Few ministers need coaches or surveys to tell them what Americans think of clergy these days. They can rely on their own experiences for that. Amy Butler does. Based on interactions with strangers on flights, at parties and in other…
Single adult numbers are soaring. What does that mean for congregations?
Churches may want to take a hard look at what they’re offering young, single adults — and then boost it. “Many churches are built around a family model,” Roxanne Stone, editor and chief of the Barna Group, said in remarks published…
Those seeking a deeper faith should consult their (Christian) calendar, Baptist preacher says
Some Baptists and other Protestants doubt the relevance and biblical correctness of using the Christian calendar. But not Joe LaGuardia, senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Vero Beach, Fla. LaGuardia said the Christian calendar, as expressed in worship and…
Faith, determination pay off when woman meets Willie Nelson
Allison Dickson is no stranger to the spotlight. Dickson, who has lived all her life with both spinal muscular dystrophy and a remarkable can-do spirit, has tackled and finished college (including sorority life), Baylor Law School and numerous high-dollar fundraisers….
Is the future bright for women in ministry? Survey says some think so.
Attitudes about the role of women in the workplace, in politics and church seem to have made some advances in recent years, new research suggests. In a study released Tuesday, the Barna Group said it found that 94 percent of…
CEO-style pastorates all the rage but offer little to those seeking deeper faith
Most pastors have had administrative responsibilities. But experts say it has gone well beyond that for ministers who are facing increasing pressure to act more like chief executive officers than pastors. Congregations concerned about dwindling numbers — both on the rolls…
Uproar over theology misses powerful lesson on grief, healing in ‘The Shack’
The movie reviewer side of Michael Parnell is so-so on the film The Shack as a cinematic production. “It’s OK — I’ll just say that,” said Parnell, who writes film reviews for EthicsDaily.com. The pastor side of Parnell is more passionate…
Muslims held to double standard in cases of faith-based violence
Americans hold double standards about cases of religiously motivated violence, with white evangelicals most inconsistent and the religiously unaffiliated the most consistent. In a recent survey by the Public Religion Research Institute, Americans were asked if people who perpetrate acts…
For clergy and churches, repeal of health law poses serious consequences
Like most Americans, ministers and their families are facing exploding health-care costs. And for many clergy, the resulting frustration and stress comes on top of the long hours and low pay associated with their callings. Throw in the rising suspense…
American pastors are older, and getting older, than ever
If you’re noticing a lot of gray in the pulpit at your church these days, you’re not alone. Pastors are getting older. “The aging of pastors represents a substantial crisis for Protestant churches,” David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group,…
Letting social media choose your Lenten practice can be rewarding — and humorous
Finding fresh ways to observe Lent, year in and year out, can be challenging. While Catholics, Episcopalians, Orthodox Christians and others can rely on tradition to guide them, some Christians and churches are left to their own devices. Fortunately for those…
For Baptist chaplain, strains in police force are real and painful
Tommy Deal wept the day five police officers were gunned down in Dallas last summer. Distraught, the Baptist minister jumped into his car in search of police to comfort — even though he was in Dalton, Ga., not Dallas. Geography didn’t…