Reflections & Research:
Articles
August 6, 2019
The challenge of being a pastor in a secular age
As we enter a new chapter in the life of the church, an author and professor works to answer the question: “How do we help those who no longer need a God encounter the living God in their lives?” “I’m not sure what I’m doing,” he said. I’d never met him before, but the air […]
read moreabout The challenge of being a pastor in a secular ageJuly 23, 2019
Disruption is often the key to renewal
When churches struggle to change their habits, stopping everything can open a way forward, says a church planter and pastor. Report after report reveals this difficult truth: church attendance is going down. Many leaders are considering what to do with congregations that are in the midst of dramatic decline. While church planting offers hope, […]
read moreabout Disruption is often the key to renewalMay 14, 2019
Safe spaces promote thriving among women of color ministry leaders
Participants in the RISE Together Mentorship Network 2018 Launch and Leadership Conference, “The Power of Our Voices,” participate in the closing program. Photo by Katilau Mbindyo When women of color gather in cohorts, their experiences and stories are centered and affirmed, says the executive director of the RISE Together Mentorship Network. “God doesn’t call women […]
read moreabout Safe spaces promote thriving among women of color ministry leadersMay 14, 2019
The path to increased pastoral agency
Pastors operate in highly complex social systems, and even with formal authority may not feel empowered to lead change. The key to building their sense of agency is to build trust among stakeholders and cultivate habits of care. Pastors serving in congregations have much more freedom in their daily work routines than teachers in classrooms or […]
read moreabout The path to increased pastoral agency