One of the summer’s notable news events was the death of American author and Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison. Reflecting on Morrison’s legacy for the New York Times, American poet and recent U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K Smith observed: It’s hard, waking up so often to news...
Disruption comes in many forms. There is the disruption that we plan and manage. And then there is the disruption that comes unbidden and unwelcome but often brings unexpected gifts. I’m mostly talking about when things go wrong. There was the Sunday the toilets overflowed....
Note: Throughout the summer we are revisiting posts of the past year, grouped around common themes. We will return with new posts starting next week. You can arrange a meeting room in just the right way. Everyone can come to the church board meeting having read everything...
Time and talent sheets are surveys that ostensibly present opportunities for service in the congregation and invite people to get more involved in church life. By and large they are a waste of time. Congregations are rarely poised to activate all responses in a timely...
Note: Throughout the summer we are revisiting posts of the past year, grouped around common themes. We will return with new entries right after Labor Day. In less than 100 days we will be back in the end-of-year rush. For church boards, that means pressured discussions...
There are numerous factors and forces that disrupt the life of the church – everything from conflicts and situations unique to a specific congregation to the whole North American church in general navigating an indifferent, secular culture and we have been exploring disruption in this...
Note: Throughout the summer we are revisiting posts of the past year, grouped around common themes. We will return with new entries right after Labor Day. There is so much in congregational life that pulls us – pastors, staff, and church boards – to look down...
Disruption has gotten a bad rap. It’s almost like “the name that shall not be spoken.” We spend a great deal of time and energy trying to avoid disruption and reinforce status quo. This is remarkable, because disruption is our friend. Disruption is the friend...
Note: Throughout the summer we are revisiting posts of the past year, grouped around common themes. We will return with new entries right after Labor Day. Can you hear it? Can you feel the rumble of your church’s program train pulling out of the station and...