CongregationsInnovationCongregational innovationMissions & Community
Considering the future of the 'Old First Church'
In this two-part 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?
‘Balcony time’ offers a fresh perspective
After metaphorically moving from the “dance floor” to the “balcony,” a pastor refocuses on personal connections with parishioners and priorities for the church.
Composting the church offers flourishing in the shadow of decline
As with a garden, so with the church — the remnants at the end of one season enrich growth for new opportunities in the next, writes a Presbyterian pastor.
When songs become sermons — a different way of preaching
No longer able to sustain a choral program and facing clergy overload, members of a Maryland congregation now tell the old, old story by leaning into music, their pastor writes.
Don’t miss the significance of congregational toads in your church’s ecosystem
If we pay attention, the presence or absence of certain indicators can help us assess the vitality of our faith communities, writes a director of grants for Leadership Education at Duke Divinity.
Can AI help reverse Babel?
A multilingual congregation experiments with AI translation to improve communication in churches where people speak multiple languages, writes their pastor.
Resist the drama of national electoral politics and invest your time in local issues
Engaging in local politics helps avoid “political hobbyism” and focuses on the spaces most immediate to our lives.
