Wave Rider, Leadership for High Performance in a Self-Organizing World By: Harrison Owen Many of us know about or have actually experienced “Open Space Technology” as a way to self-organize a large group into smaller groups around topics of interest….
Read MoreFrom The Editor: Slow Church, or the Congregation’s Dilemma
Bob Sitze’s article, “Saving the World One Church Garden at a Time,” in which he reports on one congregation’s attempt to establish a garden on its grounds, struck a chord with me. Like many others (to judge from both personal…
Read MoreThe Leadership Retreat: Prayer, Practicalities, or Both?
Q: I’ve been asked to plan our annual leadership retreat. Some board members want to set practical goals for the year and others want to spend the time in prayer and Bible study. What should I do? A: Both! The…
Read MoreCENTERview: Choosing Technology That Forwards Mission and Ministry
My two-member household is awash in a sea of technology. That’s one reason we were interested in reading Better Off by Eric Brende. A technology consumer, Brende did graduate studies at M.I.T. on technology and its effect on society. He…
Read MoreThe Leading Edge: The Long, Slow Work of Congregations
A frequent comment by leaders of American congregations is how difficult it is for local churches and synagogues to stay focused on a single project. Multitaskers before the word was invented, congregations teem with countless agendas, projects, and causes. Their…
Read MoreWaltzing to the Eternal Rhythms
The eternal rhythms of spiritual formation can be seen in the seasons of the church year. Holy days and seasons create sacred space in the cycle of the year that can be used as a teaching tool for children and…
Read MoreWe Look for the Resurrection of the Dead
“We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.” Christians know this phrase from the Nicene Creed, but it took on new shape and form in my first call to serve a…
Read MoreEmotional Intelligence and Effective Conflict Management, This Pair Can Make or Break Your Leadership
I was a young pastor, conscientious, concerned for my congregation and the unity of our church. So on that Sunday afternoon when John, an experienced deacon, showed up at my home unannounced, my antennae went up. John’s agitation and dire…
Read MoreThe Truth Beneath the Myths, What We Can Learn from a Study of Clergy Competencies
Two years ago we published an article in Congregations exploring how seminarians stack up against the general population on measures of emotional health and interpersonal functioning. The purpose of our research was not about defending clergy but rather finding more…
Read MoreSaving the World One Church Garden at a Time, A Cautionary Tale
I’m a purposed kind of guy—my mission statement is “to finish the Reformation”—and I’m a backyard gentleman farmer. So I was honored when I was invited to be part of a group who would promote and execute a plan to…
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