Author Archives: Israel Galindo

About Israel Galindo

Israel Galindo is Coordinator of the Leadership in Ministry program at the Center for Lifelong Learning, Columbia Theological Seminary. Formerly he was Associate Dean for Lifelong Learning at Columbia Theological Seminary and Dean at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.

On belonging and membership

Posted on May 3, 2007 by Israel Galindo

Recently some pastors were challenged by my description of how my former church handled membership. As a “covenant community” church there was no “voting” on membership. You became a member of the congregation by entering into covenant with the congregation … Continue reading →

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How to turn your thesis (dissertation, D.Min. project) into a book

Posted on May 2, 2007 by Israel Galindo

In the past two weeks I’ve had three conversations with people wanting to “learn how to write.” In a future blog I may compile some thoughts about that since the conversation comes up regularly (and the other day, a former … Continue reading →

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The enduring concepts

Posted on May 1, 2007 by Israel Galindo

I recently had a conversation with a couple of professors from other seminaries about our Christian education (C.E.) curriculum at BTSR. One was in the midst of creating an M.A. program in religious education and the other was in the … Continue reading →

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Avoiding triviality

Posted on April 30, 2007 by Israel Galindo

In Toward a Theory of Instruction, Jerome Bruner insists that a theory of development must be linked both to a theory of knowledge and to a theory of instruction, “or be doomed to triviality.” (Bruner p. 21) I’ve long felt … Continue reading →

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On plants and Sunday school

Posted on April 28, 2007 by Israel Galindo

I recently got a surprise evening phone call from a member at my former church. She had been in my Sunday school class and we had served together briefly on a church committee. Despite it having been over eight years … Continue reading →

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The myth of confidentiality and the binding triangle

Posted on April 27, 2007 by Israel Galindo

During a recent consultation I tried to help a minister work through some stuckness. He was stuck in what I call a “binding triangle” as a result of falling into the trap of the myth of confidentiality. A church member … Continue reading →

Posted in bowen family systems theory | 2 Comments

Basic rules for educational planning

Posted on April 26, 2007 by Israel Galindo

I’m currently working on a project on educational planning in the congregational setting. The project is in response to the many questions I get from church staff and lay leaders about planning the Christian education programs in their church. I’m … Continue reading →

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Children in worship

Posted on April 25, 2007 by Israel Galindo

Children belong in the worship service and they can be full participants in the experience. While there are some legitimate pragmatic reasons why some churches take children out of the corporate worship service, there are no legitimate developmental or theological … Continue reading →

Posted in children, Christian Education, worship | 1 Comment

Ministering from the right side of the brain

Posted on April 24, 2007 by Israel Galindo

I’ve been a lifelong doodler. In fact, my college notes look more like sketchbooks than notebooks (and the doodles are the only reason I’ve kept some of my college notes). Even today pencil and paper aren’t far from reach in … Continue reading →

Posted in bowen family systems theory, Design, second chair | 1 Comment

Ministry years

Posted on April 23, 2007 by Israel Galindo

Recently someone started a conversation with me by saying, “You were right.” “What about?” I asked. He explained that he was having a real tough year in ministry. He was experiencing a lot of frustration and restlessness, with periods of … Continue reading →

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