By Bill Wilson Tom Ehrich, one of my favorite thinkers about church in the 21st century, recently told me he is down to one pivotal question for the congregations he works with: “Is your primary orientation inward or outward?” He…
Some ideas to ponder
It is one of my favorite issues of the year! Every year The Atlantic publishes its “annual compendium of prescriptions, provocations, and modest proposals for making the world a better place.” It is always a fascinating read—something that gives the…
Worlds colliding
As a pioneer in the field of grief, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross used to hold workshops all over the world. In these workshops people didn’t just learn about grief; they had a chance to do deep grieving of their own. A friend…
Claiming our rightful place
By Molly T. Marshall A recent CBS news clip posed the question, “Is 2012 the year of women in politics?” We know that women do not predominate in the House or Senate; approximately 17 percent of elected officials are women….
Claiming our rightful place
By Molly T. Marshall A recent CBS news clip posed the question, “Is 2012 the year of women in politics?” We know that women do not predominate in House or Senate; approximately 17 percent of elected officials are women. Interestingly,…
Are there good reasons to start new congregations?
A quarter of a century ago I moved to South Carolina in response to the call of the largest Baptist body in that state. Baptists of various tribes in South Carolina lacked a commitment to starting new congregations. I was…
How spaces become places
Have you ever thought about the difference between places and spaces? A place (as I would define it) is a location with determined boundaries. A space is the opposite; it is a location with undetermined boundaries. Examples may help here….
You can’t cover up and soar with faith
My wife and I got married on an important day in American political infamy. June 17, 1972. Oh, you do not know what this celebrates? Perhaps it is because the event — the Watergate break-in — is not nearly as…
Sometimes, churches need to ‘die’
A 100 year-old plus-mainline-congregation closes its doors. The church dies. What’s left? An empty shell of a building and a disbanded group of church members. Many have predicted the death of mainline churches for the last 20 years. People have…