Reflections & Research
Discover what we are learning about what helps pastors thrive
August 18, 2026
‘Threads of Community’: Quilting and the Black church
Members of a sewing ministry and an artist share the way in which quilting honors tradition while also serving as a form of self-expression.
read moreabout ‘Threads of Community’: Quilting and the Black churchAugust 18, 2026
‘The Pink Robe Chronicles: Womanist Wisdom for Healing, Liberation, and Love’
In an excerpt from her new book, a professor and preacher draws on childhood lessons about the importance of using her voice.
read moreabout ‘The Pink Robe Chronicles: Womanist Wisdom for Healing, Liberation, and Love’August 4, 2026
L. Roger Owens and Mary Clare Owens: There’s no right way to pray
Father-daughter duo L. Roger and Mary Clare Owens have written “Praying Their Way: 24 Prayer Practices for Kids and the Adults Who Love Them,” a guide for parents on how to introduce the concept of prayer to their kids, and for kids on how to navigate their faith journey as obstacles occur.
read moreabout L. Roger Owens and Mary Clare Owens: There’s no right way to prayAugust 4, 2026
What happens when the pastor’s family isn’t perfect?
For ministers who carry private family pain, shame can be overwhelming. But our difficult lives might make us better clergy, writes a pastor and mother of a child with emotional and behavioral challenges.
read moreabout What happens when the pastor’s family isn’t perfect?