As congregational leaders, we are usually generalists in many aspects of our job. Yes, we are trained in seminary, gifted by the Holy Spirit and formed by years of practice to be dependable preachers, competent worship leaders, good administrators and…
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Happy New Year! We begin a fresh year of the Alban Weekly with a look back at the resources that resonated most with Weekly readers. If you feel like you have spent this year continually determining – and determining again…
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In a few days, 2021 will be in the history books. We will march, or meander, into the long-anticipated new year. The way we start 2022 will influence our leadership and our institutions. Experienced leaders recognize that having clear objectives for…
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Leadership cannot flourish without trust. Relationships, institutions and communities depend on people having confidence in one another. Clergy who want to lead change, transform congregations and establish authentic interpersonal connections need to understand that trust is never automatic. Trust is cultivated…
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Are you thinking about your church’s vision for 2022? How does it compare to your vision for 2021? One critical tool influences the success of every vision. That tool is a good strategy. Without strategic leadership, we frustrate ourselves and lead a…
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A year ago, I made the jump from pastoring a local church to running a center at a small denominationally-affiliated college. While I was well-versed in the conversations around church vitality, the world of higher education has been relatively new…
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Last fall, I counted down the days to the big MacBook Pro reveal, but now here I sit, typing away on my 5-year-old laptop. While boasting of making the laptop millimeters thinner and ounces lighter, they loaded it with an…
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Reclaiming how we use our time in ministry is an important theological concern, writes a pastor and theologian
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As more and more of our communication becomes digital, the reality is that there is no such thing as “off the record” in church communication, writes a United Methodist pastor and communications consultant.
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The planning retreat is an indispensable part of building successful board-staff collaborations, writes longtime congregational consultant and Alban author
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