Congregations

Letting grace guide how we welcome newcomers

A pastor notices how small gestures can help visitors breathe — and feel the grace of God — from the moment they step through the door.

By Brett McKinley Pardue Writer and artist

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Rebecca Brune: How do you create a church culture that supports people with mental health challenges?

Many people who struggle with mental wellness turn to their pastors for help, but often those clergy aren’t equipped to support them. The Congregational Collective aims to bridge that gap by helping congregations and clergy help others.

Why would an established organization change its name?

Leadership Education at Duke Divinity is now the Forum for Congregational Life. The organization’s executive director explains that there are important reasons for the name change, including a revised focus.

By David L. Odom Executive director, Forum for Congregational Life

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‘Church Tomorrow? What the Nones and Dones Teach Us About the Future of Faith’

In this excerpt from her new book, a former None who is now a denominational leader writes about the future of the church.

By Stephanie Spellers Canon in Residence, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church

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Yeah, I’m vehemently pro-pastor

The pastoral housing crisis reveals the cost of a sacrifice that the church has stopped naming, writes the founder of a Christian housing nonprofit. Her essay is a call to old faithfulness.

By Nicole Marie Bergeron Founder and CEO, Aslan Housing Foundation

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Religious institutions and spiritual innovators need each other

Building local spiritual ecosystems can provide stability in a shifting religious landscape and help communities flourish, a nonprofit network leader writes.

By Danielle Goldstone Founder and director, innoFaith

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Stations of Reparations honor Black church history

The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey pauses annually during Lent to reflect on the effect of systemic racism on its Black parishes. Along with acknowledging its own history, the diocese has worked for reparations at the state level with religious and secular organizations.