Congregational innovation
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Tags‘When God’s Call Is Bigger Than a Building’
The Rev. Ashley Goff reflects on her congregation’s long — and sometimes contentious — process of building 173 apartments for low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities in this excerpt from “Gone for Good?”
Age does not limit Christian leadership
Encountering a unique ministry in San Francisco prompted a confrontation with her own ageism, writes a director of educational programs at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity.
The church needs innovation instigators
As we’ve learned through COVID-19, faith communities can adapt. Church leaders must be willing to continue sparking change by asking new questions and challenging old answers.
Celeste Kennel-Shank: ‘It was the safest place I knew as a child.’
A pastor and journalist tells the story of the Community of Christ in Washington, D.C., in which she grew up. It was a five-decade-long experiment in living and worshipping in a neighborhood parish that intentionally ended in 2016.
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?
Observation, interpretation and intervention are key to revitalizing our big downtown churches
Nearly 50 years ago, the authors of “What’s Ahead for Old First Church” examined the strengths and weaknesses of these anchor institutions. The lessons are surprisingly relevant today.
Technological hesitancy and digital reluctance can be barriers to digital justice
Negative attitudes toward the adoption of technology during the pandemic raise issues of fairness and justice into the future, writes the author of a study on the post-pandemic church.
New people can mean new ways of doing things
The last four years have seen an influx of new hires for many organizations. Slowing down to make the changes that turnover requires can benefit everyone.
Long-term adoption of hybrid services represents a major shift from the traditional church model
The pandemic has drastically changed congregational leaders’ attitudes about virtual services, experts say.
People in the pews: Who’s missing, who’s hiding, who’s comfortable on the couch?
Pastors mourn the faces they no longer see and figure out how to serve those they’ve yet to meet in person.