You are the ones who often find yourselves on the frontlines of ministry, navigating tricky pastoral issues, coordinating care, and offering compassion.
All in Church
An Invitation for Children to Participate in Worship
I will submit to the importance of the entire body of Christ (yes, this includes children), meeting on a basis that is in congruence of the health of the congregation.
Once Bitten, Twice Shy
The book itself is a type of spiritual memoir, which seems to never really go out of style as a genre, but is also a brutal commentary on evangelical Christianity.
Social Media to Sanctuary: Moving the Conversation to the Pews
Jesus calls us into the uncomfortable to lift the voices of those previously unheard—so that when we hear #metoo, we can boldly respond with #nomore.
Small Church: Big Work
We were always at churches that employed two of fewer ministers, and this led us to find creative ways to accomplish the goals before us.
Relationships and Leadership
How might elders and ministers develop stronger relational ties with each other and their congregations?
The Way of The Cross
We must join Christ on the cross and see the world and all of humanity through the event of the crucifixion. We see the world from the cross, just as Jesus did.
Small Churches and the God of the Poor
Small churches can be a part of this meaningful ministry, and faithfully reflect Jesus’s own ministry is what we are called to--nothing less, nothing more.
Unarmed Empire: A Book Review
It must be written by someone who loves the church with the clear-eyed vision of a prophet, the quiet confidence of a mystic, and the careful delivery of a preacher.
Shadow Stalking
I believe we haven’t done much teaching about shadow in church settings. Only with mature honesty can a true, peace that passes all understanding guard our hearts.
Partnering with Churches and Ministers to Discern God's Call
Whether you are a minister wrestling with the question of whether it is time to go, or a church leader faced with questions of ministerial transition, reach out to the Siburt Institute.
What Are We Doing Here … at Church?
It’s not the feet of Jesus crushing Satan this time. It’s “your” feet. Our feet. The feet of all those in that church directory. The feet of those sitting beside you on Sunday morning.
The Loneliest Number
Ministry, whether it be as a profession or as the call that comes to each follower of Jesus, can be a lonely business. We don’t like being alone—or more specifically, we don’t like being singled out.
Dancing with Suffering
“We live stitch by stitch, when we’re lucky. If you fixate on the big picture, the whole shebang, the overview, you miss the stitching” (13-14).
God, Glory, Giving, and a Natural Disaster
Pray fervently. Prayer is not something to do when you can do nothing else. It is the thing to do before and during everything else.
The Grape Juice Isn’t Purple???
We silently wondered what Bible passages we were violating, but also recalled that the person who usually prepared the Lord’s Supper was home sick today.
The Things that Make for Peace: De-Triangulation
The only way to get those negative emotions out of the relationship, and re-establish the conditions for peace, is for someone to take personal responsibility for their relationship.
Elders and Ministers: Working and Praying Together
Numerous factors suggest how critical it is for ministers and elders to work together collaboratively and to spend a great deal of time in prayer.
Leaving the Museum: Daring to Preach in Present Tense
I think, reflect, study, and even preach quite a bit about who God has been, sometimes without ever venturing to say what God is doing now.