Tag «Leading Ideas»

The Divine Logic of Delegation

Ann Michel of the Lewis Center staff explains that delegation and collaboration are more than effective leadership strategies. They are acts of faith that imitate the way God chooses to engage humankind in God’s mission. And they are essential expressions of Christian humility. Those of us who are parents know that inviting young children to […]

The post The Divine Logic of Delegation first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

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Leading Faithful Innovation: An In-depth Interview with Dwight Zscheile

What if congregational change didn’t focus on setting goals or planning new programs? Ann Michel of the Lewis Center Staff interviews Dwight Zscheile, coauthor of Leading Faithful Innovation. He shares a simple three-step process for experimenting with new practices that allow you to discover what God is already doing in the lives of your neighbors […]

The post Leading Faithful Innovation: An In-depth Interview with Dwight Zscheile first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Leading Faithful Innovation: An In-depth Interview with Dwight Zscheile appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

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.

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

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 […]

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