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Consider these stanzas from the opening section of Walt Whitman’s Song of the Open Road: Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me, The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose. … (Still here I carry…

“The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll…

What the world needs now Is love, sweet love It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of What the world needs now Is love, sweet love No, not just for some, but for everyone Lord, we don’t need another mountain There are mountains…

A unique feature of the Gospel of John is that Jesus begins his ministry not with a theological claim or quotation from Scripture, but rather a question: “What are you looking for?” (1:38) Things are quite different with John the Baptist, the other main character…

You can read part 1 of this post here. “Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in…

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree…

Doing the right thing is rarely the easy thing. Do the right thing, anyway. There are so many reasons to conclude that our world is spinning out of control. Many of us are nauseous from the noisy news cycles. Others are disillusioned by the disintegration…

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant – St. David’s Day – is celebrated annually on March 1st. This Patron Saint of Wales isn’t widely known outside of his homeland. There are no parties, parades, or turning rivers green as for St. Patrick! While several miracles are attributed…

“How do we live a life of (un)successful significance rather than meaningless influence?” – Pete Portal The latest BARNA research has made the bold statement that “Americans are slowly edging away from Christianity.” Barna notes that, “Christian Identity is on the decline,” and “so is…

…we are each other’s Harvest: We are each other’s Business: We are each other’s Magnitude and bond. ~Gwendolyn Brooks, “Paul Robeson,” 1970   These concluding words of Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem, “Paul Robeson,” hit me like a ton of bricks. Of course, we are each other’s…

Given the complexities and challenges facing faith communities, it is understandable that pastors and lay leaders look for a magic key that will open a clear path to the future.  The temptations around this are legion.  The expanding job descriptions for clergy, especially post-pandemic, make…

“For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12 Picasso’s famous “The Old…

In a 1961 radio interview, writer and civil rights activist, James Baldwin famously explained, “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious, is to be in a state of rage almost all of the time… It isn’t only what is happening…

One of the great gifts that Christian creeds and confessions offer is their simplicity. Time and again, as we walk through changing contexts and circumstances, we are invited both toward improvisational contextualization of the faith, yet at the same time, to return to that which…

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who…

Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.” Matthew 7:24-29 “‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a…

From the TMC team:  With the U.S. presidential election behind us, but surely no less societal division, frustration, and significant challenges that lie ahead, TMC aims to provide both encouragement and insight with a view toward hope. We are grateful to have such a diversity of…

It’s a natural reflex, when confronted with something momentous, to think there is something big we need to do – something grand, great, dramatic – to meet the moment.  And there are many times – and many courageous people – who have risen to meet…

For several months, The Ministry Collaborative has worked to come alongside pastors, leaders, and congregations during this divisive and polarizing political season.  Individuals and communities in our network have approached their ministry during this time in a variety of different ways, but all have sought…

The Ministry Collaborative has long been attuned to the complex context(s) of ministry across the United States, and beyond. The ability to assess and interpret the landscape – through education, experience, engagement, and collaboration – is vital to our mission to faithfully serve and support…

The Ministry Collaborative continues to expand both geographically and strategically with a network that spans the United States, and beyond. We remain committed to serving pastors and equipping ministry in a variety of settings, especially the “hard” places – places that don’t have as many…

Over the past few months, The Ministry Collaborative has released podcasts for a series called, When Politics Is Upstream of Faith.  Our hope is to help pastors, leaders, and congregations reflect on what it means to be the Church in this political season and time…

We asked ministry leaders from around the country to respond to some key questions TMC has been engaging with in recent months. For the last few weeks, we have been sharing some of their perspectives and insights. Through their responses, we hope you encounter a…

In this final post for our series featuring ministry leaders’ responses to key questions, we return once again to the subject of metrics.  Previously, we highlighted TMC podcasts and blogs on the topic, explored methodologies and foci of evaluation techniques, and recognized the power of…

The Ministry Collaborative is committed to developing pastors, ministry leaders, and congregations for creative leadership.  Our focus isn’t simply on “skilling up.”  Rather, we recognize and seek to address the need for growth at a much deeper level where things like sustainability, adaptivity, and intuition…

This week’s prompt, once again, focuses on the tension most ministry contexts face as they discern what elements of ministry are fundamental, “anchoring,” and worth sustaining (at least for now!), and what elements might need to be adjusted, shifted, or even dropped. This type of…

The Ministry Collaborative has long been engaged in exploration and conversation about metrics.  Metrics of “success” are complex when it comes to church and ministry.  How do you measure the vitality of a congregation? was a question posed by staff member Ryan Bonfiglio earlier this…

Like many others, TMC is acutely interested in how leadership models are rapidly evolving, what this requires, and what it might mean for the future of ministry more broadly. A key component in this exploration revolves around spiritual maturity, wisdom, and faithfulness. Developing leaders who…

This week’s prompt focuses on the tension most ministry contexts face as they discern what elements of ministry are fundamental, “anchoring,” and worth sustaining (at least for now!), and what elements might need to be adjusted, shifted, or even dropped. This type of shared discernment…

We asked several dozen ministry leaders from around the country to respond to some key questions TMC has been engaging with in recent months. For the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing with you their perspectives and insights. Through these responses, we hope you encounter…

Dear Friends, The Peace of Christ be with you all. In view of this past weekend’s display of political violence and the continually mounting tensions in many of your congregations and communities, we wanted to share this brief meditation penned by Howard Thurman in his…

Over the last few weeks, our team has shared with you several signs and examples of vitality we’re seeing in ministry contexts nationwide. With such a diverse network (approximately 1600 pastors, 24 denominations, a majority people of color), it’s a joy to witness surprising movements of…

“There are two questions that we have to ask ourselves.  The first is ‘Where am I going?’ and the second is “Who will go with me?’” – Howard Thurman   “You have to pick the places you don’t walk away from.” – Joan Didion  …

“There are years that ask questions, and years that answer them.” ~Zora Neal Hurston I’ve heard and used this quote so many times and I always thought it meant that there would be difficult times that cause us to ask the hard questions of life….

Matthew 13:10-17 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given…

Over the next few weeks, our team will share with you several signs and examples of vitality we’re seeing in ministry contexts nationwide. With such a diverse network (approximately 1600 pastors, 24 denominations, a majority people of color), it’s a joy to witness surprising movements…

Over the next few weeks, our team will share with you several signs and examples of vitality we’re seeing in ministry contexts nationwide. With such a diverse network (approximately 1600 pastors, 24 denominations, a majority people of color), it’s a joy to witness surprising movements…

Ministry is incredibly – and increasingly – complex. Let’s name this and own it. AND let’s keep going. There’s too much at stake, and your calling to ministry matters. It’s having a ripple effect that will extend beyond what you assume or imagine. You’re planting…

A couple of well-known reminders for you today: Joshua 1:9 “… I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage!” (Eugene Peterson’s Message translation) So also, Jesus says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is…

How do you measure the vitality of a congregation? Ask almost any denominational body over the past several decades, and they’re bound to say something about the three B’s – bodies, budgets, buildings. The assumption seems to be that the fuller the pews on Sunday…

The Church proclaims the greatest love story ever told.  God pursued God’s people throughout the ages.  God sent God’s own son into the world out of indescribable, incomprehensible love.  Jesus lived, loved, suffered, and died…but He rose again.  And after appearing to many, He ascended…

The legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon grew up in the borough of Queens in New York City.  Yet, when Simon & Garfunkel first went on Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand” and Mr. Simon was asked where he was from, he spontaneously lied and said “Macon, Georgia.” It…

Friends, as we journey into the weeks following Easter (what some of our traditions call Eastertide), rest assured that we may continue to proclaim Jesus’ resurrection with the same joy and celebration that many of our ministries exhibited on Easter Sunday. We are free to…

Holy Week is upon us, and we are into another news cycle fraught with social and political unrest – threats of bloodbaths and government shutdowns – wars and rumors of war – oh yeah and allergies. And to top things off, many of us are…

“I’m so bored. I have nothing to do. Let’s go to church, I’m sure they can give me something to do” said no one ever! Unlike just a couple of years ago post-pandemic when many of us opened our church doors and/or resumed in-person worship…

Vinyl records are making a big comeback, with over six million sold in 2023. An interesting note: half of all people buying vinyl records don’t own a record player. Why do they buy them? According to several assessments, buyers say they want a “tangible connection”…

“Look well to the growing edge. All around us worlds are dying and new worlds are being born; all around us life is dying and life is being born. The fruit ripens on the tree, the roots are silently at work in the darkness of…

  Your Perspective, Insights, and Witness Make a Difference TMC thrives on listening to and learning from you – ministry leaders, TMC cohort facilitators, and other conversation partners across the country – who continually provide deep insights, alternative perspectives, and imagination that helps us discern…

Among the questions I receive most often from pastors:  How can our congregation change things that need to be changed?  How can we challenge our focus for more effective ministry? In the shifting ground of post-pandemic life, with politics upstream of faith and everything up…

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the…

Blog Series:  Your Perspective, Insights, and Witness Make a Difference Dear friends, TMC thrives on listening to and learning from you – ministry leaders, TMC cohort facilitators, and other conversation partners across the country – who continually provide deep insights, alternative perspectives, and imagination that helps…

Blog Series:  Your Perspective, Insights, and Witness Make a Difference Dear friends, TMC thrives on listening to and learning from you – ministry leaders, TMC cohort facilitators, and other conversation partners across the country – who continually provide deep insights, alternative perspectives, and imagination that helps…

Blog Series:  Your Perspective, Insights, and Witness Make a Difference Dear friends, TMC thrives on listening to and learning from you – ministry leaders, TMC cohort facilitators, and other conversation partners across the country – who continually provide deep insights, alternative perspectives, and imagination that helps…

Blog Series:  Your Perspective, Insights, and Witness Make a Difference Dear friends, TMC thrives on listening to and learning from you – ministry leaders, TMC cohort facilitators, and other conversation partners across the country – who continually provide deep insights, alternative perspectives, and imagination that helps…

Blog Series:  Your Perspective, Insights, and Witness Make a Difference Dear friends, TMC thrives on listening to and learning from you – ministry leaders, TMC cohort facilitators, and other conversation partners across the country – who continually provide deep insights, alternative perspectives, and imagination that helps…

Receive and embrace God’s grace for you. For your own sake, and for the sake of those around you, hear God’s word of grace declared over you in Christ. Receive the promise of that deep, sustained, sabbath rest that is always available, as the author…

On a recent podcast, my colleague Jennifer Watley Maxell offered that “hope is not scarce, and it is not fragile.”  Our conversation took other turns, leaving that important insight behind.  I want to return to it now.  “Hope is not scarce, and it is not…

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence— as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might…

Blog Series:  God is Near. God is Now. Recovering the radical hope of the Advent and Christmas seasons has vast implications for how our congregations or alternative ministry contexts see themselves, the world, God’s presence, and how to move forward in turbulent times. In the weeks…

Blog Series:  God is Near. God is Now. Recovering the radical hope of the Advent and Christmas seasons has vast implications for how our congregations or alternative ministry contexts see themselves, the world, God’s presence, and how to move forward in turbulent times. The other day…

Blog Series:  God is Near. God is Now. Recovering the radical hope of the Advent and Christmas seasons has vast implications for how our congregations or alternative ministry contexts see themselves, the world, God’s presence, and how to move forward in turbulent times. As Advent approaches,…

Blog Series: God is Near. God is Now. Recovering the radical hope of the Advent and Christmas seasons has vast implications for how our congregations or alternative ministry contexts see themselves, the world, God’s presence, and how to move forward in turbulent times. “Our spiritual…

“Lost In Translation” Using Paul’s engagement with the Athenians in Acts 17 as a backdrop, we are reflecting on the many gaps, disconnections, and misalignments we see across the landscape of ministry, along with some hopeful and constructive suggestions for how to respond faithfully. Divergent…

Blog Series:  “Lost In Translation” Using Paul’s engagement with the Athenians in Acts 17 as a backdrop, we are reflecting on the many gaps, disconnections, and misalignments we see across the landscape of ministry, along with some hopeful and constructive suggestions for how to respond…

Blog Series:  “Lost In Translation” Using Paul’s engagement with the Athenians in Acts 17 as a backdrop, we are reflecting on the many gaps, disconnections, and misalignments we see across the landscape of ministry, along with some hopeful and constructive suggestions for how to respond…

Blog Series:  “Lost In Translation” Using Paul’s engagement with the Athenians in Acts 17 as a backdrop, we are reflecting on the many gaps, disconnections, and misalignments we see across the landscape of ministry, along with some hopeful and constructive suggestions for how to respond…

A few times per year, TMC curates some resources and content that our team is either paying close attention to or has developed ourselves, organized by topics that we see as especially relevant to a broad range of contexts. Pastors and lay leaders frequently utilize…

Blog Series:  “Lost In Translation” Using Paul’s engagement with the Athenians in Acts 17 as a backdrop, we are reflecting on the many gaps, disconnections, and misalignments we see across the landscape of ministry, along with some hopeful and constructive suggestions for how to respond…

Blog Series:  “Lost In Translation” Using Paul’s engagement with the Athenians in Acts 17 as a backdrop, we are reflecting on the many gaps, disconnections, and misalignments we see across the landscape of ministry, along with some hopeful and constructive suggestions for how to respond…

Blog series:  “Lost in Translation”Using Paul’s engagement with the Athenians in Acts 17 as a backdrop, we are reflecting on the many gaps, disconnections, and misalignments we see across the landscape of ministry, along with some hopeful and constructive suggestions for how to respond faithfully….

Blog Series:  “Lost in Translation” Using Paul’s engagement with the Athenians in Acts 17 as a backdrop, we are reflecting on the many gaps, disconnections, and misalignments we see across the landscape of ministry, along with some hopeful and constructive suggestions for how to respond…

Blog series: “Don’t Fall For It.” This time of year, it’s understandable that ministry leaders are tempted to zoom in on the nuts and bolts of fall planning and programming, trying to somehow manage everything that comes with it. For the next several weeks, we…

Unless we’ve already done so, it’s past time to have a new conversation about this topic. This includes getting clarity about changes and trends in charitable giving, broadening our perspective, relationships, and options, and also considering more deeply about how it all connects to discipleship…

What has your congregation started paying attention to recently that wasn’t front and center a few years ago? Is it racial, economic, or ecological justice? Maybe it’s the prevalence of trauma or the reality of social divides. Or it could be what to do with…

My colleagues here at the Ministry Collaborative have challenged us over the last several weeks to address the proverbial ‘elephants in the room’ when it comes to the future of the Church and our local expressions of it. We’ve been confronted with the sobering reality…

Each year “Sparkle in the Park” brings over 10,000 residents, neighbors, guests, and friends to Main Street Park in our suburban community in Georgia.  This city sponsored event welcomes food vendors, bounce houses, free family photographers, and live music that ensures that the space will…

When I was in junior high, our English teacher Mrs. Visconti made us read James Michener’s massive novel Centennial, about the settling of the state of Colorado. In it, Michener described the migration of a young Mennonite farmer, Levi Zendt, and his new wife, Elly,…

For those of us in vocational ministry, the summer holds the promise of slower days, lighter schedules, a time to catch up on some “to dos”, maybe even a little vacation time…  But around this time of year, that promise quickly gives way to looking…

When I was a pastor in downtown Denver many years ago, a well-meaning parishioner would suggest with some regularity that we revise our congregational mission statement. Now, there is nothing I enjoy more than spending months wordsmithing a statement that no one will be able…

When I visit my in-laws, they usually greet me by asking, “Have you eaten?” Even when I call them, they usually greet me by asking, “Have you eaten?” When my parents were alive, that’s how my parents greeted me when I visited them or called…

Talking with a colleague this week, I was asked, “What common denominators are vital, flourishing churches displaying today?” The following response is unscientific, more story-driven than data-driven, and by no means an exhaustive list. (In fact, we would love to hear from you about what…

Our friend and colleague, Elizabeth Lynn, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, recently published an incredibly helpful article in Faith and Leadership that outlines the myriad challenges many congregations face when it comes to church buildings, property, and space. In addition to summarizing the challenges, Elizabeth…

My church folx have teased me for years with the prospect of a gift that never materializes: a t-shirt that says “I’m not the boss of that.” It’s something I say frequently to remind them and me both that I’m not the final arbiter on…

Last month, several of us – staff and facilitators for the Ministry Collaborative, met in Boulder, Colorado to discuss the future of what it means to be church.  The amazingly creative ways many of us are navigating the uncertainty of the times is both encouraging…

Easter Sunday is the ultimate Good News Sunday. Lent is done. The true triumph of Palm Sunday is revealed. The lurking doom of Maundy Thursday is over. The pain of Good Friday is finished. Finally … Easter! Christ is Risen. He is Risen indeed! Now…

At a recent Ministry Collaborative gathering we were invited to reimagine church. The folks at my table meandered onto the topic of language, specifically the larger culture’s (understandable) suspicion of Christian language in light of its all too frequent use as a weapon to wound…

Can you hear it? “I am the good shepherd.” It’s the voice of our faithful and steadfast shepherd, Jesus the Christ. He’s calling you by name. He knows you – He knows all of us – as intimately as the Father and the Son know…

I love to travel. I took a plane for the first time when I was a teenager and recognized the privilege of experiencing and exploring new places. As the daughter of a coalmining father and a stay-at-home mother, the luxury of travel was not lost…

I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.   John 15:5 In a Denver-area congregation I served some years ago, there was a family who had…

One of my favorite moments in TMC’s immersion experience to Glacier National Park is the evening we spend stargazing at Logan Pass. Surrounded by mountains and miles removed from any ambient light, you are blanketed with darkness. Upon the pitch-black canvas of the night sky,…

As we continue to respond to the needs we’re encountering nationwide, we’ve once again curated some of our articles, podcasts, and other resources, organizing them under key areas of need and opportunity. Please use these resources in whatever way is most helpful to you in…

For a few months last year, the church I pastor practiced pausing at “thresholds” throughout the week. Each time we came to a doorway, we were asked to pause, to become aware of our leaving one place and going to another and to prepare for…

Over the next several weeks, my colleagues and I will be reflecting on the “I Am” statements in the Gospel of John.  The practice of reflecting upon, and recalling who God is, should be a source of comfort for us – especially in times of trouble,…

Over the next several weeks, my colleagues and I will be reflecting on the “I Am” statements in the Gospel of John.  The practice of reflecting upon, and recalling who God is, should be a source of comfort for us – especially in times of…

Writing in The New York Times last month, Margaret Renkl brought back to me a key moment in this past season of “The White Lotus:” Not quite halfway through the new season of HBO’s “The White Lotus,” a young woman, Portia, breaks into tears at…

Years ago, when I was invited to participate in a cohort for the Ministry Collaborative (then called Macedonian Ministry), I had no idea of the impact it would have on my life.  I admit that I was more than a bit skeptical about the outcomes…

  For me, one of the most striking images of the Civil Rights movement is the photograph below. It’s from the march from Selma to Montgomery, March 1965. On the far left is Martin Luther King, Jr. and on the far right is Rabbi Abraham Heschel,…

Snapshots of the Life-Giving God. Week 2: God Our Constant Companion Snapshots capture unique moments of our lives that often suggest something about who we are, what and who we care about, where we find joy, and how we make meaning. In a similar way,…

Snapshots of the Life-Giving God. Week 1: God the River. Snapshots capture unique moments of our lives that often suggest something about who we are, what and who we care about, where we find joy, and how we make meaning. In a similar way, scripture…

I think one of the most important words Jesus ever spoke was the word “today.” Give us today our daily bread. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing….

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn,…

If you were to ask someone from the 1st or 2nd c. CE what they thought the church needed to be talking about, I’m pretty sure they would say “the resurrection.” It’s front and center in Paul’s letters. It is there in the church’s first…

In what follows, I’m essentially banging the same “The Great Opt Out” drum as I did a couple weeks ago, though at a slightly different tempo. I think we should immediately discard any version of the question, “what do we do to get folks back…

The last few years have taken something from all of us.  Some of us are bereaved and going through the stages of grief.  But all of us are at some stage of mourning.  It took my wife, the mental health counselor, to tell me that…

Yes, people are opting out of “church.” No surprise there. But what are they actually opting out of? And what does this say about what matters, what doesn’t, and what we might more intentionally move toward? Earlier this month, Dr. Scott Thumma, director of the…

In recent weeks, my colleagues and I have been writing about what conversations pastors and their congregations need to be having right now. High on that list for me is what it means to pursue shared leadership between clergy and laity. Exodus 18 offers a…

I have a confession. When my children were in elementary school, I was notorious for picking them up late. It began when I was in seminary across town and had to speed back to our side of town to get them. The teachers were amazing…

John and May Hakala were second-generation Finns who lived for a time in Kotzebue, Alaska. Kotzebue is remote—even for Alaska. Pastor Michael Lindvall, who knew the Hakalas when he was growing up, heard stories of their life in this far-off place, including one about eggs….

To say we have been through a lot over these past few years is a gross understatement. The seismic shifts that are still occurring across every area of our lives – the enormity of the adjustments we have had to make in our lives and…

Since his recent passing, Frederick Buechner’s words have been with me more frequently, shared by friends sharing on social media, emerging from memory, and on pages that I’ve gone searching for when I couldn’t quite remember how he had phrased a particular idea or insight…

Recently, while hanging out with friends, one friend was telling us all about the relationship she shares with her new significant other. We all smiled and shared her happiness as she spoke of their synergy and like-mindedness, of the ways they are different yet complimentary…

In his 2018 TheoEd Talk, “Resurrecting Church,” activist Shane Claiborne remarks that none of the significant problems facing our communities can be solved from a distance. Social and spiritual change requires taking the risk of getting close and making connections. We see this message playing…

I’ve had recent conversations with several dozen pastors serving congregations in diverse settings.  Their descriptions of their ministry challenges were what most of us could expect these days.  One by one, they all raised the same daunting concern:  broken connections.  Broken connections within the congregation…

45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter7 said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”[1] Luke 8:45 We are years into a global pandemic, and we have witnessed the resiliency and creativity of Christian…

“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength. But you refused” Isaiah 30:15 NRSV Our pursuit of our best life will not save us. Nor will it satisfy…

“God uses all kinds of people to reach all kinds of people.”  This simple, yet profound statement was made several years ago by my friend and brother, Rev. Andre’ D. Waller.  I think a lot of us in ministry would do well to remember this. …

I love how Eugene Peterson translates the first few verses of Philippians 2. “If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if His love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you,…

The movie theater in my city has $5 Tuesdays, where you can watch any movie for $5. If they have a movie that starts early enough for me to see it before I have to pick up my three kids from school, I go by…

“This is hard” the words came quick, without warning catching me off guard. I wasn’t expecting this confession. Not from her, not today. I had already reached the limits of my own exhaustion and anxiety. I had already used my comforting words for the day…

“Other seed fell into good soil…”        – Mark 4:8 In the shed at Farm Church, we have a tool that looks like it doesn’t belong. It hangs among the rakes, trowels, and digging forks, looking strangely out of place, until we need it, and…

I rushed home yesterday after work so that I could get in my yard and do some much needed trimming and clipping, but after getting about halfway through the yard the heavens opened and it began to rain – not a downpour but a gentle…

In recent months we’ve been reflecting on trust building and mending the social fabric. Concurrently, I’ve had the opportunity to lead some group facilitation training sessions and have been coaching a few individuals who inhabit systems of dysfunction and distrust. All of this has had…

One of my favorite movie scenes of all time, is the waterfall fight scene in the movie Black Panther wherein M’Baku challenges Prince T’Challa for the kingship of Wakanda (if you haven’t seen it, you may watch a clip here). There is a moment when M’Baku seems to be winning…

How can pastors work to heal the tattered social fabric of their communities? I’ve been thinking a lot about this question since recently returning from a trip to Israel-Palestine with two Ministry Collaborative cohorts. While there, we spent time in the Galilee and Jerusalem having…

hind·er  verb create difficulties for (someone or something), resulting in delay or obstruction Peter’s education as a follower of Jesus didn’t end with Jesus’ ascension.  The Book of Acts highlights God’s relentless work on opening Peter up to hard challenges.  These surprises for Peter largely…

I wrote these words before I learned of the mass shootings that occurred over this weekend.  My first inclination was to scrap them but then I read them again and they remain true to me… Pardon me if they seem a bit preachy but here…

Over the next several weeks we’ll be reflecting on how congregations and other ministry contexts serve as spaces of trust-building, mending social fabric, and faith formation that joins people in hope across difference. Here, I want to consider for a moment what an expression of…

A couple years ago when I started the Digital Hospitality Retreats as an experiment, the driving need I imagined was people needed space to connect with God in the midst of the unknown. We were just entering the widespread pandemic of COVID-19, shelter-in-place, school at…

I like how Eugene Peterson translates this section of Hebrews 13: 10-12 The altar from which God gives us the gift of himself is not for exploitation by insiders who grab and loot. In the old system, the animals are killed and the bodies disposed of…

It’s no wonder that most pastors and church folk would like to never think or have to talk about the political/social divide in our society ever again.  It is literally tearing churches – and pastors – apart.  Accepting the warring categories in our culture as…

As a third-generation preacher I have been in the church my whole life, however, there were times where my church involvement and attendance was episodic at best. Yes, I was one of “those people” who didn’t attend church regularly despite my deep relationship with Jesus…

When I think of the “where” of the formation that has taken place in my life, there are certainly some places and spaces where I can “drop a pin” and say, I was changed here. In reality, I was not changed in that place. The…

The end of Luke’s Gospel can teach us a lot about where spiritual formation happens. It’s Easter afternoon. Two individuals, likely a man and a woman, are traveling the road to Emmaus after having been in Jerusalem for Passover. The recently resurrected Jesus appears to…

Over the next several weeks my colleagues and I will be reflecting on the “Where of Faith Formation.”  The challenges of doing our work as pastors and clergy are already numerous. With so many of us displaced from our places of worship over the last…

Navigating the complexity of vocational discernment has always been a tricky dance to learn, not to mention master. Too many times, we find ourselves stumbling through the process trying to learn the steps or the choreography as we go while trying to convince those around…

Many years ago, we moved to a new community. As the moving van was unloading the last of its boxes, a neighbor came over to introduce herself.  Looking at the out-of-state license plates on our cars, she asked what brought us to town.  I explained…

What is the goal of vocational discernment? For many, it’s arriving at a clearer sense of what job they should pursue. Should I be a pastor, lawyer, accountant, teacher, electrician, coach, or counselor? Should I go for a solo pastor position at a small church…

A multitude of wise counselors. There are so many fascinating trends in our culture that have been accelerated by the pandemic. The one that most concerns me is the growing epidemic of isolation and loneliness. Pew, Gallup, Barna, Cigna, Harvard, and everyone else who has…

Over the next several weeks, I and my colleagues will be thinking through the Complexity of Navigating Vocational Discernment during these strange and wonderful times.  If you’re like me and have a poor sense of direction, it’s very easy to get lost.  But finding one’s…

In her lifetime of dispensing wisdom, Maya Angelou was fond of saying: “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.”  What is at stake right now is our need to invite hope to occupy the space of imagination about who our…

We’ve been talking a lot the past few weeks about “what’s at stake.” As a reminder, here are some things not at stake.   God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. That you are fearfully and wonderfully made. The long arc of God’s perfect justice. The soul’s…

In mid-December, the outdoor clothing company Patagonia announced that it would be closing all its stores, warehouses, and offices from Christmas through New Year’s Day. For a company that does over $220 million in annual sales, a week off is no small thing. So, why…

Over the next several weeks, as a follow-up to our recent Roundtable Podcast (Check it out if you haven’t already: What’s at Stake?), we will be reflecting on the question, “What’s at Stake?” We are surveying our experiences over the last several years to unpack the…

Over the next several weeks, as a follow to our recent Roundtable Podcast (Check it out if you haven’t already: What’s at Stake?), we will be reflecting on the question, “What’s at Stake?” We are surveying our experiences over the last several years in an…

I subscribe to lots of church newsletters, emailed weekly.  With these subscriptions often come daily advent devotionals.  You know the drill:  miscellaneous members and pastors and staff write a short devotional, usually on a Biblical text (that may be referenced in the devotional…or not) and…

It’s official the great resignation is upon us, but you don’t need me to tell you this. Newspapers, blogs, political pundits, and your own life experiences tell the story of the masses of employees who are collectively refusing the low-wages, absent benefits, and dangerous working…

What does it take to be resilient? Popular opinion has it that resilience is the result of mental toughness, tenacity, grit, discipline, strength, and/or thick skin. There’s some truth to this, but each of these answers assumes that resilience is primarily about enduring through a…

“Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.” Yeah, right. There’s been no shortage of ink spilled, thoughts spent, and lectures given over the course of the pandemic on how we can all be more “resilient.” That’s all fine and good. I’ve…

The word ‘contentment’ carries for many of us a negative connotation of complacency and ease that is the enemy of progress and productivity, so we’ve been disciplined to resist it.  We are driven, motivated, accomplished, and busy.  There is always something more to do, another…

Last week, I had the chance to spend some time with a large group of ELCA pastors from the Midwest. Despite being from the heart of Lutheran country they, like the rest of us, are facing the full litany of declining things: members, attendance, budgets,…

We are fast approaching the American holiday that will launch thousands of tweets, posts, and photos with largely the same theme:  a crowded table of people and food and some sentiment on how the person posting is “feeling grateful.” Culturally, that may work.  Biblically, it…

When I wake up in the afternoon Which it pleases me to do Don’t nobody bring me no bad news ‘Cause I wake up already negative And I’ve wired up my fuse So don’t nobody bring me no bad news   When you’re talking to…

Vocation is not so much what we do, it’s how we do it. It’s not so much a question of occupation but of operation and orientation, the way in which we do things and the posture we take. One of the best ways of summing…

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does…

Do you know what that sound is?  It’s the sound of too many voices in your head. The voices of people arguing about masks, vaccines, and policies for in-person worship. The voices of people offering more opinions than support. The voices of faith working through…

Can we talk? Depending on your age and social location when you read this question you may think of the popular Tevin Campbell song of the early 1990’s of the same name and the infectious chorus: Can we talk for a minute? Girl, I want…

On a recent podcast, political strategist Paul Begala was commenting on the strident forms of conflict expressed in the political sphere, especially on social media.  He admitted that he was deeply involved on Twitter, with thousands of followers.  Almost as an aside, he said: For…

An old saying among black folks is that we laugh to keep from crying.  We sing and dance in defiance to the dreadfulness of our days.  Our joy protests the persistent suffering and instability that has so often shaded our path.  Frustratingly, it has left…

Lost in the hoopla surrounding this past weekend’s kick-off to the NFL season is one of America’s great sporting events: the US Open tennis finals. This year was spectacular. In the men’s final, the two top seeds squared off with a Grand Slam bid on…

“I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1 Our lives are full of constantly shifting circumstances, disruptions, and potential distractions.  The one thing that is likely never to change is the reality that everything will…

Is it true that, if you were stranded on a desert island and could only eat parsley, you would die of starvation, since the effort to eat it is more than the nutrition you would receive? When I ask about the presence of parsley on…

Dear God, Right now I’m sitting in a quiet room in my home. My dog snores beside me. A cup of warm tea and a laptop, my phone, a prayer book, a novel, gifts from my nieces and nephews surround me. On my run this morning,…

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.  Luke 9:62 Remember Lot’s wife. Luke 17:32 One of the greatest things I ever learned from running in track meets in grade school…

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. Proverbs 15:4 My prayer today is simple: “LORD, allow my words to be seasoned with both truth and grace; may they build up and not tear down; may they heal…

Every detail works to your advantage and to God’s glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise! 2 Corinthians 4:15 Sometimes when you are born into dysfunction, you just learn to live with things.  Sometimes when you are confronted with…

The greatest commandments are these: Love the LORD with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31).  I used to think that hate was the opposite of love, but I’ve since learned that hate is the absence of…

We often face circumstances that don’t make sense – situations that challenge both our faith and our rationality.  The longer I live, the more often I find myself confronted with these types of things.  One might think that this would leave me discouraged and broken,…

My husband Josiah, a cheerful, relational sort of person, loves to comment on “that good old Nakamura pessimism.”  I, of course, prefer to think of myself as a realist than a pessimist… but I’ll definitely own up to being a “prepper.”  Not quite to the…

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”  – Hebrews 12:1 Picture a church…

A few months ago as vaccines were becoming widely available, one of my biggest encouragers in the faith community I pastor, suggested I make some time to go away and rest. Pretty soon, she imagined, “we will hit the ground running.” On the one hand,…

“Here am I Lord; send me!”  Isaiah’s call, one of the lectionary readings for Trinity Sunday, captured my attention again when invited to preach on that Sunday.  We will not go into the heaviness of his call – I will save you from the sermon…

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.  ….These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: …. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven…

One of the great paradoxes of our age is that while we’ve never been more connected to one another on social media, we’ve also never felt more alone. More than a third of Americans over 45 report being lonely. Feelings of isolation are especially acute…

“The rush back to normalcy is aggressive. Give us a minute.” Unknown This morning as I began my day and clicked onto Instagram, this was the quote that greeted me. I couldn’t comment “Amen” fast enough and I wasn’t alone. Within an hour hundreds of…

37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Matthew 26:37   Life is hard. Ministry is difficult.  These are perhaps the understatements of the year.  But life and ministry are even more difficult when we…

For about the 20th time over the past 6 weeks, it happened again this morning. I got on the phone with an extraordinarily gifted, sharp, experienced, faithful pastor who recently began to gently nudge his congregation on some culturally controversial issues (you know what they…

Getting an ending right is not easy. Just ask the writers of popular TV shows like Dexter, Game of Thrones, The Good Place, or Seinfeld. The last episode of each of these series left fans confused and disappointed, muttering to themselves, “Wait, what? That can’t…

The Easter accounts in the gospels feature a lot of running.  Resurrection may cause that in people.  In John, the women and the disciples are practically running a relay race from and to the empty tomb.  In Matthew, the followers of Jesus are told in…

“When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.” Matthew 28:17 At the beginning of the pandemic, a friend was asking me about my thoughts on quarantine life. I told her I didn’t think it was going to be as quick or easy as…

There’s been no shortage of reflection and conversation over the past year about what’s been revealed by our multiple societal crises. So many dynamics – economic, social, political, cultural, and indeed ecclesial – that lay under the surface suddenly came to the fore in jarring…

We’ve just celebrated Easter 2021. We’ve endured a full year of this pandemic, political and social unrest, and likely an untold number of personal struggles that accompany these external pressures. We have had to discern a new way of being in a world that feels…

As we enter the Lenten Season for the next few weeks, The Ministry Collaborative staff will be inviting you into conversation with us on topics that we’ve seen bubbling under the surface of our work and experience as ministry leaders. Our goal is to use…

We’ve all heard it before, and probably even have said it ourselves: The church is dying. This diagnosis is based on troubling symptoms we’ve seen in recent years. Worship attendance is down, fewer people are participating in church programming, and an alarming number of congregations…

As we enter the Lenten Season for the next few weeks, The Ministry Collaborative staff will be inviting you into conversation with us on topics that we’ve seen bubbling under the surface of our work and experience as ministry leaders. Our goal is to use…

We have heard it said that adversity brings out both the best and the worst in who we really are. The times are telling on all of us, as we’ve had plenty of opportunity to reckon with ourselves over the last year. The compounded crises…

As we enter the Lenten Season for the next few weeks, The Ministry Collaborative staff will be inviting you into conversation with us on topics that we’ve seen bubbling under the surface of our work and experience as ministry leaders. Our goal is to use…

As we enter the Lenten Season for the next few weeks, The Ministry Collaborative staff will be inviting you into conversation with us on topics that we’ve seen bubbling under the surface of our work and experience as ministry leaders. Our goal is to use…

“Seminary didn’t prepare me for this.” I hear this sort of statement all the time, from senior pastors to newly minted MDiv grads. These are really talented folks who have gone to great seminaries and who care deeply about the church and the world. Yet…

If you’re reading this, then congratulations, you have successfully navigated almost one whole year in the pandemic. One year ago we were all bracing ourselves for the onslaught of fear, pain, death, anxiety and grief that none of us could’ve foreseen. In some ways 2020…

Among the top three questions we are getting these days from pastors and congregational leaders:  How can we plan for our ministry in the next year?  Or, do you have strategic planning tools to recommend? In every office I have moved into upon starting a…

In all my work as a pastor and alongside pastors over the past 12 years or so, I’ve never witnessed a time when clergy were feeling more stuck, beaten down, conflicted, exhausted, and, for some, simply hopeless, than I have over the past nine months….

My mother used to tell me that, “If you lie, you will cheat, if you cheat, you will steal, and if you steal, you will kill.”  She would follow by telling me that there’s nothing worse than a liar.  “You can guard yourself against a…

It’s January, and that means one thing: New Year’s Resolutions. Eat better. Exercise more. Spend less. Make it through one of those read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year programs. Whatever the goal, New Year’s Resolutions produce two contrasting impulses in me. The first is hope. January heralds the possibility of…

Dear friends and colleagues, At the outset of this new year, we wanted to express several pressing things to you. First and foremost, thank you.  Thank you for the faithful, inspired, life-changing work you’ve given yourself to over the past year. You’ve been sharing in…

Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com revealed their “word of the year” last week.  Unsurprisingly, that word was “pandemic.”  More interesting were the words that were “runners-up”- including “bubble,” “pod,” “social-distancing,” “face-masks,” and “lockdown.”  There was another set of runners-up that dug deeper into how this year has…

The Birmingham 2.0 Cohort of The Ministry Collaborative have transitioned to the next phase of our journey together.  Our official time together ended this month, but the relationships that began over three years ago have been deepened and our commitment to support on another has…

One of the things we’re learning during COVID-19 is that many in our communities are longing for “thirdspaces.” Thirdspace is a term used by sociologists to describe where we spend time when we’re not at home (“first” space) or at work (“second” space). Thirdspaces can…

As I sat down to write today’s article pondering the prompt, “What have we learned?” I immediately began pulling up emails, and scouring studies, and statistics. I then turned to several bloggers I respect and read their brilliant think pieces. I even logged onto some…

As we enter the last stretch of 2020, we want to share what we’re seeing and learning about pastors and congregations across the country.  I’m sure we’ll get into to some nuts and bolts analysis of these themes in the coming weeks, but I simply…

Over the past week, many of us have held our breath as we awaited results from the election. In the agonizing period between Tuesday and Saturday, I must have hit refresh on the blue-and-red map a thousand times. Never have four days felt longer. Yet,…

One of the strong impressions this year has made on me is the growing distrust – or disdain – of words.  There are active attempts to undermine the words of those in positions of responsibility.  But there is something more personal involving so much hard…

Growing up my mother always warned us, “There’s no safe place down here.” Whenever we went to her for an explanation of something crazy happening in the world she reminded us that this world is not our home and safety wasn’t hers to give. Yesterday…

2020 is one for the books for sure.  We have all been riding this ridiculous rollercoaster for months now and are likely worn thin by worry and anxiety.  Our souls are disquieted by the uncertainty of the times.  But amid these crises, I offer you…

Half-hearted ministry is killing us. Every bit as much as half-hearted living leads us into dead ends, half-hearted ministry is leaving congregations adrift and clergy and other church staff looking for, as more than one pastor has said to me lately, “a ticket out.” This…

“The antidote to exhaustion is not rest, it’s wholeheartedness.” – David Whyte. This simple yet profound statement has captured the imaginations of The Ministry Collaborative (TMC) staff since we discovered it last spring. At that time, we were all new to pandemic life and experiencing…

“The antidote to exhaustion is not rest, it’s wholeheartedness.” – David Whyte. This simple yet profound statement has captured the imaginations of The Ministry Collaborative (TMC) staff since we discovered it last spring. At that time, we were all new to pandemic life and experiencing…

“The antidote to exhaustion is not rest, it’s wholeheartedness.” – David Whyte. This simple yet profound statement has captured the imaginations of The Ministry Collaborative (TMC) staff since we discovered it last spring. At that time, we were all new to pandemic life and experiencing…

Dear friends and colleagues, Your continued support for one another from coast to coast is inspiring. We have the privilege of being able to observe how you all are connecting, communicating, encouraging, and challenging one another in this truly remarkable time of ministry, and we…

“The antidote to exhaustion is not rest, it’s wholeheartedness.” – David Whyte. This simple yet profound statement has captured the imaginations of The Ministry Collaborative (TMC) staff since we discovered it last spring. At that time, we were all new to pandemic life and experiencing…

Everyone loves a superhero. At least I do. There is something about the way ordinary people, with ordinary lives are transformed by some hidden ability allowing them to do extraordinary things. We recently lost a beloved actor, Chadwick Bosman, who gave us King T’Challa in…

The pain, grief, dislocation, and uncertainty generated by this pandemic feel endless.  As it turns out, so do the lists. Top Ten Comfort Foods in Quarantine Fifteen overlooked movies of the 1980’s Essential TV shows to Binge Today (yes, it is time to watch The…

  A member of Macedonian Ministry’s Atlanta 4 Cohort, Matt serves as Executive Pastor at The Living Room Community Church in the Tri-Cities of Washington where he architects structures and processes that support the vision and mission of the church. He leads change, builds culture,…

Is it me or does it seem like we are stuck in the movie Groundhog Day? For some reason the past couple of weeks feels oddly like the first weeks of quarantine life back in March (April or May depending where you live). Although we’ve…

In recent weeks, I’ve begun hearing people talk about social justice fatigue. This refers to the physical, mental, and/or emotional toll incurred through advocating for social change. There’s no doubt, standing up against racial injustice or any other form of violence and marginalization is exhausting…

“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.” ― Frederick Buechner  In this moment, there are a lot of variables that seems out of our control, and a lot of variables that simply aren’t going very well. But we can make a…

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  Matthew 11:28-29 The…

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For…

A recent post by my favorite daily blogger, Seth Godin, contains a great deal of complexity in its few lines: When you talk about your last job, your last vacation, the things that happened when you were 12… What do you lead with? Do you…

Over the past several weeks, I’ve found myself reflecting on Richard Rohr’s notion of “The Edge of Inside.”  Being on the edge of inside means being connected to an established system but not being beholden to it or reliant upon it. Sometimes, being too far…

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:29 When we think about naming and labeling, recall how God gave Adam the job of naming what He created. That naming was not just a vocabulary challenge, but it…

“Anger and tears create the space for the work of the Spirit. They are the groaning of the Spirit for renewal of creation and an expression of compassion thus revealing a deep spiritual well. To fear our tears or to suppress our anger is to…

This past weekend I participated in a protest here in Atlanta, Georgia organized by my daughter and some of her former classmates at The Lovett School. The small group of college freshman and sophomore’s decided to hold a protest in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta,…

Christian Conscience in Crisis: A Statement About The Most Recent Painful and Poignant Examples of Racial Injustice In Our Society.   The Ministry Collaborative has long been committed to creating spaces and processes for nurturing deep, trusting relationships across perceived barriers in communities, especially between…

To assume that peace exists or can be maintained simply by remaining silent, is a misrepresentation of what peace is. To remain silent in the face of oppression or violence, is not “peace,” and that silence is not “golden.” This false peace is more akin…

Over the past two months, we’ve been listening and learning alongside pastors and lay leaders from all over the country, from a broad diversity of backgrounds and contexts, about the complexities of ministry right now. Below, we’ve attempted to compile a list of quotes, questions,…

Our Advisory Board here at MMF is an amazing group of women and men  who are engaged in ministry from many different angles in diverse places around the country.  On a call with them last week, we were talking about all the challenges facing pastors…

Last December I read the book, “Be Fearless: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose” by Jean Case who uses compelling storytelling to illustrate how bold decision-making and acts of fearlessness have changed the world. I remember it as a decent read, but…

  And actually, the question is about a question. What do you think are the most important questions that pastors in congregations can be asking right now? Click here to respond. Our aim is to gather as much information as possible from ministry leaders everywhere…

“Joy is resistance to disorder, cynicism, entropy and despair. It is not simply resistance but courageous resistance that, I suspect, transcends reason. Most miraculous experiences baffle reason…”  ~ Toi Derricote, African American Poet As Christians, our joy is rooted in the living hope we have…

Last week Mark Ramsey wrote a thought-provoking article titled “Timing,” wherein he challenged us as clergy to open our thinking to the wondrous things that Jesus is doing “out there” in the world. He stated that the resurrected Jesus had gone ahead of the disciples and their…

Last Friday afternoon – Good Friday – I talked with three pastor colleagues, all of whom had “finished” their work for the weekend.  They had concluded recordings of their Good Friday and Easter services.  Now, they were contemplating what was usually the most stressful weekend…

Matthew 28:6–8 ESV 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he[a] lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to…

To all you pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and congregation members who are rapidly adjusting, adapting, and trying new things, some of which are going well and others which aren’t going well at all, don’t forget… God is rejoicing over you! In the midst of an…

In faith communities all over – large and small, rural and urban – church leaders are wrestling with the challenges of Easter Day. Many are trying to figure out how to do it online, in a way that captures the “specialness” that has usually accompanied…

We’ve been in awe over the last couple of weeks witnessing the extraordinary resilience, creativity, and faithfulness of pastors and lay leaders all across the U.S. and the world.  It’s amazing to see how quickly we can interpret the circumstances and adapt when necessary.  It…

Join us for a nationwide Zoom call on Wed, 2pm ET, at https://zoom.us/j/173865252. No registration required. Just click and join us! As the COVID-19 global health crisis continues to expand, we are in a rapidly increasing number of conversations with pastors all over the country…

For the past couple of weeks my colleagues Adam Borneman and Mark Ramsey have been posting our reflections, observations and findings from a recent gathering we held on the economics of ministry. The fact that we are still mining nuggets of wisdom is proof of…

Last week in Atlanta, we convened about two dozen pastors, lay leaders, and other church leaders from around the country to talk about the pressing challenges of ministry economics with a focus on property, space, and buildings. Now if that doesn’t get you amped up…

9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:9 In our previous post, Rev. Jennifer Watley Maxell, used the phrase ‘shared consumption’ as a form of collaboration.  It stuck with…

  “The hard thing when you get old is to keep your horizons open. The first part of your life everything is in front of you, all your potential and promise. But over the years, you make decisions; you carve yourself into a given shape….

One of the traps we see ministries falling into revolves around this set of assumptions: We have the youth ministry lane, the worship lane, the adult education lane, the missions lane, the communications lane, and so on.  And then an individual, group, or committee is…

These two charts (among many others!) have been very helpful to me for understanding why so many ministries struggle with collaboration even while rightly naming it as a priority. Simply put, we tend to talk a lot about collaboration without describing what we actually mean…

For many of us 2020 has started the same as any other year with an endless list of task, chores, errands and to-do’s. No matter how we ended 2019, 2020 demands that some things must be done. As for pastors and church leaders, there are…

Most of us learned a certain way of doing chores:  we were told to get through with all the “compulsory things” and then we would be “rewarded “ with something fun or meaningful. First the mundane, then the meaningful. I think we’ve imported this approach…

This year has been amazing! To each of you who has joined us in this wonderful work of supporting, equipping and transforming pastors and congregations, we say thank you! Whether you have served as a facilitator, a cohort member, a presenter, a conversation partner, a…

What are your church’s biggest problems?  You know – the ones that have people talking in meetings, in the hall, in the parking lot… Chances are that if you’re a leader in your congregation, you could make a list of problems in a quick minute. …

I am a life-long Presbyterian who loves the church. I went to a Presbyterian seminary, where I was formed by Presbyterian theology. It has been Presbyterian pastors and lay people who have shaped me, and it is a Presbyterian pension and medical plan that secures…