I recently listened to yet another pastor tell a story of havoc let loose in his congregation by a toxic staff member who never should have been hired and was difficult to fire. I’ve heard this story over and over,…
When the dying stops, will we remember to address the multiplied grief of COVID?
Among the many innovations to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic is this sad rubric: The COVID-19 Bereavement Multiplier. Ashton Verdery, associate professor of sociology and demography at Pennsylvania State University, led the study that created the Bereavement Multiplier, which estimates…
Americans insulate themselves in political ‘bubbles,’ even at church
New research reveals just how far Americans have retreated from those with differing political views, a phenomenon one expert describes as a huge challenge for pastors. The Pew Research Center reported that deep disagreements over presidential politics has led significant…
Positive mental health: how can clergy tap into it?
As the minister for care ministries at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Tiffany Wright’s job is to support people who are experiencing crises in their lives. A year and a half ago, however, Wright’s father died and it was her…