The Fairhaven congregation is located in a small town that has had a static population for the past 30 years. A community sustained by light industry, small businesses, a regional hospital, and a few struggling farms, the town is now…
Read MoreThe Art of the Ask: Getting Good at Fundraising
Many clergy are allergic to money, especially asking for it. But this allergy to fundraising is actually in direct contradiction of our theologies. We act as though incarnational theology was not taught at our seminary. But if we think for…
Read MoreBeyond the Comfort Zone: Evangelism as Parabolic Witness
The United States is the most ethnically and culturally diverse nation the world has ever known. It is probably more diverse than the Roman Empire, or any empire in history. In light of this staggering reality, a critical question must…
Read MoreCongregations Magazine, Spring 2008
Join Alban Now Moving Beyond Our Comfort Zones Contents Beyond the Comfort Zone (Members Only Article)Pastor Jin Kim calls us to move beyond our “tribal” natures, discover the richness of diversity, and re-embrace the inclusivity embodied by the…
Read MoreCongregational Web Sites: Our New Front Door
Jonathan, 28, believes Web sites functions like a “front page” for organizations. He notes that his generation surfs the Internet continuously, both during the work day and during leisure hours, and that they would almost never visit a church or…
Read MoreHow Responding to People’s Needs Hurts the Church
A cartoon I saw a few years ago in the Los Angeles Times speaks to a problem that exists in the church. In the cartoon a woman stares at a display of fine jewelry. You can almost hear the sigh…
Read MoreFinding a New Way: A Call to Reconceptualize Theological Education
The verdict is in. A growing body of national studies and initiatives all indicate that cultural shifts in society and demographic changes among seminary students demand a reconsideration of how we educate and train people for ecclesial leadership for the…
Read MoreHow Responding to People's Needs Hurts the Church
A cartoon I saw a few years ago in the Los Angeles Times speaks to a problem that exists in the church. In the cartoon a woman stares at a display of fine jewelry. You can almost hear the sigh…
Read MoreOur New Front Door: How Congregational Web Sites Communicate Church Vision
Jonathan, 28, believes Web sites function like a “front page” for organizations. He notes that his generation surfs the Internet continuously, both during the work day and during leisure hours, and that they would almost never visit a church or…
Read MoreWho Owns a Congregation?
Comparisons are useful but tricky. New Testament writers compare the church to a human body, a herd of sheep, a bride, and a vineyard. Synagogues are often likened to a house, a tent, or an extended family. None of these…
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