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.

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Featuring:

Putting Money Where Your Mission Is

By Dan Hotchkiss

CONTENTS

Putting Money Where Your Mission Is
Alban Institute senior consultant Dan Hotchkiss shows how to let vision drive the budgeting process

Resilience in the Recession
Marlis McCollum, managing editor for the Alban Institute, shares the findings of a recent study on the impact of the recession on congregations

What to Keep, What to Cut
Pastor John W. Wimberly, describes how his church went about reshaping its budget in these difficult financial times—with surprising results

Hard-Times Leadership
Episcopal priest, author, and educator Frederick W. Schmidt urges congregational leaders to recognize God at work in times of strain

Footsteps Not To Be Followed
Joy Skjegstad, author of Winning Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry, shares the top ten mistakes churches make when applying for grants and how to avoid them

COLUMNS

The Leading Edge
Alban Institute president James P. Wind thinks about ways to open our stewardship mindset

CENTERview
Wendy McCormick, director of the Indianapolis Center for Congregations’ southwest office, located in Evansville, Indiana, discusses how clarity of mission enables small churches to thrive

Ask Alban
Alban Institute senior consultant Bob Leventhal offers advice for infusing congregational board work with vision and strategy

DEPARTMENTS

From the Editor
Reviews
New & Noteworthy
Recommended Reading