By Bill Wilson A striking phrase from Luke 9:51-53 describes Jesus as “turning his face toward Jerusalem.” This implies a resoluteness of intent and a high degree of commitment to a divine agenda. Nothing was going to dissuade Jesus from…
Why your church building-use policy matters
By Bill Wilson I know firsthand how utterly boring and laborious creating a building-use policy can be. Every church I served entered into a major building project. The debate around building use has been a constant. It also has evolved…
Put your heart into it
By Bill Wilson Recently, our staff was talking about things our parents would tell us that we find ourselves repeating to our children or ourselves. We had to admit that we increasingly sound like those voices we vowed never to…
Staff-led vs. staff-controlled
By Bill Wilson A key predictor of strong congregational health is the type of leadership offered by the ministerial and paid staff. When a congregation’s staff functions out of strong spiritual and organizational health, the entire faith community benefits. Likewise,…
Christmas lessons
By Bill Wilson Current Christmas celebration habits are a uniquely post-World War II phenomenon. Much of the excess we experience stands at odds with the way Western society approached the holiday only a few years ago. This shift has lessons…
Tables and barns
By Bill Wilson In an excellent sermon, New York City pastor Alan Sherouse suggested that a most appropriate stewardship metaphor for a New Testament church is that of a table. He specifically referred to the round tables that his church…
The both/and life of faith
By Bill Wilson Polarities are ongoing, chronic issues that are unavoidable and unsolvable. They are the hardest issues we face. Attempting to address them with traditional problem-solving skills only makes things worse. There is a significant advantage for those leaders,…
The conflict pandemic
By Bill Wilson Whenever I address a group about the work our organization does, I mention that one of our frequent calls is to help a congregation, staff, judicatory or organization manage conflict. Our conflict intervention calls are on the…
Holding your staff accountable
By Bill Wilson At the Center for Congregational Health, we find that many times staff members operate in a congregational world devoid of healthy accountability. Without a thoughtful, rational system in place, evaluation and accountability disintegrate into personal opinion and…
Things worth fighting for
By Bill Wilson As part of our work with congregations which are engaging in the process of imagining their future, the Center for Congregational Health invites them to first look back and connect with their past. An effective tool for…
Things worth fighting for
By Bill Wilson As part of our work with congregations which are engaging in the process of imagining their future, the Center for Congregational Health invites them to first look back and connect with their past. An effective tool for…
When the cavalry doesn’t come
By Bill Wilson A seasoned minister was addressing a group of young clergy and talking about some of the lessons learned on the job — the kind you can’t learn in graduate school or from a book. These are the…