There is a Greek myth about Zeus giving the people of earth a jar filled with all good things. Sadly, someone leaves the top off the jar, and all the...

What makes you afraid? How about change? Taking fresh steps in ministry and mission means change. While people are not against change, what they do fear is loss. They are...

Does the pastor genuinely care about people? That's the question that lies behind the essence of compassion. The congregation wants to know and wants to see deep compassion for God's...

People who trust each other make things happen. Trust means that I accept your ideas for fresh steps in ministry and mission without suspicion. Trust says that I know you...

Anxiety, incivility, trauma, fear, dismay--these are all words I've heard in the past few days as the U.S. election draws near. How do U.S. Pastors and church leaders  navigate this moment...

We’ve been spending time looking at defining reality in our boards (consistory/council). We’ve looked at the culture that shapes our board and at the kind of people who are typically...

Charles Olson’s book Transforming Church Boards into Communities of Spiritual Leaders has formed the foundation for this series of blogs. Before we go to the next part of defining reality,...

In the previous two posts we looked at naming how the board (council/consistory) works together. What is the culture that shapes the board? Is it strategic, corporate, managerial, etc.? Alongside...

Part of the board’s (Council/Consistory) discernment work is to define the congregation’s present reality. Charles Olson in his book Transforming Church Boards into Communities of Spiritual Leaders points out that...

Part of the board’s (consistory/council) discernment work is to define the congregation’s present reality. Charles Olson in his book Transforming Church Boards into Communities of Spiritual Leaders points out that...