Q: My congregation is expecting its first bequest. We would like to use it to establish an endowment fund. A stockbroker in the congregation offered to manage it for us, but we’re wondering if this is wise. We’re also worried…
Read MorePreparing Ourselves for Worship
Few of us give much thought to entering worship. On most Sundays, we consider ourselves fortunate to get out of bed, locate suitable clothing, swallow some coffee, and glance at the newspaper before scrambling out the door, driving to church,…
Read MoreLiving the Story
For three years, I researched vital mainline Protestant congregations. Armed with a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc., I studied fifty churches to determine if there existed a common pattern of spiritual vibrancy and shared practices that strengthened communal life. Sifting through thousands…
Read MoreA Theology of Money: The Apostle Paul’s Advice on Long-Term Dividends
At 8:45 A.M. on Tuesday, September 11, John and Michael were having their daily phone conversation about derivatives and investments. Michael was speaking from the World Trade Center where he worked as a bond trader, and John was speaking from…
Read MoreThe Leading Edge: Leadership for the Time "After"
The terrorists who struck U.S. soil on September 1 divided our lives into the “before” and “after.” The days that followed were full of terrifying images, incredible human loss, and stunning stories of courage. And as those images, losses, and…
Read MoreComing Full Circle: Starting Over at Retirement
For a number of months I wondered how I would know when it was time to retire. I took a couple of months off two summers before I did retire, hoping that an extended vacation and time for reflection would…
Read MoreAsk Alban: Capital Campaign: Six Keys to Success
Q: My church is about to embark on its first capital giving campaign in many years. We want to renovate and expand our facility. What advice do you have for us before we start? A: Our congregation, which was established…
Read MoreSeasons of Joy and Sacrifice
For the past few years I have taught a course on the theology and meaning of call at Andover-Newton Theological School. I always emphasize to my students that a healthy call involves both joy and sacrifice—something I have learned from…
Read MoreAsk Alban: Following a Beloved Pastor
Q: I recently accepted a call to serve a congregation that is losing its much-loved minister of many years. How should I approach my new pastorate in the wake of this pastor? A: There are several things that you can…
Read MoreThe Leading Edge: Leadership for a New Religious America
People lead in many ways. Harvard Professor Diana L. Eck leads by teaching and writing great books. In A New Religious America: How a “Christian Country” Has Become the World’s Most Religiously Diverse Nation (Harper, 2001), Eck leads readers into…
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