By Scott Hudgins A recent column by Brett Younger, an associate professor at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology, raises important questions about the changes in theological education, especially the emergence of exclusively online programs that are often described as…
Vision casting is the responsibility of all congregational leaders
By George Bullard Matt Carswell, pastor of Mountain View Church, is a gifted preacher and a warm, caring pastor. Spiritual formation through worship and in-depth pastoral care are places where he excels. He is loved by his congregation. At the…
Seminaries forging a future
By Ron Crawford A response to “Seminaries reluctantly selling their souls,” by Brett Younger. So, I bought the microwave oven anyway! Typically, my wife and I reach a consensus before we make major purchases; in the early 1980s a microwave…
Excellence eludes pastors not passionate about vision
By George Bullard Early in my ministry I served on the national missions staff of my denomination. These were wonderful years. I served with a group of highly committed staff with a deep passion for helping leaders, congregations and local…
‘Frankly, this ruling is appropriate ….’
A couple weeks ago, the Georgia Baptist Convention held “its first-ever sexual abuse summit ” at First Baptist Church in Atlanta. So far so good, right? After all, it wasn’t so long ago that Southern Baptist officials were denying there…
What to do about seminary?
About a week and a half ago, I spent the day talking about leadership with my colleagues. We sat in a circle, nibbling on chocolate mints and letting the unseasonably warm wind blow off the water and into the house.At…
Pastors leave congregations, but God’s vision never leaves
By George Bullard The idea of congregations expecting the next pastor to bring them vision implies some very important things about the ongoing understanding and practice of vision within congregations. First, it implies vision comes from the pastor. Second, it…
Pastors are only one of five keys to visionary leadership
By George Bullard Often congregations put high pressure on their senior or solo pastor to be the originator of vision. It is a classic statement, and by no means an urban legend, that laypersons will say when a church is…
Why we need pastor-theologians for leading churches in mission
Anyone doing the work of planting churches will meet unpredictable cultural challenges. By definition, you are going into uncharted turf. You will have to listen, encounter new issues, interpret, translate and engage in ways you never would have to in…