Tag «Leading Ideas»

Some Questions for Further Research from the Disaffiliation Process

The recent disaffiliation process in the United Methodist Church leaves in its wake grief, hope, and many unanswered questions regarding the impact of prior unifications, the impact of clergy and judicatory leaders in the process, and the various motivations for disaffiliation. Lovett H. Weems of the Lewis Center staff raises some of these significant questions […]

The post Some Questions for Further Research from the Disaffiliation Process first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Some Questions for Further Research from the Disaffiliation Process appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Embracing Mutual Ministry: An In-Depth Interview with Lydia Bucklin

How can your congregation function as a community of ministers rather than a community gathered around a single minister? Lydia Bucklin of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan explains the Mutual Ministry Initiative and how this approach to shared ministry is flourishing among smaller churches in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan. Listen to this interview, watch […]

The post Embracing Mutual Ministry: An In-Depth Interview with Lydia Bucklin first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Embracing Mutual Ministry: An In-Depth Interview with Lydia Bucklin appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Embracing Mutual Ministry: An In-Depth Interview with Lydia Bucklin

The post Embracing Mutual Ministry: An In-Depth Interview with Lydia Bucklin first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Embracing Mutual Ministry: An In-Depth Interview with Lydia Bucklin appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Leaders Help Their Communities Dream Big Dreams

Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech proposed a big dream for what America can become. What big dreams do you have for your congregation and community? Lewis Center Director Doug Powe shares four key characteristics of big dreams that propel us toward a future shaped by participating in God’s transforming work. Many […]

The post Leaders Help Their Communities Dream Big Dreams first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Leaders Help Their Communities Dream Big Dreams appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The Mutual Benefits of Church-School Partnerships

Jake McGlothin, author of The Mission-Minded Guide to Church and School Partnerships, says it’s only logical that the two most important social institutions in our society should work together. He outlines what churches can share with schools as well as how engagement with schools can positively impact a congregation. This article was originally published on […]

The post The Mutual Benefits of Church-School Partnerships first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post The Mutual Benefits of Church-School Partnerships appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

7 Trends Impacting Church Leadership for 2024

Ann Michel, Doug Powe, and Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff identify seven trends church leaders should keep in mind as they develop creative ministries to reach new people in 2024. Many of these trends are daunting, reflecting the long-term decline in worship attendance and the increasing percentage of Americans who claim no religious […]

The post 7 Trends Impacting Church Leadership for 2024 first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 7 Trends Impacting Church Leadership for 2024 appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

3 Ways to Listen Well

Effective leaders are skilled listeners. C. Kavin Rowe offers three practices that center on developing our attention and improving our ability to listen. Leaders need to know how to listen well. It seems so obvious. Why bring it up? Because the truth is that many leaders are more focused on telling people what to do […]

The post 3 Ways to Listen Well first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 3 Ways to Listen Well appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Top “Leading Ideas Talks” Podcast Episodes of 2023

How to Keep Preaching Fresh How can preachers keep their preaching fresh? Teresa Fry Brown, professor of preaching at Candler School of Theology, shares strategies for preaching familiar texts for different generations, preaching for in person and digital audiences, and sermon preparation for bivocational pastors. Listen, read, or watch now. Funding Forward: How Congregations Can Develop New Revenue Sources Is […]

The post Top “Leading Ideas Talks” Podcast Episodes of 2023 first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Top “Leading Ideas Talks” Podcast Episodes of 2023 appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Top “Leading Ideas” Articles of 2023

Report on Disaffiliating United Methodist Churches through 2022: Comparing Similarities and Differences What are the characteristics of churches disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church? Lovett H. Weems Jr. reports that there are more similarities than differences between the cohort of disaffiliating churches and the total pool of all United Methodist churches. But disaffiliating churches are […]

The post Top “Leading Ideas” Articles of 2023 first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Top “Leading Ideas” Articles of 2023 appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

6 Ways to Deepen Your Congregation’s Connection to the Community this Christmas

How can your congregation deepen its connection to the community this holiday season? Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff offers six ways to engage people of all ages, including the groups meeting at your church, in the preparation for and celebration of Christmas. From decorating the sanctuary to decorating cookies and singing beloved carols, […]

The post 6 Ways to Deepen Your Congregation’s Connection to the Community this Christmas first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 6 Ways to Deepen Your Congregation’s Connection to the Community this Christmas appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.