A November 2009 issue of The Week featured a story, “Losing our religion,” that focused on the rapidly growing numbers of the religiously unaffiliated in the United States, the so called Nones, and asked if organized religion is fading. Younger…
Read MoreChurch for the Under-Forty Crowd: Attracting Younger Adults to Congregational Life
On the cubicle where she works all day, Abby has pinned a picture of a church. Where many would keep a photo of family members or beloved pets, Abby has an image of a brownstone building on the Cambridge Common,…
Read MoreCongregational Leadership: Ten Observations from a Practitioner and Teacher
I am both a practitioner and teacher of congregational leadership. In my most recent pastorate I was Senior Minister of Plymouth Congregational Church (UCC) in downtown Seattle. In 2008–2009 I taught congregational leadership at Emmanuel College in the Toronto School…
Read MoreWhen the Fields Yield No Food: The Story of a Church Merger
In the prophetic literature of the Hebrew Bible, Habakkuk ends with the prophet uttering the following words: Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails, and the…
Read MoreCongregations Magazine, Spring 2010
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…
Read MoreThe Vision to Embrace Change
I had always thought I had perfect vision—or at least near-perfect vision. As an adolescent I sometimes “manipulated” my eyes a little during eye examinations to read the 20/20 line on the eye chart. Corrective lenses? I wanted nothing to…
Read MoreThe POWR of Planning Worship
Worship planning, whether it’s led by a pastor, a musician, a planning team, or a worship committee, begins with this goal in mind: a well-thought-out liturgy that involves the assembly in authentic praise of God. In most congregations, regardless of…
Read MoreRev. Mackay’s Dilemmas
Every congregation faces decisions about how to manage sensitive information, and some congregations have to make difficult decisions in the midst of crises. Highly stressful situations rarely bring out the best in anyone. Faith leaders can practice making difficult decisions…
Read MoreVisions of the Sacred Community
Congregational leaders who embark upon change efforts develop contrasting images of the qualities they seek in their congregation and of the characteristics they hope to shed, transcend, or avoid. They aspire to become what we call visionary congregations, those that…
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