A few years ago, Southport Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, completed its first capital giving campaign in 40 years. Our theme, “From Heritage to Horizon,” was a phrase I had read in an article published in Alban’s magazine Congregations. These…

What needs to be part of the life of a person in order to grow as a disciple? There are probably as many ways to answer this question as there are disciples, for we are all unique persons who relate…

The Vital Worship, Healthy Congregations book series is published by the Alban Institute in cooperation with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Series editor John Witvliet, director of the Calvin Institute, writes that the series “is designed to reflect the…

Although church dynamics may be invisible to most people within a congregation, they are a crucial factor in healthy, effective ministry. That claim was at the center of the workshop that Israel Galindo, author of The Hidden Life of Congregations:…

Perspectives on External Communications: I-Advertising II-PublicityIII-Marketing IV-Public Relations The Alban Weekly continues a four-part series on managing your congregational public image. With all that’s going on inside congregations–from printing worship bulletins to creating the newsletter to maintaining a Web site–finding…

Perspectives on External Communications: I-AdvertisingII-Publicity III-Marketing IV-Public Relations The Alban Weekly continues a four-part series on managing your congregational public image. With all that’s going on inside congregations–from printing worship bulletins to creating the newsletter to maintaining a Web site–finding…

Perspectives on External Communications:I-AdvertisingII-Publicity III-Marketing IV-Public Relations The Alban Weekly continues a four-part series on managing your congregational public image. With all that’s going on inside congregations-from printing worship bulletins to creating the newsletter to maintaining a Web site-finding time…

Perspectives on External Communications: I-Advertising II-Publicity III-MarketingIV-Public Relations The Alban Weekly continues a four-part series on managing your congregational public image. With all that’s going on inside congregations-from printing worship bulletins to creating the newsletter to maintaining a Web site-finding…

While new technologies may make it more convenient to use electronic media in worship, congregational practice or tradition may not welcome them into the sanctuary. A pastor or worship committee in touch with a congregation and knowledgeable about the realities…

What changes are congregations making in worship? Why and how are those changes being made? And what processes and resources are available for congregations? Alban senior consultants Gil Rendle, Susan Nienaber, and Dan Hotchkiss joined together to discuss these questions…