As all leaders of Christian congregations understand, when we speak of the cross we are talking about more than the crucifixion on Good Friday. Speaking of the cross is really shorthand for the whole drama of salvation. The cross is…
Read MoreEntering the Blogosphere: One Church’s Journey from “Heaven Forbid!” to “Why Not?”
Back in 2003, I attended a big convention focused on issues in the emerging church. To my dismay, the first question many people asked after “Where are you from?” was “Do you blog?” I didn’t, and to be honest I…
Read MorePlease, Not Another E-mail! Understanding the Hidden Costs of E-mail’s Demanding Nature
For the last several years I have been lamenting the fact that I seem to have less and less time for worship preparation, frequently finding myself finishing my sermon on Saturday instead of Friday. I had ruminated about the cause…
Read MoreAsk Alban: Leadership as More than Being in Charge
Q: Leadership has never been easy, but at least I always thought I knew what it was. It meant being out in front with a vision—and expecting to turn around and find people behind me. What does it mean for…
Read MoreCENTERview: Encountering God through a Shared Silence
Silence. In a noisy world, folks from various faith traditions are craving it. Groups from Bridgeway Community Church in Fishers, Indiana regularly take silent retreats at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, made famous by Thomas Merton. An adult Sunday…
Read MoreA Faster Pastor: Six Ways to Improve the Search Process
Congregations have come to expect that it will take 18 months or more to find a pastor. When they express frustration about the length of this process, they may be lectured by judicatory officials to “slow down” or told, “Don’t…
Read MoreThe Voice of Silence: Creating Community through Silent Prayer
During a Developing Spiritual Communities class I was teaching at Episcopal Divinity School in Burlington, Vermont, my students and I were considering the role of silent prayer in worship when we became distracted by concerns over the noise of children…
Read MoreEntering the Blogosphere: One Church's Journey from "Heaven Forbid!" to "Why Not?"
Back in 2003, I attended a big convention focused on issues in the emerging church. To my dismay, the first question many people asked after “Where are you from?” was “Do you blog?” I didn’t, and to be honest I…
Read MoreUnburdening Ourselves: E-Mail Management Tips from the Experts
The need to manage our e-mail has spurred a number of authors to write entire books on the subject. If books aren’t enough, e-mail management experts are available to offer further training through their seminar programs and consulting services. And…
Read MorePlease, Not Another E-mail! Understanding the Hidden Costs of E-mail's Demanding Nature
For the last several years I have been lamenting the fact that I seem to have less and less time for worship preparation, frequently finding myself finishing my sermon on Saturday instead of Friday. I had ruminated about the cause…
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