Today, many churches and their related agencies and ministries are shrinking. Often a large portion of those who remain are older adults. Celebrating the Graying Church suggests that this is an opportunity for a new and different kind of ministry—a ministry to,…
Read More
“It is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o’clock on Sunday morning.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1960. This quote remains true and begs the question “How do we heal the church divide?” Mario…
Read Moreby Larry Peers Q: It seems that a growing number of people indicate that their religious preference is “none”—or say, “I’m spiritual, but not religious.” Is there anything that congregations can do differently? Are we becoming irrelevant? A. Loyalty to religious…
Read MoreA colleague of mine at the seminary where I work recently presented a paper on the places in the world where the church had once been a strong and vibrant entity but, for various reasons, had become extinct within a…
Read MoreThe United States is the most ethnically and culturally diverse nation the world has ever known. It is probably more diverse than the Roman Empire, or any empire in history. In light of this staggering reality, a critical question must…
Read MoreThe Great Commission is Christ’s command to make disciples of the world. Reported in all four Gospels, it is the heart of a vibrant Christianity, a reflection of the kingdom of God at hand, and the source of a profound…
Read MoreThe prevailing notion of ecclesiastical mission is “hands-on mission in my backyard,” which combines the popular desire to do something locally with our wish for hands-on involvement. This type of high-tough localism may have been a good idea before globalization…
Read MoreMost congregations engage in some form of social ministry—or believe they should. Some call it missions, others outreach, social action, or benevolence. From relatively modest actions like collecting canned goods for the local food bank to major projects like building…
Read MoreI remember the day I first heard the words “Cultural Boundaries Project.” As executive minister of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention (DCBC), I called Gil Rendle at the Alban Institute for help in strategic planning for the convention’s future….
Read More