Tag «Staff & Organizational Issues»

Five Cautions about Church Budgets for the Next Twelve Months

Five Cautions about Church Budgets for the Next Twelve Months

The call from the pastor was not that unusual.  Indeed, it was a part of a pattern we’ve observed at Church Answers.  “Hey Thom,” the pastor asked, “Are you seeing anything about church giving declining? We thought it was a temporary pause at our church, but giving is consistently down about five percent.”  While we…

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Why Your Congregation Is Likely More Optimistic about the Future Than You Realize

Why Your Congregation Is Likely More Optimistic about the Future Than You Realize

Over 80% of churchgoers predict a promising future for their churches. Is this figure what you would expect? Until I saw the research, I would not have guessed optimism was so high among churchgoers. Where did this statistic originate? The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) conducted a national survey in August 2022 of almost 6,000…

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This Book Changed My Life 10 Years Ago

This Book Changed My Life 10 Years Ago

It was ten years ago that I did something I had never done before. I turned a short blog post into a book. Much to my joy and surprise, the book became one of the bestsellers in its genre. It stayed at number one on the bestselling list for quite a while.  Now, nearly two…

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The Top Ten Next Steps for New Church Members

The Top Ten Next Steps for New Church Members

Congratulations! You joined a church. Now what? While every church has a different procedure for church membership, there are some simple things you can do to honor God in your decision. These items apply to everyone. First, read your Bible every day. A national research study revealed something remarkable. The number one way people grow…

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How to Check Back into Your Church Job If You Have Been Checked Out for a While

How to Check Back into Your Church Job If You Have Been Checked Out for a While

Tens of millions quit their jobs during the Great Resignation. Beginning in March 2021, most areas of the economy experienced a mass of people leaving their current places of employment and seeking other jobs and careers. Over two years, a large portion of workers considered career changes and geographic relocations. The hospitality, education, and healthcare…

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Six Common Patterns in Toxic Churches That Fire Pastors

Six Common Patterns in Toxic Churches That Fire Pastors

The title of this article might engender some visceral reactions. I get it. It is not a pleasant subject. For church members who have observed it taking place, it is a painful situation. For those pastors who have been fired, it is traumatic. It is traumatic for the pastor’s family as well. Please read the…

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The Disappearance of the 30-Something and 40-Something Pastor (Here’s Why)

The Disappearance of the 30-Something and 40-Something Pastor (Here’s Why)

We’re all getting older. Almost every demographic in the United States is having fewer children. Population growth is slowing, and immigration rates are not fast enough to keep up with the aging nation. In 1970, the median age was 28. Half the population was older than 28, and half the population was younger than 28….

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The Disappearance of the 30-Something and 40-Something Pastor (Here’s Why)

The Disappearance of the 30-Something and 40-Something Pastor (Here’s Why)

We’re all getting older. Almost every demographic in the United States is having fewer children. Population growth is slowing, and immigration rates are not fast enough to keep up with the aging nation. In 1970, the median age was 28. Half the population was older than 28, and half the population was younger than 28….

The post The Disappearance of the 30-Something and 40-Something Pastor (Here’s Why) appeared first on Church Answers.

The Disappearance of the 30-Something and 40-Something Pastor (Here’s Why)

The Disappearance of the 30-Something and 40-Something Pastor (Here’s Why)

We’re all getting older. Almost every demographic in the United States is having fewer children. Population growth is slowing, and immigration rates are not fast enough to keep up with the aging nation. In 1970, the median age was 28. Half the population was older than 28, and half the population was younger than 28….

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The Future of Work in Church: Ten Realities You Might Not Know

The Future of Work in Church: Ten Realities You Might Not Know

AI. Robotics. Work-from-anywhere. The disappearing middle manager. The stress of blue-collar and service workers. Gigs and side gigs. The headlines state the obvious. Work is changing. The pandemic accelerated the change. Workers are adjusting. Companies are adjusting. The marketplace is adjusting. I am concerned, however, that most churches are not adjusting.  The most common question…

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