Many things we do in congregations are default ministries. We worship God; engage in compassionate, active pastoral care; seek to help our members grow spiritually; and find faithful ways to serve our neighbors near and far in mission. These default ministries have been going on since the creation of congregations. If we aren’t doing these basic things well, we and our congregations will suffer.
planning
Living into a Both-And World
Time and time again in congregations, I encounter either-or thinking. People want to focuseither on church growth or mission to the world; maintain the building or give the staff much needed pay increases; focus on the number of people who attend worship or the number of people our ministry “touches” during the week; have classical or praise music. In so doing, we pit things against each other that should be working together for the glory of God and shared purpose of the congregation.
Revitalization, in a Pastor’s Own Words
What is the secret of revitalizing a congregation? One pastor’s answer, found at the Big Tent Revival.
Chaos Theory and Congregational Life
One reason for congregational decline may be that congregations are still operating on Newtonian principles in a social universe that no longer functions that way.
What to Do When Nothing Works Anymore
If you’re doing everything you’ve always done as a congregation but it’s not working anymore, you may be alarmed, but you’re not alone. Once upon a time, we all shared a congregational business model that seemed effective and ordained: Over the last couple of decades, however, this model has changed. Now, growing congregations look very …
What’s Your Brand?
by Dan Hotchkiss
Successful store managers know there’s one thing customers like even more than quality, convenience, or low prices: People like to get what they expect. And so smart store managers advertise a strong, distinctive “brand” and consistently deliver customer experiences that fit that brand. Churches and synagogues can learn from this.
Quick Wins
by John Wimberly
Yes, it is a gimmick. But it is a gimmick that works. When creating a strategic plan, I always encourage congregations to include one or two strategies that they will accomplish a highly visible change in a matter of one or two months. I call these quick wins.