Based on congregants’ collective experiences and common wisdom, every congregation has underlying assumptions about what constitutes good financial practices. A wise leader who recognizes the patterns is able to more easily bring about positive change. From Christianity Today. (Photo: Anssi Koskinen, Creative Commons)
“When we deny our stories of struggle—when we pretend everything is ok when we’re really in deep struggle—the hard stories own us,” says Brené Brown. “They own us, and they drive our behavior, emotions, thinking, and leading.” Read more about the value of leading from heart rather than hurt. (Photo: © Strezhnev Pavel – Fotolia.com)
Stereotypes abound about Millennials, especially when it comes to giving: They’re lazy, self-absorbed, ungenerous! But the truth is much different, says Anders Peterson, a pastor in California. He sets the record straight in this article from the Center for Steward Leadership at Luther Seminary. (Photo © mangostock – Fotolia.com)
Whether we’re talking church or business, the familiar mantra “Change is the only constant” rings true. It’s easy as a busy leader to forget the importance of navigating the waters of organizational change, as well as how to keep your team on board in the process. Here are six quick tips to review and incorporate in your […]
The world’s scientists have long been sounding the alarm that we are on a collision course. Disaster looms in the lifetimes of our grandchildren. God’s people can and should do better – and a congregational “Green Team” can lead the way. Why not form one this month? (Photo: NASA Archive, Creative Commons)
“When each of us, following our leaders, examines our own privileges, power, and resources, and thoughtfully understands how we got them and when to intentionally let them go, it leads to a better community—one we all benefit from, ” writes non-profit executive Vu Le, citing the most valuable and best leadership trait today is willingness to […]
Workism is the new religious tradition in town. Workism proclaims that we must “do what we love and love what we do,” writes Alaina Kleinbeck in Duke Divinity School’s Faith and Leadership. As a culture, we worship work success stories, even at our peril. Our relationship to work is distorted, if not toxic. Fortunately, there […]
Go into a supermarket or restaurant and watch how many people pay with cash. It’s a small number and dropping all the time. As our nation moves towards a cashless economy, churches that have no online and digital options will lose out. Here are some ideas to get you going from Rob Blezard, SOLI web editor.
Learning the art and freedom of saying “no” can help you become a better leader. Not only will you be able to better care for yourself, you’ll also be better able to set priorities, work toward effective goals, and care for others. Consider this author’s good reasons for learning the amazing power of two simple little letters. It could be a real game changer! (Photo: sboneham, Creative Commons)
Mistakenly thinking that information will motivate donors, many congregations make their stewardship pitches with data, graphs and spreadsheets. There’s a better way — storytelling that reaches not only people’s minds but also their hearts. By Scott McKenzie of Horizons Stewardship. (Photo: Brisbane City Council, Creative Commons)
