For 18 years, Jim Somerville has done something many pastors talk about but far fewer actually attempt. He has led a historic congregation to change. This change isn’t merely cosmetic or programmatic but rather the kind that presses on identity…
As Alliance gathers, questions and hope abound
On the brink of its 40th anniversary, the Alliance of Baptists met near Chicago April 17-19 facing unexpected turmoil about its future. This year’s annual gathering already was planned when the board of directors announced the sudden departures of Co-Directors…
When the church confuses vocation with calling
Across several denominations, pastors are leaving congregations at accelerated rates, citing burnout, conflict and misalignment between their sense of calling and the realities of congregational life. Much of that conversation has focused on workload, compensation and leadership fatigue — all…
Proctor Conference marks leadership transition
Tears flowed and applause resounded as the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference marked its first-ever leadership transition at the annual gathering in Chicago Feb. 23. Iva E. Carruthers, who was the founding general secretary of the nonprofit, has taken on emeritus…
Remembering Tommy Boland
Thinking of Tommy Boland reminds me of a poem by James Whitcomb Riley. Some workers are mourning the death of a colleague. One man, wiping tears from his eyes, says of his friend, “When God made him, I bet he…
Two myths that must be discarded
In this moment in American history, two dominant myths must be discarded. This is especially true in light of the shocking revelations about leadership of some Young Republican groups and their “private” text messages. First, the myth that private speech…
The times are never so bad
Saint Thomas More wrote in his own tumultuous time, “The times are never so bad but that a good man can live in them.” We need to live in such confidence and hope: The times are never so bad but…
What if Trump followed Jesus Christ?
History is filled with oppression — nations rising on the backs of slaves, governments entrenching inequality and cultures ignoring the cries of the vulnerable. For centuries, people have been stripped of dignity, denied opportunity, education, health, resources and forced into…
On way out the door, Mandrell airs grievances with Lifeway trustees
In January 2025, then Lifeway CEO Ben Mandrell called his trustees into an executive session to address ongoing conflicts he faced while seeking to lead the $300-million-a-year publishing enterprise. Those particular conflicts, which have not been previously reported, centered not…
With two leadership roles open, will SBC embrace a younger generation?
Wanted: Creative leaders who have a spine but are flexible enough to accommodate diverse opinions and changing political tides. Must be Southern Baptist. Only males need apply. With not-unexpected news of the resignation of Brent Leatherwood as president of the…
ICE, Gaza and the threat of stupid Jesus
“They killed the boy.” That was the explanation a Bible professor once gave me for why Jesus wasn’t a good model of leadership. The Christian scholar had been describing how, many years before, a subordinate had proposed holding a pastor’s…
Emotional intelligence as a leadership strategy
Emotional intelligence is crucial for achieving leadership success. It enables us to truly connect with our teams. Without emotional intelligence, we may overlook many unspoken cues. As defined by Mental Health America, emotional intelligence refers both to comprehending your own…