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…
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Norman Bendroth: Transitional Ministry Today
In editing a collection of essays that have become a new Alban book, Norman Bendroth learned several key lessons for churches that are considering calling a transitional minister.
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Jeffrey D. Jones: New Questions for a New Day
Better answers to the same old questions will not get us through the tumultuous times in which we live, says a pastor and author
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Doing the Math of Mission: Fruits, Faithfulness, and Metrics
Doing the Math of Mission offers theory, models, and new tools for using metrics in ministry. This book also shows where metrics and accountability fit into the discernment, goal setting, and strategies of ministry.
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Joseph and the Development of the Visionary Leader
At prayer services each week synagogues around the world chant the same selection from scripture. Starting right after the Jewish New Year, we work our way through the Torah scroll to complete the five books of Moses in time for…
Read MoreAffective Competence and Missional Identity
One of the givens regarding healthy congregations is that they have a clear identity. Imagine a congregation that understood its missional identity to be an affectively competent community of people in order to more vibrantly reflect all that the Creator…
Read MoreGospel-Driven Communities: Being a Church with the Biblical Vision of Justice
by Jack Jezreel Is it possible to truly worship God and not care about our vulnerable sisters and brothers and the gift of the earth we all share? Is it possible to follow Jesus and not find ourselves linked and in the company of sisters…
Read MoreWhat Type of Visionary Are You?
Visionaries are in high demand. They have been for quite some time now, to the extent that supply and demand has impacted the visionary role of leadership. Organizations demand visionaries, and leaders in the marketplace have learned to supply organizations…
Read MoreWhen the Mission Changes
In theory, everything a congregation does should serve its mission. Traditional strategic planning starts with a mission statement and progresses through strategic vision, goals, objectives, timelines, budgets, and a tagline for the T-shirts—each expressing and reflecting the mission. If leaders…
Read MoreAvoiding Mission Drift
Visiting a relative who lives on the Great South Bay off the shores of Long Island, several of us joined him for a boat ride. We were on the bay in early afternoon, enjoying the breeze and fast ride. Some…
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