Some Baptists are looking to Missouri history as a possible source of healing of the divisions between them. The Missouri Plan, which ended a century ago, emerged after the Civil War as a bridge between Southern Baptists and Northern Baptists…
What color is a crayon called ‘flesh’?
Several decades ago I was in a learning experience with a diverse group of people in terms of race. We were divided into small groups and given cards of various colors. We were asked to respond to questions by suggesting…
Free prayer in coffee shops inspires marketplace ministry
Pushing the church and its ministry beyond its four walls requires overcoming the fear and uncertainty that usually block the way, Thomas Rusert says. Rusert, a Lutheran pastor in Doylestown, Pa., learned that lesson last summer when he began making himself available for…
North American Baptist Fellowship seeking new leader
The North American Baptist Fellowship, one of six global regions affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance, is accepting applications for a new general secretary. George Bullard, president of the Columbia Partnership, recently announced he is stepping down July 31 after…
What is slowing down the decline of many denominations?
As a group, established denominations are in decline for various reasons. Typically this happens when the collection of congregations in a denomination do not innovate the style of their ministry to present the substance of the gospel in a manner…
Congregational management must be accountable to visionary leadership
“Who is in charge here?” is a demand question often heard from someone who wants to enter an organization and provide either leadership or management. When spoken loudly and with an anger edge it can mean that if no one…
Congregations cannot manage their way into God’s future for them
Where there is no vision, management drives the sports utility vehicle, which is the image for the spiritual and strategic journey of a congregation that includes vision, relationships, programs and management. Vision, which was driving, is now in the back…
Is Sunday the most segmented day of the week?
With honor for and apologies to the legacy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, I would like to ask a different question than the statement he made around 50 years ago about churches, Sunday and segregation. Is Sunday the most segmented…
Despite decline, religiously affiliated remain devoted, says survey
By Jeff Brumley While the number of Americans who profess faith is in steady decline, there is evidence suggesting a steady devotion among those who remain religiously affiliated, new research shows. “Among the roughly three-quarters of U.S. adults who do claim…