There is a school of thought running rampant in congregations these days that sounds something like this: “This is the worst Pastor/Group/Recession/President/Situation/Era/Event that we have ever known! We must get rid of him/her/it/them immediately or we are doomed.” As a…
Confronting the hard words — head on
Here are 10 words/phrases that I would prefer not to experience personally. Oncologist Hospice Bankruptcy Betrayal Depression Suicide Divorce Termination Conflict Jail Unfortunately, over the past 14 days, 10 different people that I care about have become personally acquainted with…
A church for those who wander
Congregations that fail to care deeply for those who have wandered have missed something essential to their reason for being. The book of James closes with a most interesting assertion: “My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from…
10 ways pastors can engage church conflict
By Bill Wilson It was early in my pastoral ministry. I still thought my primary job was to please people and make them happy, ensure their comfort and leave them liking me. Thus, when someone disagreed with me or criticized…
At Christmas, relevant lessons for the 21st-century church
By Bill Wilson Our current Christmas celebration habits are a uniquely post-World War II phenomena. Much of the excess we experience stands at odds with the way Western society approached the holiday only a few years ago. This shift has…
The tired arms of ministers
By Bill Wilson A friend recently shared with me a daily devotion that pointed out the story in Exodus 17 regarding Moses’ arms. Remember? As long as Moses held his staff with his arms aloft, the Israelites prevailed in their…
Staffing for survival
By Bill Wilson What is the most important staff position at your church? Of course, as a former pastor, I must declare that we cannot function without a pastor. What would we do without a music/worship leader? We cannot live…
Are denominational bodies doomed?
By Bill Wilson Recent news stories describing the massive layoffs at the International Mission Board of Southern Baptists, the nearly 50 percent downsizing of the Florida Baptist Convention staff, the continued erosion of financial support for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and…
Are character and competence really that important?
By Bill Wilson I love what I do. Really. Every day is like a new adventure of learning and exploring the future of congregational and clergy life. While the future is uncertain and daunting, there is no doubt that this…