Alban at Duke Divinity School » Renewal & Vitality

Sam Wells: ‘At the Heart, On the Edge’

Posted on November 15, 2019 by Alban

The vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields in London describes a visionary network for the renewal of church and society

Marcia Shetler: 3 Teams to Lead Your Stewardship Ministry

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Nathan Kirkpatrick

Changing the structure of your stewardship ministries might bring new life to familiar work, writes the CEO of the Executive Stewardship Center.

Dwight Zscheile: We’re in the innovation business

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Nathan Kirkpatrick

The Christian church is about innovation—embodying God’s new life, hope, and community for the world, writes a scholar and priest

R. Alan Rice: The Demise of Haystacks and the Future of the Rural Church

Posted on June 22, 2017 by Alban

An ethic of being rather than the metrics of outcome might help us appreciate churches regardless of their size, writes a former denominational official and pastor

Mulder, Ramos and Martí: More than Simply “Not Catholic”: The Surge of Latino Protestantism in America

Posted on May 24, 2017 by Alban

A new book from Rowman & Littlefield invites church leaders and observers of American congregational life to recognize and further explore the breadth and depth of Latino Protestant diversity.

Peter Coutts: Encouraging Attitude Change in the Congregation

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Alban

Changing congregational attitudes can be an essential leadership responsibility, writes an Alban author

Lisa G. Fischbeck: The Season of Departures

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Alban

A priest reflects on the perennial season of departures within the life of her mission church.

Principles for Leaders to Keep in Mind in Merging Congregations

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Alice Mann

Principles for leaders to keep in mind from Brett Opalinski’s story of Rader United Methodist Church: Prepare yourself spiritually. The pastor in this story began with prayer for personal guidance and an attitude of openness to many possible outcomes. This…

Bruce Epperly: Finding Your Spiritual GPS

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Alban

Faithful excellence in ministry is often as much a result of discovering a healthy and effective ministerial style as long hours and multitasking, says a pastor and author

Jeffrey D. Jones: New Questions for a New Day

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Alban

Better answers to the same old questions will not get us through the tumultuous times in which we live, says a pastor and author

Renewal & Vitality