Thoughts on Lloyd Rediger’s Clergy Killers Speed B. Leas Like Lloyd Rediger, I have devoted a good deal of my life to wondering how to respond to difficult, ornery, hostile, or mean-spirited people in congregations. Rediger’s book Clergy Killers: Guidance…
Read MoreCongregations Magazine, Summer 2005
Lifelong Learning Contents IN FOCUS: A Matter of the Heart Pastor John Wimberly describes the unexpected gifts of his unique and diverse path of learning, and how he won his congregation’s support for his continuing education endeavors A Journey with…
Read MoreWhat’s Systems Theory Got to Do with It? Addressing Congregations’ Emotional Processes in Our Preaching
Bowen Family Systems Theory continues to influence thinking about the practice of ministry, especially clergy leadership functions. Although many pastors may not realize it, one of those key functions is preaching. The act of preaching holds a number of interesting…
Read MorePracticing Generosity
As humans, we like parity in our relationships with others. A tit for a tat. An eye for an eye. A kiss for a kiss. At its best, our desire for parity keeps relationships healthy. We enjoy flexibility in our…
Read MoreStaying in Church
Barbara Brown Taylor was not the first of my friends to leave pastoral ministry and she has not been the last, but she is the first to write a book about her decision to leave. Her memoir, Leaving Church, is…
Read MoreAsk Alban: Mentoring: Don't Wait to Be Invited
Q: Parish ministry is learned largely through experience. How do I find a mentor to guide and challenge me now that I am out of seminary? My denomination seems more inclined to give me additional study requirements than to provide…
Read MoreAsk Alban: Mentoring: Don’t Wait to Be Invited
Q: Parish ministry is learned largely through experience. How do I find a mentor to guide and challenge me now that I am out of seminary? My denomination seems more inclined to give me additional study requirements than to provide…
Read MorePastors and Managers: An Executive Coach Assesses Leadership Skills
Last year, after 15 years in management and a lifetime in the church, I left my job as a human resources vice president in a Fortune 500 company to answer a call that had been forming for several years. Through…
Read MoreThe Failure to Form Basic Partnership: Resolving a Dilemma of New Pastorates
Pastors, church leaders, and members at large are failing to form a basic partnership in the early months of new pastorates. They are neglecting to establish the bonds of rapport, trust-based relationships, and a spirit of mutuality. This conviction stems…
Read MoreDoes Your Congregation Have a New Year’s Resolution?
Congregations, like individuals, often make resolutions for the new year. If your congregation still is mulling over possibilities for the year, Raising the Roof contains ideas that could spark a resolution or two. Visit www.sizetransitions.org for more about the book and…
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