Visit the Web site, /rabbizevit/index.asp, for the insightful writings of Rabbi Shawn Israel Zevit and information about his best-selling Alban book, Offerings of the Heart: Money and Values in Faith Communities. A teacher, performer, writer, and spiritual leader, Zevit is director of outreach…

The transformation in worship at Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ began with a Bible study—a wacky one at that. During my first year at SCUCC, we started a Wednesday Logos program for children and youth. Logos is an ecumenical,…

In seminary I knew I was different, but I didn’t have a name for what I was. I was the product of an unusual union of Christian traditions, and this left me feeling out of place. My early faith formation…

In the first week of my first call, I received a letter from a beloved seminary professor and friend. He wrote, “You will be good news to the people in those two churches.” It was the first time that I…

Each relationship we are part of has its own unique quality. Some people we click with, some we grate against, and some we barely notice. Relationships often unfold haphazardly, without much thought or guidance. Whether we know it or not,…

Resources for Theological Reflection Do theology. That’s one of the things congregations can do to help overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of living into a vision of the ministry of all. Or, at least, it’s one of…

I recently participated in a small group at a local church. During one of our meetings, I asked fellow participants to say what attracted them to the church-and what didn’t. One young woman (I’ll call her “Angela”) remarked that she…

It’s hardly newsworthy to point out that parish clergy must wear many leadership hats in the day-in, day-out life of the congregation: executive and administrator, manager of the physical plant, theologian, staff supervisor, budget analyst, scout troop leader, preacher, teacher,…

“How can more people be more engaged in the work of ministry?” This is a question often repeated in congregational life. Many congregations find themselves struggling with ways to reach a higher level of member commitment through the concept of…

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…