Reflections & Research:
Pastoral Transitions
August 20, 2019
A multilingual priest connects her congregation and its community through language and listening
By Chris Karnadi, Assistant Editor, Faith & Leadership The Rev. Audra Abt started a Spanish-language Mass and a health access ministry, meeting neighbors’ needs and rejuvenating a small church in Greensboro, North Carolina. In an apartment in Greensboro, North Carolina, fresh fuchsia crepe myrtle flowers brightened the front left corner of a table serving […]
read moreabout A multilingual priest connects her congregation and its community through language and listeningFebruary 19, 2019
Midlife as a time of discovery, not a problem to be solved
Instead of sinking into the feeling of being stuck, a seminary professor set a goal of taking 40 walks to mark his 40th birthday. He then wrote essays about the experience, reflecting on the burdens and the surprises of the middle stage of life.
read moreabout Midlife as a time of discovery, not a problem to be solvedMay 15, 2018
A church isn’t a blank slate, and neither is a pastor
Leading change requires understanding a community’s system for relating and behaving — and understanding your own family system, too.
read moreabout A church isn’t a blank slate, and neither is a pastorSeptember 20, 2016
How do you know when it’s time to leave?
The congregation of Turner Memorial AME Church in Hyattsville, Maryland, where Natasha Jamison Gadson recently joined the staff. Photo courtesy of Turner AME Resigning from a thriving megachurch was emotional and difficult for a minister on the staff. But once she realized that staying in a comfortable place was not the best use of her […]
read moreabout How do you know when it’s time to leave?