As Holy Week began this year, a Gallup Poll found that church membership in the United States had declined to less than half of the population for the first time. The headline grabbed attention, but it’s mostly unsurprising, reports Religion News Service.
U.S. Christians celebrate a second Easter under pandemic rules, churches are reckoning with new ways of volunteering, stewardship and, above all, worship. This Easter’s experience may offer insight into the future. (Photo: Kent Christoffersen, Creative Commons)
Many houses of worship are thinking about reopening, now that the Covid-19 vaccine working its way through our culture and cases are on the decline. But caution is still advised, and this updated list of resources can help leaders make the best decisions. (Photo: Dru Broomfield, Creative Commons)
For this stewardship leader, being asked to give an enormous donation helped her understand the dynamics and importance of what development professionals call, “making the ask.” From the Lake Institute for Faith & Giving. ( Photo by Christina Morillo from Pexels)
Your church may have more resources than you think! In this podcast crom the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, Jacqueline Jones-Smith explains how Christ Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, once slated for closure, turned itself around by embracing a more entrepreneurial mindset and taking stock of its physical and human assets.
Church leaders don’t materialize in a vacuum. If you want those in your faith community to reach their God-given talents and gifts, there must be prayer, equipping, and real relationship. Read on for questions to get your leaders thinking about multiplying your congregation’s leadership capacity. (Image: Allison Baltzersen, Creative Commons License)
Don’t let the size of your congregation dictate how leaders are equipped to mission. Instead, take a cue from Sandy Plains United Methodist Church in rural North Carolina where they keep “every member in mind” for leadership in church and mission. (Image: Janet Ramsden, Creative Commons)
You can’t pay all the volunteer leaders in your church for the work they put into your congregation, and you can’t possibly run the church without them. But there are some really terrific ways to reward your folks that won’t tax your budget at all, Carey Nieuwhof explains. (Photo: ThinkPanama, Creative Commons)
Now some nine months after the pandemic cratered church attendance, there are some hopeful signs, reports Meredith McNabb of the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. The digital adaptations that helped congregations thrive are here to stay. (Photo: Gabriela Pinto, Creative Commons)
Covid-19 has left us all depleted, and that’s all the more reason to emphasize stewardship of our health in 2021. This free Toolkit has a monthly stewardship message and RCL-based snippets for the Sunday bulletins, and more. (Photo: Neil T, Creative Commons)
