By Laura Stephens-Reed During the pandemic, when church committees could not gather in person and were forced to find other ways to discuss and decide, many of us realized that we had long been attending some meetings that could have been emails. It does not require a two-hour negotiation to choose a Sunday school curriculum, … Continue reading
Tag Archives: congregational ministry
A pastor search is not just about searching for a pastor
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
Why bringing in young families is not a magic bullet for your congregation
By Laura Stephens-Reed I have heard it many times in congregations experiencing stagnation or decline: If we could just bring in more young families… This is an understandable thought. For churches with nurseries that once burst at the seams or with memories of youth choirs that went on tour in the summers, bringing in more … Continue reading
Becoming a hybrid congregation
By Laura Stephens-Reed Two years ago the world locked down, seemingly overnight, due to the rapid spread of COVID-19. Many congregations went from having a website and a minimal social media presence, which sometimes included recordings or livestreams of worship, to creating online community wholly through previously utilized and new-to-them media. Churches pivoted again and … Continue reading
Big church, little congregation. So, what do we do?
By Laura Stephens-Reed Churches are sacred places because they help us feel closer to God. Our spirits are buoyed by the music coming from the choir loft. Sitting in the seats that are just uncomfortable enough to keep us alert, we have heard God’s word proclaimed. We have walked up the steps of the baptistry, … Continue reading
Identifying Your Church’s Values and Using Them to Plan
By Laura Stephens-Reed I recently interviewed several pastors about their experiences leading congregations during the pandemic. Specifically, I wanted to know how they handled the initial turn to online worship and the million mini-ministry pivots they’ve had to make in the two years since. Unsurprisingly, all these pastors are exhausted. But not all are discouraged. … Continue reading
Why pastoral care is so complicated right now and how church members can make sure they get the care they need.
Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed Many pastors go into ministry because they love people. They consider your willingness to trust them with your stories a privilege. They want to hold your hand when you have gotten bad news. They celebrate alongside you at milestone moments. Pastoral care is not just part of ministers’ job descriptions. It is … Continue reading
Selah Vie is a midwife
The following post is from Jaime Fitzgerald, a rising senior at Carson Newman College, and a a previous Selah Vie participant. This blog is part of a series of reflections on Selah Vie. I had the privilege of attending Selah Vie, an end of the summer retreat for Congregational Collegiate Interns, Student. Go missionaries, and … Continue reading