church as abbey
The church growth movement helped foster the idea of the pastor as the authoritative leader of the congregation. I know because I studied church growth at its height at Fuller Seminary. The premise of the theory of "pastoral authority" was that churches grew faster and larger when the
bless the world
More world citizens and more Americans go hungry each day than ever before in the history of the world. One billion people out of the 6-billion who inhabit the earth, do not have enough to eat. Almost 17% of the world's population -- 1-in-6 people in other words
church as abbey
In its heyday University Baptist Church in Baltimore overflowed its expansive neoclassical sanctuary. Designed by the same architect as the Jefferson Memorial, the church's impressive dome now shelters fewer worshippers each Sunday. But changing times haven't discouraged the members of University Baptist Church. Instead the congregation
church as abbey
I am speaking tomorrow at Duke Divinity School to students in the Rural Ministry Colloquia, a monthly gathering of students involved in, or interested in, rural church ministry. I have been asked to tell our story of how we started a community center, community music school, and several other projects
bless the world
My latest interest focuses on exploring pastoral care as outreach. I talk to lots of small church pastors and leaders, picking their brains for stories of smaller churches doing effective ministry. More and more I'm hearing stories of people helping people -- people caring for people -- as
church as abbey
People don't need to go to church. At least that's how the majority of people in America act. Less than 18% of the population attends church on any given Sunday. In the U.S. we are chasing downhill Europe's church attendance rate of 7%
church as abbey
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grLdWkDcOR4&border=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1] Ed Stetzer coins the phrase "ministry pornography" to describe a new kind of lust in the hearts of pastors and staff
Christian history
I'm working on a new 13-week sermon series on The Apostles' Creed, starting this Sunday. Here's the schedule: Why Christians Need The Apostles' Creed -- Aug 23, 2009: 1. I Believe: An Introduction to The Apostles' Creed Aug 30, 2009: 2. In God
church as abbey
In the gift economy, information wants to be free. So, here are the latest freebies I've run across that are both free and excellent. The new Neue Quarterly will be out soon, and my article "Remembering Why You Said Yes" is in this issue. You can
church as abbey
For many of us who care about church, it is becoming increasingly apparent that church as we know it must change in order to maintain its mission in the 21st century. This change will not be cosmetic. This change will not be a debate about traditional worship versus contemporary worship,
church as abbey
Les Puryear posted an interesting list of small church distinctives this week. His list got me to thinking about the possible differences in "old" small churches and "new" small churches. By "old" I mean what we typically think of as a small church whether
Christian history
I am about to break an unwritten rule in Baptist life. Granted, it won't be my first transgression, and probably not my last, but this one is becoming more important to me the longer I'm in ministry. We need a creed. There, I said it! We