“Since churches aren’t meeting on Sunday, pastors shouldn’t draw a salary.” I’ve actually heard that (more than once) from people during this COVID19 pandemic. Do pastors really have less to do now? You tell me. Pastoral care needs have increased. People are in crises. Not just some people, but everyone. Health. Employment. Isolation. Fear.Continue reading “One hour a week?”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
By what measure?
“Would we be here, having this discussion, if someone hadn’t told you that healthy churches must be large and/or growing?” I was the new conference minister of Illinois Mennonite Conference (MC USA). I was sitting with a small church’s leadership team who asked me to help them discern if they should close. As we talked,Continue reading “By what measure?”
Theology and culture
Theology has everything to do with culture. To understand a Generation X theology, we must understand Generation X culture, and vice versa. When I first studied theology, I thought I was going to be living with my head in the clouds, floating in an airy, spiritual nothingness. I imagined myself returning to earth at theContinue reading “Theology and culture”
The what and why don’t change, just the how
The current pandemic is disrupting familiar patterns of work like, including pastoral ministry. Congregations don’t meet in person on Sunday morning. In person team/committee meetings must follow social distancing guidelines (my mom, who is an elder at her church, insists on a solid 6 feet between her and others). Checking in on people is nowContinue reading “The what and why don’t change, just the how”
What’s the miracle?
There’s a story in the Bible where Jesus and his disciples go into the wilderness. A large crowd followed them – like 5,000 men, not counting women and children. Diner hour was approaching and the disciples were concerned that the crowd needed to eat. Jesus told them to feed the crowd. The disciples panicked. HowContinue reading “What’s the miracle?”
A question good leaders ask!
Is there anything I said that is wrong or misstated? Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York The above quote came during a daily press conference on New York’s response to the COVID19 pandemic. It is a question that good leaders ask. As leaders, we know what we are trying to say. How we say itContinue reading “A question good leaders ask!”
Want to grow your church?
I’ve spent over two decades as a local church pastor in congregations concerned about growth. In my experience, folks look for every tool or technique for growth except the ones Jesus gave us. Invitation and inclusion. Jesus invited people to life in the Kingdom as co-heirs of God’s good gifts and co-laborers in God’s shalomContinue reading “Want to grow your church?”
…when an organization is doing badly…
Fear is such a powerful motivator that it can force us to act in ways that are completely counter to our own or our organization’s best interests. Fear can push us to choose the best finite option at the risk of doing infinite damage. And when we face fear, we hide the truth. Which isContinue reading “…when an organization is doing badly…”
Tears
It’s impossible to love human beings without shedding tears. Dr. Cornel West, Joe Rogan Experience #1325
When you use a word…
Missional…I can hear the groans. In church circles (does anyone else use that word?) the word missional is overused and ill-defined. That makes it practically useless. Yet, it seems church folks insist on using it. It goes a step further. Often people use the word missional to communicate something important/distinct/etc. while actually complaining that theContinue reading “When you use a word…”
