Advent is one of a few times each year when a pastor sees the full range of people who are engaged with the congregation. Even those with the most distant connections show up to Christmas services. But is that happening…
Read MoreIt’s time to slow down
Busy leaders do not always make better leaders. Sometimes, busy leaders are just that: busy. As three major holidays rapidly approach — Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas — leaders will be tempted to get more work done by speeding up the pace,…
Read MoreAre you just tired – or burning out?
A group of ministers told me about a senior pastor they knew who resigned because the demands of ministry had become too much. This was not the first person they knew personally who resigned this year. Such sudden exits make…
Read MoreIntegrity, mission & morale: How to rehabilitate in the midst of pandemics
My colleague Dave Odom recently wrote that, to begin the process of rehabilitating from the past year, congregations and other organizations need a plan that attends to integrity, mission and morale. In this Weekly, we explore those three focal points of…
Read MoreCreating a just workplace
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have learned a great deal more about the inequities and injustices in American society. As in-person life resumes in much of the country, we are forced to ask how we will live and…
Read MoreFinding renewal this summer
In the United States, last weekend — Memorial Day — marks the unofficial beginning of summer’s season of vacations, travel, and (hopefully) rest. We at Alban hope that you have something planned that feels renewing and life-giving in the weeks…
Read MoreThe theological work of racial justice
When facing a truly complex challenge — the kind of challenge that is sometimes referred to as a “wicked problem” — one of the temptations for a leader is that we endeavor to solve the problem on too small a…
Read MoreIt was one year ago today …
It was one year ago today that COVID-19 was first mentioned in the Alban Weekly. Now, as then, we depend on our colleagues at Faith & Leadership to help us think about the opportunities, challenges, griefs and — yes — moments of…
Read MoreHelping your congregation understand why you need a sabbatical
Responding to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic has been taxing for congregational leaders. Even in December as many congregants were able to take vacation from work responsibilities, many clergy and other ministry leaders found ourselves with more work than…
Read MoreCelebrating the Graying Church: Mutual Ministry Today, Legacies Tomorrow
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,…
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