CongregationsInnovationCongregational innovationMissions & Community
Considering the future of the ‘Old First Church’
In this series, United Methodist Church Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, Jr. and the Rev. Audrey Warren reflect on First Churches -- those anchor congregations in American downtowns. How can these institutions, which may be rich in tradition but strapped for cash, adapt to a changing society?
An inside view of the Orthodox convert surge
An Orthodox educator takes issue with popular notions of why people are joining Orthodox parishes in America; converts are not exclusively “Orthobros,” she says, but people seeking connection with others and with God.
What Bananagrams teaches us about getting unstuck in church property development
Learning to remain flexible, change plans and find new solutions is key to church property development.
What happens when the pastor’s family isn’t perfect?
For ministers who carry private family pain, shame can be overwhelming. But our difficult lives might make us better clergy, writes a pastor and mother of a child with emotional and behavioral challenges.
A recipe for thriving rural congregations despite shifting demographics
Faced with declining attendance and aging membership, rural pastors can invite reflection on congregational history and community needs to adapt for new opportunities.
Why religious leaders need to understand agentic AI
To ignore or remain silent about the agentic revolution is to forfeit the ability to shape and speak into the moral framework of a world already being reshaped by agentic intelligence, writes a scholar.
What does community require of us?
Throughout her life, the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray’s writing, teaching and preaching made clear that true community demands the work of radical social transformation.
A group of volunteers offers a faithful presence in San Diego’s immigration court
After an effort tied to World Refugee Day, a Catholic diocese organically grew a program for faithful people to be witnesses for immigrants.
