Congregational leaders use a variety of frameworks, processes, and tools in their work of guiding, shaping, and nurturing churches. Among others, I’ve … [Read more...] about Leading with the Good News
Ministry and the Gifts of Christmas
Among the myriad gifts of Christmas are: Assurance that God is with us—“Emmanuel.” God is not aloof from us or disinterested in us—not, as Bette … [Read more...] about Ministry and the Gifts of Christmas
Leading like the Good Shepherd
What’s your guiding image for ministry leadership? In addition to the traditional roles of “pastor,” “priest,” and “prophet,” there are many others. … [Read more...] about Leading like the Good Shepherd
Treasures New and Old
Jesus once said: "Every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and … [Read more...] about Treasures New and Old
Ministry in the Meantime and Mean Time
Ministry happens in the meantime and in the mean time. The meantime is a season of sometimes bewildering change and troubling transitions. It’s an … [Read more...] about Ministry in the Meantime and Mean Time
Prophetic Priests, Priestly Prophets
In my work as a pastor, I often felt an inescapable tension between the “priestly” and “prophetic” dimensions of my calling. To simplify a bit: … [Read more...] about Prophetic Priests, Priestly Prophets
Ministry in an Election Year
Across more than 35 years as a pastor, some of the hardest times in which to find a healthy balance between a prophetic engagement with the culture … [Read more...] about Ministry in an Election Year
Being Constrained Doesn’t Have to Mean Being Stuck
One of the most significant “leadership” books I’ve read in the last couple of years is A Beautiful Constraint: How to Transform Your Limitations into … [Read more...] about Being Constrained Doesn’t Have to Mean Being Stuck
Ability to Respond: Healthy Assumption of Responsibility
There’s a two-word phrase we often use which sounds simple enough but which is actually quite complex: assuming responsibility (or taking or … [Read more...] about Ability to Respond: Healthy Assumption of Responsibility