congregational life
Pastors have the power to convene conversations
When it comes to addressing local problems, proclamation isn't enough.
Do you actually want to be our pastor?
A story about a search committee and a candidate
by Winn Collier
A liberal congregation burns hot under Trump
We were already active in our community. Now we're on overdrive.
How to be a purple church in a red state
When you embrace criticism instead of avoiding it, you get lots of chances to love your enemy.
Holy work in a divided nation
Loving our enemies means arguing with each other about what matters most.
Seven possibilities for church
Here are some projections and assumptions I face in my current context—and responses that reflect what the church I serve is called to be.
by Samuel Wells
Pastor in the middle: Dont avoid conflict, avoid triangles
It's up to pastors to remind each other to talk to people instead of about them.
by Doug Bixby
What a congregation knows: The deep wisdom behind odd practices
Local ways are rarely senseless or stupid. It's just that a new pastor likely doesn't yet understand them as the locals do.
Choosing to die
The church can be a space for difficult conversations about choices at the end of life—along with being a place for communal care.
Who pledges how much? Why pastors should know
I believe that my leadership has been most effective when I know who's giving what to the church.
by Dave Davis
Called to account: The importance of pastoral evaluations
Some churches have well-developed processes of assessment, support, and goal setting. Others have no review mechanism whatsoever.
What the retirement of Baby Boomers could mean for the church
If you look around at most denominational meetings, you will see that Baby Boom retirements will have a massive impact on our denominations. Boomers make the majority of those in the pews, in the pulpits, and in power. The first wave of Boomers is in the midst of retiring, so what can we expect? How will this affect us?
I can’t say for sure, but let me look into my crystal ball and tell you what I see.
The rest of the story
Everyone knew the family's problems, but there was never a word of judgment or even pity. The congregation was just being the church.
Disagreeing in love: A congregation discusses same-sex marriage
I knew I had to talk to him. This longtime church elder would soon see my newsletter article, and he wasn't going to like it.
Yes, we can talk about this
North Carolina voters go to the polls today, and the race that will make all the headlines doesn’t have a candidate. On the ballot is a constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman as the only legal domestic union recognized by the state.
I’m against the amendment--a popular view here in Greensboro. The city council passed a resolution opposing it. Light blue “Vote Against” yard signs dot the neighborhood around our church.
Across the state, opinions are more varied.
Our life together: Four practices of healthy congregations
To build stronger communities, we need to get in the habit of recognizing what undergirds our relationships. We can't afford to take it for granted.
Conflict as prelude
Matthew invites us into a whole variety of experiences this Sunday. Verses 10 through 20, considered optional, center around a conflict about tradition and authority followed by a parable about the truth of the actions of the heart. This is followed by healings and feedings. The next chapter begins with more conflict.
By Emlyn A. Ott