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Mike Osler: A layperson's guide to practicing gratitude
There’s no perfect church. So embrace what you have by practicing gratitude, writes a lay leader.
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Theresa F. Latini: Leading, following and a toddler's first steps
As she hovers over her toddling 15-month-old daughter, a seminary professor learns that leading and following are frequently intertwined. Watching, listening, paying close attention, this hybrid form of leadership follows life.
Discerning when to say yes to a leadership opportunity
With my gifts, experiences and limitations, how can I make my best contribution to your organization right now? Asking this question is the first step in discerning whether you are the right person and this is the right time to volunteer to serve.
Elesha Coffman: When pulpit and pew disagree
What can Christian leaders do when the official teachings of mainline Protestant churches and the political ideologies of the laity diverge?
The background of the cross
Hanging crosses in an entryway or an office is a statement of faith and connects those who pass by to a great cloud of witnesses. What strategies do you use to signal the background of your life?
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Mark Wingfield: A guide to four types of Bible study learners
Just because you gather people in a room and call it Bible study doesn't mean everyone learns in the same way, says a Baptist pastor. Here are the four types of adult learners he has found in church small groups.
Joy Skjegstad: Developing lay leaders for community ministry
Connecting with people and institutions outside the walls of the church isn’t a job for professional staff alone, says the author of “7 Creative Models for Community Ministry.”
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Marcia Owen: Affirming the dignity of our neighbors
Justice and healing from violence are best approached by simply being with those who are suffering, says a United Methodist layperson who directs a faith-based organization.
Scott Holmes: Lawyering, the Quaker way
A Durham lawyer says his faith changed the course of his career, transforming his legal practice into a vocation -- a true calling filled with joy, integrity and love.
Cynthia D. Weems: The church's revolving door
Church leaders must face up to the fact that congregations are increasingly composed of short-term residents. Structures and staffing need to reflect this change, says a United Methodist pastor in Miami.