Even with dire warnings about what the next few months of the pandemic will bring and new restrictions in place around the US, it is hard not to feel some hope when watching the video of Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old woman…
Read More
Caring for those with mental health diagnoses
Faith communities play a vital role in responding to the mental health crises that impact our communities. This was true before the COVID pandemic, but it is especially true now. In this week’s Weekly, we begin with an article by…
Read More
The Advent waiting
Consider this Weekly an invitation to the inner work of Advent. Even in 2020, it’s the season’s outer work that dominates many congregational leaders’ calendars. There’s worship to plan, pageants to adapt to Zoom, virtual holiday parties, Christmas Eve online…
Read More
A strange yet perfect pair: Supervision and gratitude
This week: a special double edition of the Weekly. First, we take a look at issues in staff supervision, issues that have been made both more challenging and more significant as the pandemic continues. Susan Beaumont of the Congregational Consulting…
Read More
Reckoning with the past
Facing the past can be difficult personally and congregationally. It’s hard work to acknowledge both what we’ve done and what we’ve failed to do, to paraphase the Book of Common Prayer. Yet, as our contributors this week remind us, without engaging…
Read More
The Sunday after Tuesday
While Americans have been cautioned that the results of the 2020 election may not be known for some time after Election Day, pastors and other congregational leaders will have to say something next weekend to the faithful who assemble either…
Read More
Shifting the place of formation
What if the primary place for faith formation was not church but home? How would congregations adapt our approach to religious education? What kinds of support would households and families need? What resources could we develop? Sarai Rice of The Congregational…
Read More
Money, mission and meeting in person
How are congregations managing their money during COVID-19? How are they engaging their members? Or planning for their future? Our partners at Lake Institute on Faith & Giving recently released the results of a survey of more than 550 congregations that offer a…
Read More
How do we care for congregational leaders?
In recent years, a particular focus of Alban has been the health and wellbeing of congregational leaders. In this edition of the Weekly, Jessica Young Brown offers us suggestions for how to care for pastors who are experiencing secondary trauma because of…
Read More
Dealing with conflict during COVID-19
In this week’s edition: how congregational leaders can respond to conflict in the age of COVID-19. Professor Leanna Fuller of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary offers four suggestions and a warning for leaders. We also look back into the Alban archive to hear…
Read More