Periodically, we need a reminder of why we write this blog and what our hopes are for church boards. A recent report from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) serves as just such a reminder. The PRRI report announced its findings last week with the headline:...
Congregational and Pastoral Formation Curator Amy Valdez Barker speaks again with the Rev. Shannon Karafanda (Trinity UMC, Cartersville, GA) about disruptive acts of kindness, the science of generosity, and bridging the church and the world....
Blog series: Lost in TranslationUsing 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. My...
The musical Wicked, which is both a prequel and sequel to The Wizard of Oz, tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch), and their relationship struggles through opposing personalities and viewpoints. In one...
Program Director Adam Borneman and Facilitator Curator Beth Daniel speak about the seeming urgency of church programming, the growing gap between the interest in institutional and spiritual investment, and how congregational leaders also need to hear the word they proclaim. You can read more from the...
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. Earthquakes....
It’s a trap, especially for church boards. When people come back to worship post-pandemic, then we will be able to feel a vitality again. When we get the right pastor, then things can begin to fire on all cylinders. When these troublesome members leave, then we can finally...
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 want...
Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Watley Maxell, Amy Valdez Barker, Adam Mixon, Beth Daniel, Adam Borneman, and Mark Ramsey) talk about the pressure on pastors to react, what it means to trust God fully, and the importance of tethering our stories to the hope of...