In his singleminded vision and uncompromising pursuit of justice and reconciliation, Nelson Mandela is revered as one of our age’s greatest leaders. In this article, Duke University’s Faith & Leadership magazine offers a compilation of essays it has published about Mandela over the years. (Photo by Ted Eytan, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
Ministers are notoriously overburdened, but handling our load may be hampered by ingrained work habits that do not serve us well. In this article Michael Hyatt, Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers, explains how he gets more done in less time by following simple rules for work. (Photo by BinaryApe, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
A whole day devoted to giving thanks? Sounds like the perfect occasion for a special worship service. Here are some resources to get you started. (Photo by Blacklord, used under Creative Commons license.
Some of these “ingredients” may seem like “no-brainers” to you, but author Linda Buzzell does an excellent job of outlining a strategy for community building that is applicable to faith communities and non-profits. (Photo: NAIT, Creative Commons)
Many congregations have discovered the narrative budget as a way of talking about the needs of the church to carry out its mission. Rather than a spreadsheet that lists columns and columns of numbers, the narrative budget tells the story of the congregation’s mission and service and how the budget components contribute. (Photo by Howard […]
You have agreed to lead the stewardship effort this year? Congratulations! If you’re wondering what to do now, here are some GREAT ideas on how to build your committee, recruiting people with the skills needed to bring your congregation the results it needs and deserves. Good advice for a stewardship newbie and veteran alike. (Photo […]
Here is some important leadership advice from the founder and senior pastor of the Willow Creek Community Church. In contrast to what most people think, Hybels says the most important asset is not time, but rather the ability to energize and motivate others. Good watching, from churchleaders.com.
Stewardship program in a slump? Congregational enthusiasm flagging? Leaders feeling tired and battle-weary? If so, click here to read C. Otto Scharmer’s article on uncovering the blind spot(s) in leadership. While not aimed at faith communities, the principles are readily applied to congregational settings. (Photo: Nimish Gogri, Creative Commons)
Many churches are now firming up their plans for the fall stewardship program and who will lead it. The leadership you engage will set the bar for your parish. For your parish to fulfill God’s vision for ministry, your leaders need to fully understand the roles they have been asked to fulfill and given clear […]
It’s a challenging time for nonprofit organizations, with greater need and reduced resources, and most leaders believe the outlook will not get brighter. As organizations tighten their belts, they are wise to look at all funding options, including grants. This article from On Philanthropy magazine gives advice to help. (Photo by Steven Depolo, used by […]
