Pages
Topics
- administration (24)
- assessment (21)
- bible (16)
- books (79)
- bowen family systems theory (144)
- children (52)
- Christian Education (107)
- congregational life (109)
- curriculum (37)
- Design (79)
- development theory (28)
- discipleship (26)
- ecumenical (16)
- games (4)
- handouts (14)
- humor (23)
- leadership (151)
- liturgical seasons (17)
- movies and films (7)
- personal growth (95)
- philosophy (29)
- Prayer (3)
- quotes (49)
- retreats (5)
- second chair (41)
- sermons (3)
- spiritual gifts (2)
- Spirituality (1)
- Sunday school (27)
- teaching (106)
- technology and education (23)
- theology (39)
- Uncategorized (76)
- vacation bible school (1)
- vocation (8)
- world view (33)
- worship (24)
Blogroll
Organizational websites
Archives
- March 2026
- February 2026
- January 2026
- July 2019
- February 2017
- June 2015
- April 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- May 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- June 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- May 2012
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
Visitors to our site!
Login
Category Archives: congregational life
Will or willfulness?
A reader on Margaret Marcuson’s blog, The Leadership Circle blog, asked a good question that comes up every now and again. He asked about the difference between having a will and willfulness. It’s a point of misunderstanding I hear now … Continue reading
Posted in bowen family systems theory, congregational life, leadership
Comments Off on Will or willfulness?
Kudos to Meg Hess in CC
I was gratified to read a fine article by Margaret “Meg” Hess in the current issue of the Christian Century magazine. Meg is a participant in the Leadership in Ministry Workshops (LIM) and has written a couple of articles for … Continue reading
Posted in bowen family systems theory, congregational life, leadership
Comments Off on Kudos to Meg Hess in CC
What’s in a name?
A colleague is making a change in his church staff position. He’s struggling with coming up with a new ministry job title. He says, “While I realize the main thing is how one functions, job titles are suggestive and important.” … Continue reading
Should I take the money?
Over the past several months I’ve talked with various church staff about some money issues. One interesting aspect of these conversations is how they parallel. All of them involved a variation on: (1) a church member wanting to give money … Continue reading
Posted in congregational life, leadership, personal growth, second chair
Comments Off on Should I take the money?
Imaginative Gridlock
I’ve been working with a couple of organizations that are “stuck” but motivated enough to get moving toward becoming “healthier.” As I witness the process of working with the leaders and employees of both organizations I’m reminded of some fundamental … Continue reading
Posted in bowen family systems theory, congregational life, leadership
Comments Off on Imaginative Gridlock
Book review: Letting Go: Transforming Congregations for Ministry, by Phillips
Roy Phillip’s Letting Go (Herndon, Virginia: The Alban Institute, 1999) starts with the assertion that ministers need to “let go†of their need to control every aspect of their congregation, and to let the members take charge. Phillips talks about … Continue reading
Posted in books, congregational life, leadership, spiritual gifts
Tagged book review, congregations, Roy Phillips
Comments Off on Book review: Letting Go: Transforming Congregations for Ministry, by Phillips
Book review: Seeds for the Future, by Dale
Opening this “seed catalog,†as author Bob Dale calls his book on organic church leadership (Seeds for the Future: Growing Organic Leaders for Living Churches. St. Louis, MO: Lake Hickory Resources, 2005), you are struck almost immediately by central themes … Continue reading
Posted in books, bowen family systems theory, congregational life, leadership
Tagged Bob Dale, church growth, congregational leaders, Israel Galindo, Seeds for the future
Comments Off on Book review: Seeds for the Future, by Dale
On ideology: two sides of the same coin
Elections can provide endless entertainment, if you’re into that sort of thing. But there’s enough drama at all levels to provide a source of amusement for most people, not the least of which is to watch ideologues in action. Liberals … Continue reading
Posted in bowen family systems theory, congregational life, leadership
Tagged ideology, Israel Galindo, leadership, theory
1 Comment
Book review: The Equipping Church, by Mallory
Pastor led churches often struggle with how to most effectively utilize the time and talents of their pastoral staff without creating burn-out and rapid clergy turnover. Sue Mallory’s book The Equipping Church (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001) has provided a biblical … Continue reading
Posted in books, congregational life, discipleship, personal growth
Tagged The equipping church
Comments Off on Book review: The Equipping Church, by Mallory
Why a seminary M.Div. still matters
These are anxious times for theological schools and seminaries, more so than normal, anyway. The plight of several seminaries (closings, downsizing, layoffs) has recently made the rounds in the religious press and newsmagazines. And talk about viability and relevance is … Continue reading
Posted in congregational life, curriculum, teaching, theology
Tagged Israel Galindo, M.Div., seminary, seminary education, theological education
2 Comments
