People often say that the church is like a business, or should be more like a business. But by the metrics of business management and capitalism, the work of churches and pastors is redundant, Pastor Melissa Florer-Bixler writes in Faith & Leadership. (Photo: Alejandro Rdguez, Creative Commons)
It’s a dilemma that many congregations face: Church funds have seeded a childcare program, outreach or other ministry, but now its outgrown the congregation’s support. Maybe it’s time to spin it off as its own nonprofit, says this article from Faith & Leadership. (Photo: Photo: Niuton may, Creative Commons)
The COVID-19 pandemic will surely have a long-term impact on the financial life of congregations, regardless of their denomination, size or makeup. How can churches survive and even thrive in a post-pandemic landscape? Faith & Leadership asked 12 leaders to weigh in. (Photo: Joshua Smith, Creative Commons)
Two strategies — seeking solitude with God and companionship in stewarding one’s vision — will help good intentions become realities in the new year, writes a spiritual director. Author and spiritual director Samuel Rahberg sees companionship–with God and colleagues/friends/mentors–as the way forward. (Photo: Alan Levine, Creative Commons)
Is your current building way too old, way too big and way too expensive for your current ministry? Read about an enormous congregation that did the unthinkable — reduce its footprint, getting rid of memory-rich square footage for the sake of future ministry. From Faith and Leadership. (Photo: Luke Peterson, Creative Commons)
We tend to think of gratitude as a personal feeling that we can cultivate. But it’s also communal and social, says theologian Diana Butler Bass. In this Q&A from Faith & Ladership she reflects on the spiritual and ethical dimensions of the topic, described in her new book Grateful.
Here’s a holiday worship service that celebrates the year’s blessings with a community meal featuring a very special soup of Puerto Rico. “We are a culture of abundance,” writes Pastor Thea Racelis. “We live into our belief that God has given us enough to go around if we just share!” (Photo: Rool Paap, Creative Commons) […]
Our church is facing unprecedented challenges, but many of us were never trained or prepared to serve God’s people in the 21st century’s emerging environment. Transformative leadership seeks to help by teaching us how to change ourselves first. This article from Duke Divinity School provides an overview. (Photo (c) 2005 OJ the Photographer, via Bigstock.com)
