A quick, readable briefing on seven items for church leaders and laypeople: making a stronger ‘front door,’ common mistakes churches repeat, a surge of baptisms in France ahead of Pope Leo’s visit, a reversal from a leading seminary president, a UMC solar pilot, debate over ACNA ordination rules, and lessons from online worship.
Broaden your idea of the church’s ‘front door’: opportunities extend beyond building entrances to processes and programs that welcome newcomers.
France’s recent rise in youth baptisms presents a renewal opportunity if church leadership pairs enthusiasm with concrete formation and parish support.
Practical sustainability and governance moves appeared this week: a UMC solar-battery pilot launched, and debate continues over ordaining women in ACNA.
Five Things Churches Keep Doing That No Longer Work Jess and Thom review five areas where churches keep repeating mistakes. As Pope Leo prepares to visit France, can its 'Catholic moment' become a lasting revival? As Pope Leo arrives to greet 80,000 of them later this month, the country's diminished Catholic Church is faced with the challenge of turning the burst of enthusiasm into a lasting renewal.
Whether women clergy should be ordained and licensed in the Anglican Church in North America has been a perennial issue dividing the ACNA since its formation and may eventually lead to the breakup of the denomination. Steven Wedgeworth takes a look at what the ACNA's constitution says and unpacks its implications. 6 observations about 'online' church My current forced layup has recalibrated some of my thinking toward live-streaming church services.
Record numbers of young people are seeking baptism in France. Disaster Response have launched the UMC Solar and Battery Pilot Program. What to do with a Gospel text that asks us to forgive two days after 9/11?
How to Discover and Capitalize On Your Church’s Unique Voice If you're copying another church, you’re not being the church God called you to be. And the kingdom of God is poorer for not having your voice in it. Small churches try to imitate larger churches, even cathedrals, backward-looking churches try to recreate chu
Back to… Christmas? Church leaders may not be thinking about Christmas in September, but this is an ideal time to begin preparing for Christmas Eve. Lewis Center Director Jonathan Page offers five practical recommendations for strengthening hospitality, engaging newcomers, supporting local missions, planning follow-up,
The Analog Church: Why People Are Craving Real Connection I see it everywhere now. What once felt like a quiet undercurrent is now showing up in plain sight: People are rediscovering the value of the physical, the tangible, the personal. Yes, even in this digital-first, AI-fueled, screen-saturated world, there’s a grow
How Do We Know When to Shut Down a Church? Before concluding that a church should close, it should be tested from five different angles. No single test is decisive by itself. Together, however, they help pastors, elders, and sending churches discern whether Christ is calling a struggling church to persevere—or to concl
7 Signs Your Church is Ready to Reach New People If new people showed up this week, is your church set up to receive them? Here are seven signs your church is ready to reach new people. The Problem of Ageism and Church Staff Near Retirement Many churches say they value older adults, but their staffing decisions often t
How Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene Is Growing Across Every Generation Focusing on multigenerational growth is one reason Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene (OVCN) has flourished. Located in Oro Valley, a Southern Arizona suburb that has shifted from a retirement destination to a hub for young families, OVCN has expan
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