Alban members receive a subscription to Congregations, our award-winning magazine. Our mission is to provide clergy and lay leaders with practical, research-based information and ideas for effective ministry as they grapple with an ever-changing environment. Congregations is sent quarterly to all members of the Alban Institute. It is the successor to Action Information, published since 1975.  

“I cannot recommend this magazine and this institute to you highly enough!” — The Rev. Jan Smith Wood, Dean of Students, Church Divinity School of the Pacific 

 

 

Shine Your Light: How to Build Buzz and Reach Your Community  

contents

IN FOCUS: Shine Your Light   (READ NOW) Marketing consultant Dorie Clark shares expert tips for how congregations can market themselves to attract new members 

Giving What We Have   (Members Only article)
Spiritual formation expert Susan Ruach explores the sometimes over-looked spiritual resources congregations have to share in difficult times

Days of Awe or Awful Days?   (Members Only article)
Rabbi Richard Hirsh urges Jewish congregations to replace their current customer-satisfaction approach to rating the High Holy Days with more authentic evaluation criteria

A Year of Conversation   (Members Only article)
United Church of Canada pastor Kate Crawford describes the thoughtful and fascinating process her congregation used to decide whether or not to perform same-sex marriages

One Hour on Sunday is Not Enough   (Members Only article)
Julie Anne Lytle, associate professor of pastoral theology and educational technologies at Episcopal Divinity School, discusses how Internet-mediated communications can be used to inform, form, and transform individuals and communities of faith

Ten Lessons about Being a Learner-Centered Teacher   (READ NOW)
Wayne Floyd, education program manager for the Alban Institute, shares ten insights about the central role of the learner in continuing education

In Support of the Incarnational Pastoral Search   (Members Only article)
Baptist pastor and adjunct professor Michael Bledsoe makes a case for restoring embodied communication to the pastoral search process

Beating the Odds
Pastor Rick Danielson offers insights and advice for how to successfully follow on the heels of a long-term pastor

Websites That Work   (READ NOW)
Pastoral theology professor and communications expert Lynne Baab answers seven key questions about homepage design, focus, scope, and maintenance

Columns

The Leading Edge   (READ NOW)
Alban Institute president James P. Wind explores the challenges—and necessity—of building congregations in an anti-institutional age

CENTERview   (READ NOW)
Aaron Spiegel, information technology director for the Indianapolis Center for Congregations, examines congregational beliefs and attitudes toward social networking sites and the often underused potential of this communication venue

Ask Alban   (READ NOW)
Alban Institute senior consultant Dan Hotchkiss explains how to identify, avoid, and troubleshoot congregational conflicts of interest

Departments (READ NOW)

From the Editor
Reviews
New & Noteworthy
Recommended Reading 

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