer some sort of online church experience. Additionally, one-third of the estimated 8,000-plus multisite…

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Leading Ideas
0 7 Trends Impacting Church Leadership for 2025

As the landscape of ministry continues to shift, the Lewis Center sees congregations adapting in creative new ways. Jessica Anschutz, Ann Michel, and Doug Powe of the Lewis Center staff identify seven trends impacting churches and how they pursue their missions in 2025. 이 기사는 한국어로 제공됩니다. — This article is available in Korean. 1. Has the rise of the…

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Leading Ideas
0 11 Characteristics of Effective Smaller Churches

What are the qualities of effective smaller churches? David Ray explores eleven key qualities of dynamic and faithful smaller churches that he observed across 21 communities. Effective smaller churches prioritize worship, embrace their size, foster a community spirit, have fun, commit to mission, find a niche, support pastoral leadership, empower laity, deploy resources wisely, thrive with vitality, and nurture passionate…

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Leading Ideas
0 Top Leading Ideas Articles of 2024

Please share these articles with your colleagues, congregations, and friends. 7 Trends Impacting Church Leadership for 2024 Ann Michel, Doug Powe, and Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff identify seven trends church leaders should keep in mind as they develop creative ministries to reach new people in 2024. Many of these trends are daunting, reflecting the long-term decline in…

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Leading Ideas
0 Cultivating Gratitude: A Spiritual Reflection on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is more than a national holiday; it is a spiritual practice celebrating God’s abundance and expressing gratitude for all that God provides. Lewis Center Associate Director Jessica Anschutz reflects on the spiritual significance of Thanksgiving and practical ways to cultivate gratitude in our daily lives.  Thanksgiving is more than just a national holiday marked by turkey dinners and football…

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Leading Ideas
0 Cultivate Generosity through Thankful Living

Sharron Blezard emphasizes fostering a lifestyle of gratitude, or “thanksliving,” in both individual and congregational practices. She encourages creative, intentional ways to inspire deeper discipleship and transformative stewardship by instilling gratitude, generosity and faith by cultivating awareness of God’s abundance, sharing stories of impact, and living boldly. This article was originally published on November 18, 2015. We regularly sing about…

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Leading Ideas
0 Exploring the Future of the Church Together: An In-depth Interview with Dustin Benac

How can the church adapt to future challenges and foster community through innovative leadership? Doug Powe and Dustin Benac discuss the future of the church, emphasizing collaborative leadership, the importance of belonging, and adapting to cultural shifts through innovative community structures.  Watch the interview video, listen to the interview, or continue reading. Doug Powe: Dr. Dustin Benac is the Director and…

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Leading Ideas
0 Make Meaningful Connections during Advent and Christmas

As the holiday season approaches, church leaders face heightened stress while preparing meaningful celebrations and making meaningful connections. Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff encourages church leaders to nurture spiritual connections, foster relationships with neighbors and guests, and actively invite people to engage in worship and ministry. Transform the season into an opportunity for deepened faith and community outreach. …

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Leading Ideas
0 5 Ways to Reach New People by Singing More Christmas Music during Advent

How can congregations reach new people by singing Christmas carols during Advent? Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center Staff shares five ways to sing more Christmas carols during Advent to share the light of Christ with your community and build relationships by singing with your neighbors.  During my time in parish ministry, I heard concerns every year about the hymns…

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Leading Ideas
0 8 Steps for Planning a Dementia Caregiver Support Group

Dementia caregiving is an arduous, emotionally taxing journey filled with constant challenges and a profound sense of responsibility. A support group can provide a sanctuary where caregivers can share their experiences and emotions, finding solace and companionship in a community that comprehends their struggles. Mary McDaniel Cail outlines eight essential steps to help your church create an effective group for…

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Leading Ideas
0 7 Suggestions for Reaching More People this Christmas

Is your church ready to roll out the holiday welcome mat? Ann Michel offers seven suggestions for helping people meet Christ anew this Christmas. Equip your congregation so that visitors are warmly welcomed online and in person this holiday season.  This article was originally published on November 29, 2022. This article is also available in Korean. 한국어 버전 Christmas is always…

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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.