Church treasurers might wince at the title of this article. After all, salaries and benefits must be paid. The building requires heat and lighting, insurance, cleaning, and maintenance. The Sunday school needs juice and crackers. Everyone knows it costs money…

In the not too distant past—as recently as a decade or so ago—when people wanted to do good, they volunteered for a non-profit that reflected and expressed their values. The hierarchy would acculturate them into the “right way” of doing…

What words would you use to describe the ideal staff team? I frequently pose this question to church leaders and the two words most frequently offered are collaborative and accountable.  We want our staff teams to be cooperative, to demonstrate…

I was not a perfect kid. I am not a perfect adult. Far from it. When I fail in some endeavor, I am keenly aware that the reason I did was because I had a faulty assumption going in. Nine…

Cultivating a lively community of faith is not rocket science or brain surgery. I am well aware that people attend church for some very basic reasons. People go to church to hear a consistent word—sermons are as essential to the…

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net…

My parents were graceful dancers. They often went to dance clubs and then returned home to dance a little longer around the living room. I come from a line of elegant people. So I wasn’t surprised when my parents made…

When I landed as the first female pastor of a congregation, I spent a lot of my time in my office with the door open, getting to know the people of the church and the community. From time to time,…