Very often people talk about being surprised. There is something about hearing a woman speak a prayer from a place of reverence and faith that feels much more right than wrong.
All in Church
Whispers
From the pages of Scripture, countless women whisper to us.
Transforming Leadership
When you are deeply invested in something, you begin to own it. For persons in church leadership, the well-being of congregations and the effectiveness of ministries can become personal.
Without Vision, Ministry Perishes (Part 3)
If you want to change a system, you have to change something about the way it relates and interacts with the other parts.
Don’t Check Your Wounds at the Door
I think the church could and should offer a different kind of space: a space that welcomes authentic selves, wounds and all.
When All Your Elder-Candidates “Just Say No”
If you’ve been through an elder selection process recently, I suspect you heard one word more than any other: “No.”
Backwards: A Dangerous Reading of Matthew 6
The Time: Sunday Morning. The Scene: A buzz fills the room as people exchange pleasantries. The lead pastor/minister takes the stage.
Why the Church Needs Feminism (Part 4)
For the church to be effective in countering any kind of abuse, we must recognize commonalities and risk factors, and act swiftly and with purpose.
Without Vision, Ministry Perishes (Part 2)
When I think about what ministry is meant to be about, in my mind it has less to do with lessons and more to do with meeting people where they are.
7 Reasons Women Oppose Change
The Churches of Christ are in the midst of change. Many of our congregations are moving away from our legalistic, sectarian roots in the direction of grace and ecumenical partnership. But change is hard.
Employing Your Church Bulletin for the Ministry of Spiritual Formation
The ideal purpose of the bulletin is not only communication but also the promotion and facilitation of spiritual formation.
Sunday’s Sermon as Leadership
Leadership through preaching occurs when preaching effectively posits a goal or an aim for persons and congregations.
Teaching Women Effectively
Women’s studies have had a reputation of being fluffy. I am not sure exactly where this reputation began, although it may have to do with a preference for meeting “felt needs” rather than “real needs.”
Will We Hold Tightly to Our Wish Dreams of Christian Community?
Sometimes Christian community and reconciliation fails because good people do nothing.
Jesus, TED Talks, and Conversation
I love TED Talks. These short, informative and often witty lectures allow me to peek into the professional world of some highly influential and inspiring thinkers of our day.
The Path to Church Renewal Leads through the Desert
As a weary and wounded church pastor, I'm warning that the journey toward missional renewal isn't easy.
Why the Church Needs Feminism (Part 3)
Even if we start teaching from the pulpit that women have value, it’s in the pews that a toxic view of women often resides.
Could Our Loss Be the Kingdom’s Gain?
Could it be that small, rural churches might be great incubators for young leaders to develop? Could it be that they are even uniquely equipped by God for that role?
Preaching in the Age of PowerPoint
Once upon a time before PowerPoint, sermons were rarely preached with visuals.
The Timeless Wisdom of Youths
We need the vision, energy, and passion of our children and young adults, particularly because the church of the future is the church they are destined to be a part of and to lead … or not.