By Laura Stephens-Reed It seems like every issue in our culture is contentious these days, and it’s not much different in the church. Ideas and practices that once seemed like foregone conclusions are now up for debate. That unsettledness is not totally a bad thing. It means that we are learning and discerning, then applying … Continue reading
By Brian Foreman The first six months serving as Coordinator of Congregational Ministries could be summarized in two words: listening and learning. At first, much of the listening was done with my ears, through one-on-one conversations, video calls and focus groups. As opportunities to travel, gather, preach and visit began to fill up the calendar, … Continue reading
By Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed Back in the 1990s, when I was a teenager, youth ministry was relatively straightforward. My peers and I met for junior high and high school Sunday school and then attended worship. We came back on Sunday evenings for a less formal worship service and youth group (which often involved outings such … Continue reading
By Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed In my coaching, I often hear themes across clergy about what is hard and what is delightful about their work. But in late August, I decided I wanted something more than anecdotal information about this season in ministry. I sent out a three-question, anonymous survey to my newsletter lists and posted … Continue reading
By Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed Many pastors are taught in seminary that a church should never hire one of its members to serve on staff, for reasons explained below. That said, ministers might enter a new-to-them context where a member is already in the role of Administrative Assistant or Director of Christian Education. And there might … Continue reading
By Laura Stephens-Reed A few years ago, I was a regular guest preacher at a church in the city where I lived after the minister there had submitted his resignation and as the church awaited the arrival of an interim. On the first of those Sundays, a woman stood up during the announcement time and … Continue reading
March 4, 2020 By Carrie Harris KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—Two Cooperative Baptists were honored March 3 at ChurchWorks, CBF’s annual conference for CBF Clergy and CBF Networks, held at Central Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tenn. Churchworks is a three-day event for practitioners of education and spiritual formation in the congregational setting. Charles Qualls, Senior Pastor of Franklin … Continue reading
By Laura Stephens-Reed Recently a peer learning group convener contacted me with a dilemma. He facilitates a long-standing, close-knit group, but over time some of the members have moved away to take new ministerial positions. His PLG members have been eager to add to their diminishing ranks, and they invited a local clergyperson to join … Continue reading
The following post comes from Bill Wilson, president of the Center for Congregational Health. Nearly all observers of the 21st century church in America agree that the next generation of leadership is a cause for concern. Many write, blog, tweet and generally lament the state of leadership cultivation and training, or lack thereof. Far too … Continue reading