Tag «Leading Ideas»

The Stone Soup Recipe for Vital Small Church Worship

Teresa Stewart says that small congregations have a powerful worship planning option that expands participation, emphasizes lay leadership, ends the burnout of meetings, invites local gifts, and heightens anticipation. It’s called Stone Soup worship planning. Maybe you’ve heard it said that for lavish worship, congregations must have a “Worship Design Team” — experts gathered to […]

The post The Stone Soup Recipe for Vital Small Church Worship first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post The Stone Soup Recipe for Vital Small Church Worship appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

6 Tools for Holy Work With Children

Tanya Campen offers six tools to help children process their experiences and discoveries about God. Through story, liturgy and ritual, relational awareness, memory markers, wonder, and work, children experience and respond to God’s presence and love. Recognizing that children learn about God in varying contexts and traditions, and acknowledging all children learn and process at […]

The post 6 Tools for Holy Work With Children first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 6 Tools for Holy Work With Children appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Building Inclusive Communities: An In-Depth Interview with Brandan Robertson

How can church leaders build an inclusive community of faith? Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff interviews Brandan Robertson, the “TikTok Pastor,” about social media ministry, intersectional inclusivity, and the challenges of building inclusive community. Listen to this interview, watch the interview video on YouTube, or continue reading. Jessica Anschutz: Before we talk about your […]

The post Building Inclusive Communities: An In-Depth Interview with Brandan Robertson first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Building Inclusive Communities: An In-Depth Interview with Brandan Robertson appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

4 Key Characteristics of Missional Congregations

Congregations that want to move forward and live more missionally need to understand and embody four key characteristics, says F. Douglas Powe, director of the Lewis Center and the James C. Logan Chair in Evangelism (an E. Stanley Jones Professorship) at Wesley Theological Seminary. Missional congregations must be connected to their context, bound as a […]

The post 4 Key Characteristics of Missional Congregations first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 4 Key Characteristics of Missional Congregations appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The 5 P’s of Sustainability for Small Churches

Rebekah Simon-Peter says small churches cannot succeed by emulating the megachurch model of programming for every stage of life. She believes that five P’s — people, prayer, provision, partnership, and presence — are key to the sustainability of smaller churches. To celebrate the Lewis Center’s anniversary, we are highlighting Leading Articles — some of our […]

The post The 5 P’s of Sustainability for Small Churches first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post The 5 P’s of Sustainability for Small Churches appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Blessing of the Animals as Community Outreach

How can a Blessing of the Animals reach new people in your community? Jessica Anschutz shares tips to engage pet owners and community partners as you celebrate all creatures great and small. Many congregations celebrate a blessing of the animals on or around October 4, the Feast of Saint Francis, while other congregations have a […]

The post Blessing of the Animals as Community Outreach first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Blessing of the Animals as Community Outreach appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Does Your Church Really Need All Those Committees?

Are your church members kept busy doing committee work they are neither gifted for nor excited about? Andy Lunt and Ted Brown say congregations can free people to serve more fruitfully in ministry by reassessing the role of any committee not essential to their mission or required by their polity. Church committees can be the […]

The post Does Your Church Really Need All Those Committees? first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Does Your Church Really Need All Those Committees? appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Improve Your Time Management and Enhance Your Ministry: An In-Depth Interview with Nicole Reilley

How can church leaders improve their time management and maximize ministry? Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff interviews Nicole Reilley about time management, saying no, and prioritizing rest and sabbath. Learn how digital resources can help you better manage your time. Listen to this interview, watch the interview video on YouTube, or continue reading. Jessica […]

The post Improve Your Time Management and Enhance Your Ministry: An In-Depth Interview with Nicole Reilley first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Improve Your Time Management and Enhance Your Ministry: An In-Depth Interview with Nicole Reilley appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

5 Ways to Minimize the Stress of Pastor and Employee Evaluations

Sarai Rice says congregations often evaluate pastors and staff in ways that lead to a lot of stress but little clarity or accountability. She offers five suggestions for how churches can reduce the stress and structure evaluations to enable pastors and their teams to pursue the church’s vision with energy and imagination. Pastors can be […]

The post 5 Ways to Minimize the Stress of Pastor and Employee Evaluations first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 5 Ways to Minimize the Stress of Pastor and Employee Evaluations appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

5 Turnoffs for Millennials Seeking a Church

Drawing on research conducted by the Barna Group, Jeremy Steele outlines some of the turnoffs for millennials when they visit new churches. An outdated digital presence and a lack of diversity top the list. To celebrate the Lewis Center’s anniversary, we are highlighting Leading Articles — some of our most popular posts of the past […]

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The post 5 Turnoffs for Millennials Seeking a Church appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.