Tag «Leading Ideas»

What to Do When the Wrong Person is in a Key Staff Position

Many churches are rethinking their staffing needs. Susan Beaumont says designing the new staffing structure is easier than making the needed personnel changes to enact the plan. She outlines ways that congregations can implement a proactive transition plan that will help realize their objectives more quickly and can be kinder in the long run to […]

The post What to Do When the Wrong Person is in a Key Staff Position first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post What to Do When the Wrong Person is in a Key Staff Position appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Four Functions of a Church Choir

Brian Hehn says a church can have a vital music ministry if its choir focuses on four key functions — leading and enlivening congregational singing, singing music that the congregation cannot, serving as a small group within the church for faith formation, and singing music that glorifies God and edifies the congregation. To celebrate the […]

The post Four Functions of a Church Choir first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

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4 Characteristics of Good Discipling Relationships

Phil Maynard and Eddie Pipkin say education-based approaches to spiritual formation often fail to form disciples committed to Christlike living. They suggest doing what Jesus did — focusing intentionally on spiritual growth and development within a context of relationality and accountability. Despite the significant investment of time, financial resources, and amazing educational options over the […]

The post 4 Characteristics of Good Discipling Relationships first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 4 Characteristics of Good Discipling Relationships appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

5 Principles for Pastoring a Vibrant Older Congregation

Karl Vaters highlights the importance of building a strong, vibrant congregation of seniors with intentionality, training, and a focus on the future. He emphasizes the potential impact seniors can make in the ministries of the church and the need to be intentional about engaging seniors in the life of the congregation. Everyone in church leadership […]

The post 5 Principles for Pastoring a Vibrant Older Congregation first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 5 Principles for Pastoring a Vibrant Older Congregation appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The Power of Holy Friendships: An In-Depth Interview with Victoria White

How can holy friendships sustain pastors and church leaders? Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff speaks with Victoria White about her book Holy Friendships: Nurturing Relationships That Sustain Pastors and Church Leaders. Learn how to strengthen relationships into holy friendships and how to create opportunities for people to cultivate holy friendships. Listen to this […]

The post The Power of Holy Friendships: An In-Depth Interview with Victoria White first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post The Power of Holy Friendships: An In-Depth Interview with Victoria White appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Leading Topics: Enhancing your Church’s Hospitality and Welcome

Extending genuine hospitality to newcomers isn’t just good manners or a good membership recruitment strategy. It embodies the Gospel and expresses Christ’s love for all. And yet too many congregations overlook this critical need. Or they welcome people in ways that are off-putting or ineffective. In this eighth Special 20th Anniversary Edition of Leading Ideas […]

The post Leading Topics: Enhancing your Church’s Hospitality and Welcome first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Leading Topics: Enhancing your Church’s Hospitality and Welcome appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Updated Report on United Methodist Disaffiliating Churches

The Lewis Center has issued an updated report on the characteristics of churches disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church that covers more than 6,100 churches approved for disaffiliation through June 2023. There continue to be more similarities than differences between the cohort of disaffiliating churches and the total pool of United Methodist churches. But disaffiliating […]

The post Updated Report on United Methodist Disaffiliating Churches first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Updated Report on United Methodist Disaffiliating Churches appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

5 Practices for Fruitful Congregations in a Post-Attractional Era

Robert Schnase’s five key practices — radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity — have helped thousands of congregations be more fruitful in ministry. In 2018, Schnase reframed these key practices to move beyond attractional assumptions and address the more challenging realities churches face today. To celebrate the […]

The post 5 Practices for Fruitful Congregations in a Post-Attractional Era first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 5 Practices for Fruitful Congregations in a Post-Attractional Era appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Creating a Safe Space for Holy Work with Children

Tanya Campen describes how practicing respect, preparation, and presence create safe spaces where children are valued and respected. She highlights the importance of preparing ourselves and safe spaces so that we can be fully present as children claim and respond to God’s presence in their lives. In our work as leaders in ministry with children, […]

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The post Creating a Safe Space for Holy Work with Children appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

5 Ways Your Church Can Use Text Messaging to Reach More People

How can churches use texting as an outreach and communication tool? Brandon Cox outlines five ways churches can use texting to reach more people and make more disciples. Fifty-nine percent of millennials who grew up in church have dropped out. Why? That’s a huge can of worms. There are plenty of theories — some based […]

The post 5 Ways Your Church Can Use Text Messaging to Reach More People first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 5 Ways Your Church Can Use Text Messaging to Reach More People appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.