Tuesday's Catch: 'Why Your Church Stopped Growing' And More

The Reason Your Church Isn't Multiplying and Fresh Trends in Church Planting With Dave Ferguson
The vast majority of churches are plateaued or declining, and Exponential CEO Dave Ferguson talks about the reason most churches never grow, let alone multiply.

Plus, he shares the latest trends in church planting in this special episode recorded backstage at Exponential Global Conference in Orlando.

The Hidden Cost of Busyness in the Church
Jess and Thom have both seen it again and again: churches that are incredibly busy but not particularly effective. In this episode, we talk candidly about the hidden cost of busyness in the church. Full calendars and constant activity can feel like signs of health, but they often mask deeper issues of focus and clarity. Together, we’ll explore why doing more is not the answer—and how simplifying ministry can actually lead to greater impact and renewed energy.

The Danger of a Big Vision
In this episode, Jess and Thom take on a topic that may sound counterintuitive: the danger of a big vision. We both believe vision matters—but we’ve also seen how it can quietly become a distraction. Too many church leaders spend time talking about where they want to go and not enough time taking the next step to get there. We’ll walk through how big vision, when not grounded in action, can actually slow a church down—and how to refocus on the simple, practical steps that lead to real progress.

Young Pastor's Guide: 5 Shifts to Revitalize Your Traditional Church
So you’re a young pastor, and you lead a traditional church. What are your first moves to help revitalize your church or help it grow, maybe for the first time?

In this video, I share five critical shifts traditional churches need to make to see genuine rebirth and sustainable growth.

This podcast and the next three posts are taken from the Anglicans Ablaze archives. They are recommended viewing and in the case of the article, reading.

3 Reasons Engagement (Not Attraction) Will Grow Your Church
So, you want your church to grow? Well, if you’re still doing the things churches did fifteen years ago, you’re probably not seeing much growth.

The Attractional Church had its time, but has that time ended?

In this video, I share 3 reasons engagement, NOT attraction, will drive growth at your church.

Your Church Is Facing a Community Disconnect: Now What?
Many churches naturally drift from their community, creating a church disconnect. Here’s how to address five common disconnects.

7 Strategies + Ways to Grow Your Church
How can you grow your church?

Discover and eliminate the barriers that keep your church from growing. Whether you're a church planter or pastor of a 30-year-old church, these 7 strategies for church growth can be implemented in your church.

Wait! Doesn’t God Grow a Church?

Only God can give growth, but it’s your job to position your church for that growth.

Think of it as an Acts 6 kind of moment dynamic. As the early church grew, the Apostles became overwhelmed and burdened by the practical demands of ministry. So they restructured, recruiting other leaders to tend to the daily distribution of food to those in need so they could focus on teaching and prayer. And when they did, they kept growing, and everyone was better served. They structured bigger to grow bigger.

That’s what this is about....

Treasure to Share: Why Plant New Churches?
In this article the Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop of San Diego, gives the seven best reasons to start new churches, based on the research she did for her 2015 book, God Gave the Growth: Church Planting in the Episcopal Church.

'Quiet revival' claims 'laid to rest' once and for all as study shows UK churchgoing continues to fall
Newly released figures from the British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey confirm that church attendance in Britain remains below pre-Covid levels and that there are no signs of a revival among young people.

The data - published by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) - shows that within Britain's adult population, only 5% attend a Christian service weekly - down from 8% in 2018.

Postcards from Rededicate 250
Overall, the vibe of Rededicate250 was somewhere between an evangelical outdoor revival meeting and a Trump rally.

Denominational Health Depends on the Understory
Every summer, when news comes out from various denominational meetings, you’ll notice a pattern. There’s always a controversial vote. A social media storm. Commentators declare the institution either irredeemably corrupt or finally on the right track, depending on what side they’re on. There’s the noise of newsletters and statements, frequent hand-wringing about the future, especially in light of statistics pointing to decline.

Meanwhile, what makes up the bulk of denominational life continues on, unnoticed and undiscussed. Missionaries board planes to the places God has called them. Church planters continue the setup and teardown in their local school, with dozens on their core team and more than a few who have recently come to faith. Pastors sit with grieving families. Seminary students encounter great texts from church history for the first time, joining a conversation that takes on a denominational shape across generations.

None of these elements makes for a news headline, but they’re all part of the engine of what makes denominational life worthwhile, despite the mess.

Monday's Catch: 'When Churches Start Thinking Beyond Mere Possibility' And More

Episcopal Mission of Franklin, New Hampshire

When Churches Start Thinking Beyond Mere Possibility
Most churches do not lose faith overnight.

They simply begin to think differently.

Over time, conversations shift from What can God do? to What can we realistically expect? It sounds reasonable. It even sounds responsible. But that shift quietly reshapes the future of a church.

Western Gulf Coast election synod deadlocks — matter referred to ACNA College of Bishops
The electing synod of the Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast (DWGC) concluded today without electing a new diocesan bishop. After seven ballots, the convention deadlocked between the two nominees— the Rev. Fr. Russell Martin and the Rev. Fr. Ben Sharpe—prompting the convention to refer the election to the ACNA College of Bishops.

More evidence of the growing internal divisions in the 17-year-old Anglican Church in North America?

The “Contradiction” Still Isn’t: GAFCON and Doctrinal Triage
The latest criticism of GAFCON’s Abuja settlement raises a fair question, though not a fatal one: how does a confessional Anglican communion distinguish between first-order doctrine and secondary disagreement?

That is a serious question. But it is not answered by declaring GAFCON incoherent. The latest assault against GAFCON comes by using the Vincentian Canon as if it were a theological vending machine: insert patristic consensus, receive ecclesial verdict.

The Meaning of "Reformed Catholic": A Response to Gerald McDermott
In his review of Bishop A. P. Forbes’s An Explanation of the Thirty-Nine Articles—a new edition of which was recently published by Nashotah House Press—Gerald McDermott compares Forbes’s work to that of Edward Harold Browne and finds the former “deeper and richer,” with Browne being “decidedly Protestant in his approach, while Forbes is reformed catholic.” Putting aside the judgment that Browne’s engagement with the Articles is inferior, to call Forbes “reformed catholic” is a total misappropriation of that term, and one that is likely to mislead unfamiliar readers. In order to understand McDermott’s thinking and respond adequately, though, some background is required.

The myth of the Anglican "via media" has been repeatedly debunked since John Henry Newman concocted the theory in the 19th century. Newman himself rejected the theory as untenable and became a Roman Catholic. Writers who should know better, however, keep perpetuating the myth.

Christian nationalists need to look again at their religious DNA
The ancestors of today’s Christian nationalists weren’t the leaders of Christian America — they were the heretics.

The newest Trump monument disobeys the biblical commandment to 'flee from idolatry'
It is a story found in the Torah, the Bible and the Koran: Moses comes down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, only to find the Israelites worshipping a golden calf. He then angrily destroys it and the worshippers are punished for the sin of idolatry.

After a 22-foot gold-covered statue of President Donald Trump raising his fist, known as the “Don Colossus,” was dedicated at the Trump National Doral Miami last week, Trump ally and evangelical pastor Mark Burns defended it in a long and meandering post on X.

MAGA world baffled by beef export push amid record prices
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins took to social media Saturday to celebrate a series of new “commitments” from China – namely, the export of American beef, an announcement that came amid U.S. beef prices reaching their highest level in recorded history, sparking a considerable backlash from MAGA-aligned figures.

More evidence that easing the cost of living for ordinary Americans is not a priority for the Trump administration. As the cost of living goes up, it will impact local churches in a number of ways. It will affect giving to local churches and exacerbate their financial difficulties and is likely to lead to more church closures

Pastoral Transition: Setting Your Church Up For Ministry Success After You’re Gone
An equipped church is healthy enough to weather the challenges that come with a pastoral transition.

Most Worship Leaders Get This Wrong About Worship
Most Christians think worship = singing. But what does the Bible actually say?

In this video, we break down the true biblical definition of worship, what corporate worship really means, and why understanding the difference between personal worship and corporate worship will transform the way you lead and participate on Sundays.

Whether you're a worship leader, worship team member, or someone who wants to better understand the purpose of Sunday morning gatherings, this teaching will challenge and expand your understanding of what it means to be a true worshiper.

Less than a third of parents say they pray with their children often, survey finds

Less than a third of American parents pray with their children, according to new research from the American Bible Society, even as younger parents remain more likely than non-parents to identify as Christian.

The American Bible Society released the second installment of its “State of the Bible: USA 2026” report on Thursday. Titled “Parenting with the Bible,” the chapter examines the spiritual practices of American parents and their experiences with the Church.

What Role Does Service Play in Discipleship?
Discipleship that doesn’t move people toward service is incomplete because it doesn’t fully reflect the life of Christ.

Image Credit: Episcopal Mission of Franklin, New Hampshire

Sundays at All Hallows (May 17, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday, the Sunday after Ascension Day, is the only Sunday in Ascensiontide. It is also known as Expectation Sunday, the Sunday before Whitsun, or Pentecost.

This Sunday’s message examines what the charge the risen Jesus gave the apostles in Acts 1:8 means for believers.

Readings: Acts 1: 6-14, 1 Peter 4: 12-14; 5: 6-11, and John 17:1-11, 20-24

Message: “You Will Be My Witnesses…”

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/05/sundays-at-all-hallows-may-17-2026.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing each lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows each lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Missouri initiative seeks to involve children more meaningfully in churches’ worship service' And More

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Maryville, Missouri, Dissolved December 31, 2019

Missouri initiative seeks to involve children more meaningfully in churches’ worship services
Trinity Episcopal Church’s experimentations with intergenerational worship started in 2024 after a simple decision. The Sunday nursery at the church in Kirksville, Missouri, was getting too crowded and chaotic, so the congregation decided that children ages 7 and older would join their parents in the pews during worship services.

"What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9. More than three decades ago, in the 1980s, we worked to make our weekly celebrations of the Holy Eucharist at St. Michael's, a new church I helped to plant and pioneer in the diocese of Louisiana, not only child-friendly but also child-inclusive. In 2000 I wrote an occasional paper (unpublished) on intergenerational worship for the diocese's liturgy and music commission, the fundamental reasoning behind what we did, what worked well and what didn't, based on that experience and my own research.

Let the Children Come
What do you dream for the children in your congregation in their life with God?

How might you design worship and prayer practices to help them—and people of all ages—become the disciples you imagine?

5 Benefits of Hosting an All-Age Worship Service
Hosting an all-age worship service won’t solve everything, but it will move your church closer to being a unified body. Here are five reasons it’s worth doing—and how to start.

The difference between an all-age worship and intergenerational worship is that an all-age service is something done "every now and then." The goal of intergenerational worship, on the other hand, is to involve children in meaningful ways in every worship gathering.

All Age Worship
This resource pack was developed by Jane Tibbs, Children’s Adviser for the Diocese of Bath and Wells and from what I have read should be helpful to church leaders seeking to involve children more in worship gatherings in ways meaningful to them.

Won't Somebody Please Think of (Having the) Children!
What’s intriguing about the impending population decline across the world is that it is hitting every part of the globe, irrespective of culture, ethnicity and religion.

In an intriguing article in The Free Press, entitled, Peak Human Is Coming Sooner Than You Think, two of the world’s leading demographers, Nicholas Eberstadt and Patrick Norrick, unpack a phenomenon that is exactly the opposite of the 1970s fears, population collapse.

With some notable exceptions, e.g., Free-Will Baptists, the declining birth rate is affecting both conservative and progressive churches in the United States. Progressive churches are particularly hard hit.

Proposed Pell grant change misses the meaning of education
The Trump administration is proposing a new rule that would tie the availability of Pell grants and student loans to the earning potential of degree programs. This proposal is beyond terrible for a multitude of reasons.

First, it ignores the actual reason for education in the first place. This ignorance is not simply a Trump administration problem but a misunderstanding reflected throughout our society. We have a collective amnesia about the purpose of education.

Second, a rule of this nature will decimate a variety of careers that are crucial to the functioning of a healthy society. We are fortunate in our country that we still have people willing to fulfill a calling that isn’t tied to the accumulation of riches.

Jackie Hill Perry Called the Enneagram Demonic. Here’s What She Found.
Jackie Hill Perry didn’t whisper it. The Christian author, Bible teacher, and hip-hop artist, one of the most prominent evangelical voices in the country, posted on Instagram calling the Enneagram “legitimately doctrines of demons, divination, witchcraft,” then apologized for ever promoting it. The story expired before most people finished arguing about it.

Those are the two questions worth actually answering.

Choir Dress: The Vestment That Is Never Wrong
A loose fitting cassock is preferrable to a tight fitting one. The cassock was originally outdoor wear, an overcoat. The 1604 canons only require a surplice for divine ministrations. Since churches were unheated until modern times, clergy put their surplice on over their overcoat to keep warm.

Image Credit: Episcopal Asset Map

Friday's Catch: 'Are Sunday Morning Service Times Changing?' And More

St. James Episcopal Church, Milton-Freewater, Oregan, Closed January 18, 2026

Are Sunday Morning Service Times Changing? What the Data Says About the Future of Church Worship

For decades, 11:00 a.m. was the “sacred hour” of church life—the assumed, unquestioned start time for Sunday worship. But that era is fading fast. In this episode, Thom and Sam unpack the data and on-the-ground observations showing how churches are rethinking when they gather. From earlier services to multiple options to non-Sunday gatherings, flexibility is replacing tradition. What once served an agrarian culture no longer fits modern family rhythms. Growing churches are adapting their schedules to remove barriers and create more on-ramps for attendance.

Pastoring an Angry Church and Leading a Ministry You Didn't Start with Rich Villodas
I caught up with Rich Villodas backstage at Exponential to talk about the learnable skills that keep leaders and congregations non-anxious in an angry age, and the unique challenges and gifting needed to lead a church you didn't plant.

Clergy Transitioning at Local Episcopal Churches
The Episcopal Church of Christ the King in Sturgeon Bay and Holy Nativity in Jacksonport are preparing to bid farewell to their priest and welcome another.

Note the ages of the departing vicar and his replacement. This and the part–time appointment of the vicar for the two yoked churches does not bode well for their future!

Ocean City church won’t close shelter after city threatens ‘enforcement action’
Nearly six weeks after St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in downtown Ocean City, Maryland, opened its overnight shelter for unhoused people inside its building, city officials charged the parish with a zoning violation. The city is now demanding the church close the shelter by June 8 at 9 a.m. or be fined an unspecified amount daily until operations cease and face “further enforcement action.”

Canadian Diocese Wants to Save its Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada is in dire need of repairs, and the diocesan synod has voted not to take the quick-fix route of selling it to a secular entity. The repairs could cost $17-$18 million, and the diocese wants to raise another $5 million to create an endowment.

The cathedral is nearly 175 years old and is on Canada’s Register of Historic Places, which praises it as an example of Gothic Revival architecture.

ACNA: Imagination Forfeited
We have mule churches. We need rabbit churches.

Too many ACNA clergy and congregations display the same lack of enthusiasm and even distate for planting new churches and making new disciples that has contributed to the decline of the Episcopal Church.

Anglican Denominations & Communions: A Guide to Global Alignments
The landscape of global Anglicanism can be confusing, even for those well acquainted with it. In a single US city, one can find Anglican churches from two or three different dioceses of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), along with other congregations connected to the Anglican Province of America, the Anglican Mission in the Americas, the Anglican Catholic Church, the United Episcopal Church of North America, and The Episcopal Church.

All present themselves as Anglican. Yet even a little casual digging reveals more than minor differences in worship expression and ethos, including some major variance in doctrine and even disparate definitions of what constitutes the gospel. Matters become more confusing when the Anglican Church in North American and The Episcopal Church both claim to be part of the Anglican Communion while denying that status to the other.

Who are all these groups, and how does a church belong to the Anglican Communion, if such a thing exists?

Faith communities must lead on the hunger crisis — but they can't substitute for US policy
The need for faith-based leadership on hunger is a sign American policy is not working.

Are You Really Filled with the Spirit?
When I was a college student, a classmate asked me whether I had been filled with the Holy Spirit. At that time, I wasn’t sure how to answer that question. Now, I know that the Bible tells me everything I need to know about the filling of the Spirit.

Let’s ask and answer three questions of the Bible about the Spirit’s filling: Who in Scripture is “filled with the Spirit”? What does this expression actually mean? How can I pursue and experience this filling of the Spirit?

3 Keys to Healthy Disciple Making Relationships
Whether you’re leading a discipleship ministry or personally discipling someone, we all make missteps in these relationships.

How to Discover Your God-Given Purpose
Let’s take a brief look at how to discover your God-given purpose. I’ve never met a person who didn’t want to know why they exist and how to make a difference in their sphere of influence.

There are at least three things you can do that will help in the process of discovery.

Want to Share the Good News? Ask Good Questions
People like talking about themselves. They want to discuss the things they love, the things they hate, and the reasons you should love and hate those same things. This is powerful information for evangelism. If we want more opportunities to share the gospel with people, we need to get them talking about their beliefs. And one of the best ways to get people talking is to ask good questions.

Image Credit: St. James Episcopal Church, Milton-Freewater, Oregan

Thursday's Catch: 'Wisconsin priest’s survey of thousands of churches aims to pinpoint what fuels growth' And More

St Thomas Episcopal New Windsor New York, Closed April 14, 2025

Wisconsin priest’s survey of thousands of churches aims to pinpoint what fuels growth
When the Rev. Chris Corbin looks at The Episcopal Church’s membership and attendance numbers, he sees bright spots.

Corbin, a priest in the Diocese of Wisconsin, has launched a project with backing from Forward Movement called the Growing Episcopal Churches Study. In it, he already has obtained survey responses from hundreds of Episcopal churches, and hopes to potentially hear from thousands more, to help pinpoint what factors makes some “bright spots” churches thrive compared to others.

Episcopal Church Faces Stark Demographic Reality As Membership Declines
Episcopal Church leaders have long heard warning sirens in their annual reports, with brutal statistics supporting this reality: They have lost half of their members since the 1960s.

If trends continue, the mainline Anglican flock in America will lose another half of its membership by 2040, with some demographers predicting institutional demise by 2050. But that's better than the Anglican Church of Canada, which could be gone by 2040.

The Coming Baby Boomer Cliff: What Happens in Churches When They Are Gone?
This is a friendly reminder of the upcoming webinar you registered for! If you have not registered for this free webinar, you may still have time to do so. It begins at 1:00 PM EST, today, May 14.

“How Leaders Make Meaningful Connections” featuring Zach Mercurio
What makes people feel like they truly matter in your church? In a season where many are disengaging from church life, how can leaders help people feel truly seen and valued? In this episode, Jonathan Page talks with Zach Mercurio about his book The Power of Mattering, and how simple, everyday interactions can transform church culture. Discover practical ways to help people feel noticed, affirmed, and needed—and why that may be the key to deeper connection and lasting engagement.

What to Say (and Not Say) Immediately After a Church Crisis
When a crisis hits a church, the first few hours can either build trust or break it. In this episode, Sam interviews crisis communication expert Amy Whitfield and walks through what to say (and not say) immediately after a church crisis. We talk about the first statement, the first 24 hours, and the common missteps that unintentionally escalate confusion, fear, or anger. Amy offers practical language that pastors and church leaders can actually use, along with guardrails for accuracy and accountability, especially when facts are still developing.

Ocean City church says it will not comply with order to close indoor shelter
A dispute between the Town of Ocean City and St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church is escalating after the town ordered the church to stop allowing people to sleep overnight inside one of its buildings.

The town issued a zoning violation last week ordering St. Paul’s to stop using Dewees Hall for overnight sleeping by June 8. Town officials say the church changed the use of the building without going through the required approval process.

The church says it will not comply.

Also See: Ocean City Maryland continues efforts to shut down Episcopal low-barrier homeless ministry; Exclusive: Interview with St. Paul’s By-the-Sea Pastor Jill Williams on the church’s low-barrier homeless shelter. And information on how we can help.

Christian schools endangered by new Trump rule
The Trump administration has proposed a new rule that could devastate Christian higher education by tying student loans to the earning potential of degree programs.

The earnings metric would require recipients of undergraduate degrees to earn more in median income than 25- to 34-year-olds with only high school diplomas. And alumni of graduate programs would have to make more money than their peers with bachelor’s degrees. The government would rely on IRS and Census Bureau data for the policy, which would go into effect in 2027.

Current students in degree programs that consistently fail to meet the standard would be barred from receiving student loans and Pell grants, the U.S. Department of Education announced April 17.

Trump's May 17 rally recalls 250 years of failed attempts at a Christian nation
While it is fitting and proper for individuals and congregations to rededicate themselves to their God in prayer, it is not the role of government to unite America in faith.

Also See: Evangelicals will dominate at ‘Rededicate 250’ this weekend

How to Stay in the Word, Even When You’re Busy
Why is it that so many of us who’ve followed Christ for years can’t quite manage to read His Word on a regular basis?

3 Questions AI Is Forcing Your Congregation to Ask
As AI reshapes everyday life, pastors are increasingly facing difficult conversations about identity, truth, and human connection within their congregations. Kenny Jahng, Editor-In-Chief at Church Tech Today, outlines three major disruptions church leaders must confront: the loss of work and purpose through automation, growing confusion around truth and authority, and the erosion of authentic community in an age of frictionless digital connection.

Camp safety can’t wait
Many states, including Missouri, rely heavily on self-reporting, limited inspections and vague emergency planning requirements.

Targeted and Engaged Evangelism to the Eastern Orthodox
There are so many evangelistic books in the marketplace that it often becomes too hard to know which to read and give away, so in the end we don’t give any away. That may be because there are so many goals to meet in writing an evangelistic book; the author must decide between multiple ‘goods’ which often involves compromises.

Image Credit: Anglican Watch

The Ascension Day at All Hallows (May 14, 2026) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to the Ascension Day at All Hallows.

This Thursday is the Ascension Day, also known as the Feast of the Ascension. With Christmas, Easter, and Whitsun (or Pentecost) it is one of the major festivals of the Christian year. It commemorates a key event in the history of humanity’s salvation—Jesus’s bodily ascent into heaven forty days after he rose from the dead and appeared to Mary Magdalene, to the apostles, and to other witnesses.

In today’s message we examine the significance of this event as the Christian Church has historically understood it from New Testament times to this day.

Readings: Daniel 7:9-14, Ephesians 1:15-23, and Luke 24:44-53

Message: Why Do Christians Celebrate the Ascension Day?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-ascension-day-at-all-hallows-may-14.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to the Ascension Day at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May the Feast of the Ascension at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Church of England celebrates continued post-pandemic growth' And More

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Manitou Springs, Colorado, Closed March 6, 2025

Church of England celebrates continued post-pandemic growth
Church of England attendance has grown for a fifth year in a row, according to an early snapshot of official figures published today.

Last year, Church of England congregations were attended by an estimated 1.023 million regular worshippers. In 2019, before the outbreak of the pandemic, regular worshippers stood at 1.11 million.

St. Paul’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church Faces New Deadlines From OC
St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Ocean City says it is facing new deadlines from the Town of Ocean City, demanding that its indoor shelter cease operations by June 8.

New York Man Sentenced to Prison for Hate Crime against Episcopal Rector
A 32-year-old New York man has been sentenced to one-and-one-third to four years in prison for stalking and threatening an Episcopal priest in what prosecutors described as an anti-LGBTQ hate crime.

Goat herd feasts on Michigan church’s invasive plants
For almost a century, cartoons have depicted goats as animals that will eat anything. In Walt Disney’s 1928 animated short “Steamboat Willie,” for example, a goat eats Minnie Mouse’s guitar and sheet music. In Sony Pictures Animation’s 2026 full-length movie “GOAT,” the protagonist, a pygmy goat named Will Harris, eats an unopened tin can of nuts.

Goats cannot, in fact, eat just anything, but as foragers that prefer a varied diet of brush over pastures, they’re great for controlling invasive plant species. That’s why St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Romeo, Michigan, hired a herd of goats to munch on poison ivy, honeysuckle, shrubs, vines, thorns and other plants that have colonized its nearly 11-acre property.

Anglicans and the Abuja Contradiction
The Abuja Affirmation marks the end of an era. The third largest Christian communion, Anglicanism (behind only Catholicism and Orthodoxy), has splintered. While its demise has been a drawn-out affair, the church has reached an inflection point. A crisis of authority has existed for over fifty years, a crisis that conservative Anglicans had long sought to resolve by returning Anglicanism to its scriptural roots. At a meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, this March, bishops from around the communion declared that the crisis had been resolved; the authority of the Scriptures had been restored. Their announcement was triumphant. But it contradicted reality.

Also See: Analysis: The Abuja "Contradiction" That Isn't

Here’s what’s different about clergy sexual abuse claims in UMC
One of the most consequential rulings on clergy sexual abuse in the entire history of American jurisprudence has received virtually no media attention. Its defendant? The United Methodist Church.

In a 2024 ruling in Chestnut v. United Methodist Church, the Second Department of the New York Supreme Court’s Appellate Division held that the UMC is not a “jural entity” and thus cannot be sued in a court of law.

Synod study group calls for greater role for laity in the selection of bishops
The study group’s recommendations are practical and easy to implement. They could be quickly adopted in the United States.

A Christian nation? At 250, America is still fighting over what that means
Historians say American history is more Christian than secular advocates claim — and less religious than Christian nationalists would have us believe. A look at the contested history of America as a Christian nation.

Also See: Religious freedom is for Christians only, says Jenna Ellis

The Coming Baby Boomer Cliff: What Happens in Churches When They Are Gone?
Just a reminder. Don't miss this free webinar on May 14th at 1:00 PM EST. Register today.

Checklist: 9 Legal and Compliance Issues Every Church Should Review Annually
This annual church legal checklist is designed to help church leaders identify governance weaknesses, compliance gaps, and emerging legal risks before they escalate.

How to Stay Human in an AI World
If you think of social media as the drug fueling individualism, then with AI, that drug’s addictive nature has been made significantly more potent, like digital heroin.

Counter-Catechesis for Kids: Adapting ‘The Gospel Way Catechism’ for Gen Alpha
Catechisms are making a comeback. I hear regularly from pastors and church leaders who are interested in this question-and-answer method of Christian formation, both for children and adults. In a world with so many competing messages flowing to us through the endless scroll, we need the truth of the Christian faith to be pressed into our hearts.

5 Ways to Mobilize Your Church to Pray for Summer Camp
Churches that intentionally challenge their people to pray provide church-wide prayer support that impacts every moment of camp.

Churchgoers Look to Join With Others in Their Discipleship Walk
Churchgoers are getting better at building and deepening relationships within their congregations, but it’s still not a strength.

The Missing Reformed Doctrine for Spiritual Formation
Have you had the experience of feeling like your prayers simply bounced off the ceiling? Or your Scripture reading ceased to feel as meaningful as it once did? Have you looked back at seasons that felt like lush gardens of excitement, passion, and zeal for the things of God—but now feel more like you’re in the desert, spiritually barren, dry, and lifeless?

You might be surprised to know that the doctrine of spiritual desertion was a standard teaching of Protestant spiritual theology for centuries. Spiritual desertion is God’s act to lead his people into experiencing his absence to awaken them to the truth of how sinful and broken they truly are.

Spiritually burned out? Tish Harrison Warren and some ancient monks have advice.
Dealing with a sense of burnout and the weariness of modern life, author Tish Harrison Warren found help in the words of long-dead Christian mystics.

Image Credit: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Manitou Springs, Colorado

Tuesday's Catch: '7 Signs Your Church Is Slowly Dying (And Nobody’s Talking About It)' And More

St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Des Plaines, Illinois, Closed January 4, 2026

7 Signs Your Church Is Slowly Dying (And Nobody’s Talking About It)
These are the seven signs most church leaders either don’t see or don’t want to say out loud. Read them honestly. If three or more describe your church, you don’t have a program problem. You have a foundation problem.

Big Church Assumptions that Unintentionally Hurt Small Churches
Some small church pastors have stopped looking for help from their big church counterparts because they're tired of being hurt. It doesn't have to be like this.

Why Evangelism Is Dying in Most American Churches
Jess and Sam share some sobering data on evangelism in local churches. They then look at the most significant challenges. The good news? All of these challenges can be met with a few changes.

Also See: An Encouraging Word from the Word for Church Leaders

The Coming Baby Boomer Cliff: What Happens in Churches When They Are Gone?
Just a reminder. Don't miss this free webinar on May 14th at 1:00 PM EST. Register today.

10 Things You Should Know About J. C. Ryle
Ryle is enjoying a huge resurgence in popularity.

Also See: Grace Gems: J. C. Ryle

The Spiritual Warfare Nobody's Talking About in Your Church
Joel Muddamalle is a theologian who thinks harder about spiritual warfare than almost anyone in the church today. In this conversation: how sin got a mass-marketing strategy, why your devices are a primary battleground, why the best answer to political division might be subversion, and how to keep your best people long-term.

Who Is the Holy Spirit?
When learning about the person of Holy Spirit, we must first make sure we understand who He is according to Scripture and how we can relate to Him the same way we would to God the Father and Jesus Christ. He is not some mystical force to be afraid of or an ethereal presence you can’t relate to. He is the Spirit of the living God, given to dwell within us. We cannot reduce Him to an object or describe Him incorrectly by avoiding personal pronouns. He is a person, and He has the power to liberate us, change us, lead us, and help us to look more like Jesus every day—if we learn His ways and obey His voice.

AI Is Doing What the Church Was Supposed to Do
72% of American teenagers have already turned to AI for companionship. Not the troubled kids. Not the extreme cases. Three in four teenagers are going to a machine for connection.

And the church needs to wake up to what that means.

Are we losing the ability to be still? ADHD, digital distraction and the spiritual battle for attention
Something troubling appears to be happening to human attention.

Across social media, millions of people now describe themselves as “neurodivergent”, discuss executive dysfunction, or wonder openly whether they may have ADHD. What was once regarded as a relatively specialised medical diagnosis has become part of everyday cultural language.

30 Summer Bucket List Ideas for Teens (Youth Ministry Edition)
...here’s the thing most people in the pews don’t realize: summer is actually the single greatest relational ministry window of the year.

Kids are out of school. The pressure drops. Parents are more available. And teens — even the ones who ghost you from October through May — show up when the stakes feel lower and the activity sounds fun.

Summer Church Activities: 18 Fun Fellowship Ideas
A great way to reach families is with summer church activities! After all, God doesn’t take a sabbatical during summer months. How can your church seize the unique evangelism and fellowship opportunities of the season?

To help you brainstorm, we’ve collected some of our favorite summer church activities. Check out all these fresh, fun ideas for community-building and outreach. (Bonus Tip: They’re also super ways to involve people of all ages in your church’s evangelism efforts!)

Who represents you and who do you represent?
Representation is one of the most powerful forces in human existence.

A single representative can shape the destiny of a family, a community, a company, or even an entire nation. Representatives influence culture, define values, and communicate what is acceptable, honourable, and true. Whether in politics, leadership, parenting, ministry, or friendship, representation carries weight because people are always reflecting something greater than themselves.

From a biblical perspective, representation is even more profound. Scripture repeatedly shows that God works through representatives, and the spiritual consequences of their actions often extend far beyond their individual lives.

Image Credit: Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

Monday's Catch: 'What Is the Goal of Church Revitalization?' And More

What Is the Goal of Church Revitalization?
Defining the end goal of revitalization allows one to set the compass and intentionally navigate the map before setting sail.

The Bohemian queen who was a catalyst for the English Reformation
11 May 2026 is the 660th anniversary of the birth of Anne of Bohemia, wife of King Richard II of England, who played an important role in the history of the English Bible. This is the story....

New Numbers on the Southern Baptist Convention: Remarkable Recovery or Dead Cat Bounce?
Denominations do not exist apart from their churches. They reflect the health of the congregations within them. When more churches are healthy than unhealthy, the denomination tends to have strategic capacity. When more churches are unhealthy than healthy, denominational leaders are pushed into triage mode rather than long-term leadership.

The Coming Baby Boomer Cliff: What Happens in Churches When They Are Gone?
Just a reminder. Don't miss this free webinar on May 14th at 1:00 PM EST. Register today.

What Does Revival Actually Look Like?
Russell answers a listener question about how to identify spiritual revival.

‘It’s not an idol,’ Trump-loving pastor declares
The South Carolina pastor who prayed over a 22-foot-high golden statue of President Donald Trump last week says it is not an idolatrous golden calf as described in the book of Exodus.

Mark Burns is a self-appointed pastor who previously lied about his educational background and previous military service. He unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018, 2022 and 2024. He was an early and ardent supporter of Trump’s presidential campaigns.

Also See: Young Daniel and his three friends would like a word

Taking Jesus seriously
Writing from a Nazi prison, Deitrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “What keeps gnawing at me is the question, Who is Christ actually for us today?”. The question continues to gnaw at the soul of anyone who takes Jesus seriously.

Growing share of pastors don’t find job deeply fulfilling: Barna
While pastors have registered improvements in their mental health and feel more equipped for ministry than they were a decade ago, a growing share are reporting less satisfaction with their jobs, according to new research from Barna.

In their 2026 State of the Church series, conducted in partnership with leading technology platform Gloo, Barna researchers reported that feelings of inadequacy among pastors about their ability to do ministry hit the lowest level ever recorded.

America's pastor pipeline is collapsing
Fewer Americans want to become pastors, accelerating a leadership vacuum inside one of the country's oldest civic institutions.

Toolkit helps Episcopal congregations deepen intergenerational worship
In a time when many congregations are exploring how to bridge generational divides and invite fuller participation of children, youth, adults, and older adults alike in worship, the Roots & Wings: Intergenerational Formation Collaborative, based at Virginia Theological Seminary, is pleased to announce the release of the Hallmarks of Intergenerational Worship Toolkit via the ministry site Building Faith.

Designed for congregational leaders — ordained, lay, youth, and children’s ministry alike — the toolkit offers a framework for reflection, assessment, and growth in the practice of intergenerational worship. The resource identifies five “hallmarks” of intergenerational worship: Intentionality, Relationality, Dignified Reciprocity, Flexibility, and Empowerment. Leaders can use the survey piece of the toolkit to identify which hallmarks are especially strong in their context and which need more support. A resource article accompanies each hallmark so that leaders can more fully explore areas of strength and areas for growth.

This Generation Averages 9 Hours of Daily Screen Time — And It’s Affecting More Than Mental Health
Gen Z has officially become Generation Scroll. According to recent screen time data, the average Gen Z user now spends roughly nine hours a day on screens, outpacing millennials, Gen X and boomers by a wide margin. Another report found that nearly one in four Americans ages 18 to 29 say they spend nine to 12 hours a day looking at screens.

Nine hours is not a habit. It’s a second life.

10 Safety & Security Measures You Need for Your Children's Ministry
Churches have to get safety and security right if they want to earn the right to be heard by families.

That being said, here are 10 safety and security measures you need to have in place.

Everyone Lives, Everyone Dies—But Not Everyone Walks with God
...there is a way that we can live when it comes to our relationship with God that is more than living. It is so much more than living that you wouldn’t even use the same word for it. Enoch didn’t just live; he walked with God.

Podcast: Struggling to Evangelize? Start Here. (Sharonda Cooper)
In this podcast, Sharonda Cooped reframes our often fearful thinking around evangelism and talks about how changing our mindset as joining in God’s mission can transform our motivation towards this spiritual discipline. Sharonda also shares her own experience with evangelism and addresses some common fears around the practice.

Image Credit: St.  Barnabas Episcopal Church, Tullahoma, Tennessee

Sundays at All Hallows (May 10, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday, Fifth Sunday after Easter, or the Sixth Sunday of Easter, depending upon whether a church is following the traditional one-year lectionary or the three-year Revised Common Lectionary, is Rogation Sunday and marks the beginning of Rogationtide, a brief season of four days, counting Rogation Sunday, which precedes Ascension Day. Among the customs associated with Rogationtide, are fasting and abstinence in preparation for Ascension Day, solemn processions through the community during which the Great Litany was recited or sung, the blessing of the farmers’ crops, and the beating of the bounds, which in its oldest form entailed showing the boys of the parish the boundary markers of the parish and giving them a good drubbing so they didn’t forget them. If the boundary marker was a pond, river, or stream, they were thrown into the water. These customs whose introduction in England goes as far back as the seventh century, survived the Reformation albeit they are now not as widely observed as they once were.

This year Rogation Sunday falls on the second Sunday of May, Mother’s Day, a secular holiday in the United States honoring mothers and others who have occupied that role in the care of a child and widely observed in US churches.

In this Sunday’s message we unpack John 14: 15-21 and its meaning for us.

Readings: Acts 17:22-31; 1 Peter 3: 13-22; and John 14: 15-21

Message: Honk If You Love Jesus

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/05/sundays-at-all-hallows-may-10-2026.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing each lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows each lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'The Coming Baby Boomer Cliff: What Happens in Churches When They Are Gone?' And More

The Coming Baby Boomer Cliff: What Happens in Churches When They Are Gone?
What happens to the American church when the Baby Boomer generation is gone? Join Thom Rainer and Sam Rainer on May 14th at 1:00 PM for a revealing webinar that explores the demographic reality behind current attendance patterns and why many churches are more fragile than they appear. You’ll gain insights into how aging membership, declining birth rates, weak leadership pipelines, and changing giving patterns are reshaping the future of congregations across the country. Thom and Sam will examine likely outcomes, including mergers, shifts in real estate markets, increased competition for young families, and the growing role of immigration. This webinar is designed to help church leaders think clearly, plan wisely, and prepare faithfully for the next 10 to 25 years. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to equip yourself for the future—join us!

Related: What Will Happen in Churches When All the Baby Boomers Are Gone?; The Death of the Baby Boomers: 7 Things That Will Take Place in Your Church (A Church Answers Research Article); Five Reasons Churches Should Still Try to Reach Boomers; Denominations That Are on Red Alert for Rapid Decline; The Silent Exodus of Senior Adults (What's Happening in Churches?); and Who and What Is the Silent Generation?

Black clergy strategize, preach and urge election turnout after Voting Rights Act gutting
'We need accountability. We need to set goals, track registrations, follow up to ensure that those who register actually vote,' a Church of God in Christ bishop said at an 'emergency’ meeting.

On Mother’s Day, being pro-life means helping babies in developing countries live
Our commitment to protecting life cannot end at birth, nor stop at our nation’s borders.

Young Christians engaging with Bible more, survey finds
A new report reveals surprising levels of Bible engagement among young people aged 15–30, despite the apparent increase in secularisation.

The Patmos Youth Report, drawn from the larger Patmos World Bible Attitudes Survey conducted by Gallup in partnership with the Patmos Initiative and United Bible Societies, offers one of the most comprehensive looks yet at global attitudes toward Scripture.

The “Christian” Pantheon Of Acceptable “gods”
There is a curious thing about the first commandment, which is that almost no one believes they have broken it. Murder, yes. Theft, perhaps. Adultery, well, of the eyes if not of the body. But idols? Idols are wooden men in jungles and golden calves in deserts and fat little statues in temples on the other side of the world. The modern man hears Thou shalt have no other gods before me and feels a faint, rather pleasant solidarity with Moses, the way one feels solidarity with a man condemning a crime one has not yet thought of committing.

The truth is that we break this commandment before breakfast.

Why Do We Take Communion? 7 Biblical Reasons for the Lord’s Supper
Christians take communion — also called the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist — in obedience to a direct command from Jesus (Luke 22:19). But this sacred practice is far more than a ritual obligation. Every time believers share the bread and cup together, they participate in something with profound spiritual, communal, and prophetic significance.

If you’ve ever wondered why communion matters — or how to explain it to someone new to faith — these seven biblical reasons offer a clear and meaningful answer.

Why Walking Is a Powerful Spiritual Practice
When people ask me, “What are your hobbies?” I give them a boring answer: I walk. Walking and prayer....

How Grandparents Can Leave A Legacy
At the time of this writing, there are over 4.9 million children being raised by a grandparent in the United States. Grandparents need our support and prayers as they invest in their grandchildren.

Here are five questions you can ask to help grandparents navigate raising and influencing their grandchildren.

Geography of Discipleship with Eleanor Sanderson
Mission and discipleship are connected at the root. Today we’re going to explore some of those connections, not only through our guest’s own life, but also through her experience with particular discipleship programs, as well as what she’s learned through a first career as a geographer and her husband’s career as a mechanic.

Our guest today is the Rt. Rev. Dr. Eleanor Sanderson. Eleanor is Bishop of Hull in the Diocese of York and was previously the Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Wellington, New Zealand. She serves on the Anglican Communion Commission for Discipleship and Evangelism and has a passion for the renewal of God’s church through multiplying missional disciples and intentional communities.

Also See: Mustard Seed; Discovery Bible Study

Friday's Catch: 'Who was Mother Julian of Norwich and why is she important?' And More

Norwich Cathedral

Who was Mother Julian of Norwich and why is she important?

8 May is the traditional day to remember Mother Julian of Norwich. She is important because her book remains a classic of Christian spirituality and is the first book in English known to have been written by a woman. This is her story....

When I was a young boy, I lived in Seely Suffolk, or Holy Suffolk, so named for its many churches, and visited Norwich with my family. Norwich was in the adjoining county of Norfolk, a little over 20 miles from the village of Ilkeshalt St. Andrews where we lived. Norwich Cathedral is the see of the Diocese of Thetford.

Three Collects and Three Spiritual Songs for the Feast of Julian of Norwich
Dame Julian's Revelations of Divine Love has inspired a number of prayers and spiritual songs. Here are three of each.

Two years after schism, a United Methodist scholar pens a road map for growth
If the United Methodist Church wants to reach younger, more ethnically diverse people, it must focus on densely populated urban areas, suggests researcher Lovett Weems Jr.

Johnson Amendment Remains in Effect After Federal Court Dismisses Lawsuit
The Johnson Amendment—the controversial Internal Revenue Code (IRC) provision prohibiting most political activities by churches and other tax-exempt organizations—remains alive, despite a highly publicized lawsuit seeking to undo it.

Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' could drastically impact seminaries and Christian colleges, school leaders warn
Christian college and seminary presidents are speaking out against a provision in President Donald Trump’s most significant domestic policy legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that will have consequences for students pursuing degrees in ministry and religious studies.

The Association for Biblical Higher Education, which oversees 165 institutions with a combined 86,639 students, invited nearly two dozen presidents of schools in its association to lobby Congress to exempt their students from Section 84001 of the Big Beautiful Bill, also known as H.R. 1.

Sam Allberry Removed From All Ministry Within the Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast Following ‘Inappropriate Relationship’
Bishop Clark Lowenfield, who is the first ordinary of the Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast, released a statement stating that he is “deeply grieved and broken-hearted” for Sam Allberry.

Allberry, an apologist, author, and speaker, was disqualified from ministry early this month for engaging in an “inappropriate relationship with an adult man.” He served as an associate pastor at Immanuel Nashville since 2023.

New Suicide Prevention Resource for Faith Leaders
The E. Stanley Jones Foundation and the General Boards of Higher Education and Ministry and Global Ministries have partnered to develop and release a suicide prevention video training course designed to equip faith leaders with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to prevent suicide, respond to crises, and care for individuals and families affected by suicide loss.

Warning Dreams from God: 10 Biblical Signs and What They Mean
A warning dream from God is a divinely initiated dream that alerts, redirects, or prepares a believer for something important. Unlike ordinary dreams — which often process stress or daily experience — a warning dream typically feels different in tone, urgency, and staying power. You remember it. You wake with a weight, a clarity, or a holy unease that doesn’t fade with coffee and a commute.

Navigating the Pre-Transition Space
In a season of transition for the church, Jonathan Page offers practical and pastoral insights into how congregations and clergy can navigate change with intention and faithfulness. Rather than rushing ahead or clinging to what was, he invites leaders and communities to finish well, make space for reflection, and keep the main thing the main thing.

Leading Faithfully through Transitions
In seasons of transition, leadership is tested as much as it is revealed. Dontá McGilvery reflects on how shifting roles and uncertainty have shaped his understanding of resilience, trust, and spiritual grounding. Rather than treating change as disruption alone, he challenges leaders to see it as formation—an opportunity to lead with greater humility, awareness, and dependence on God.

Sunday Style and the Devil's Beat
As technology kept advancing and music became an actual business, the denominations and their hymnals gave way to publishing companies’ and record labels’ albums and videos as our main form of church song discovery.

Two interesting things have happened because of this....

Effective Small-Church Prayer Strategies, with Chris Paavola (Ep 127)
“Just get together with two or three people—your Peter, James, and John—and just start praying.”

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (May 7, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In this Thursday evening’s message, we take a look at one of the “abide” passages of the Gospel of John—John 15: 9-11—and what it tells us about being a disciple of Jesus.

Reading: John 15: 9-11

Message: “Abide in My Love”

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/05/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows-may-7.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Thursday's Catch: 'Why Small Churches Stay Small — And What Finally Breaks the Pattern' And More

Church of Our Saviour, Lugerville, Wisconsin (Closed September 10, 2024)

Why Small Churches Stay Small — And What Finally Breaks the Pattern
Most small churches stay small not because they lack resources, but because they resist change. Common barriers include rapid pastor turnover, control by a few key members, lack of a clear growth plan, prayerlessness, and an unwillingness to welcome outsiders. These patterns can be diagnosed and addressed — and many small churches that have confronted them have experienced meaningful, lasting growth.

Church of England publishes report on mission funding impact
The Church of England’s Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB) has published its annual review for 2025, outlining the results of its investment into mission and church growth activities.

The SMMIB said it had distributed £98 million to Church of England dioceses and £5.9 million to mission partners in a bid to “revitalise” parish churches and fund ministry, youth work, renovation and other mission projects.

Hearings to Begin in ACNA Primate’s Trial
The Anglican Church in North America’s Court for the Trial of a Bishop will hold hearings this week on the first pretrial motions filed in the disciplinary matter of the Most Rev. Steve Wood, according to a court announcement.

Archbishop Wood, the denomination’s primate, was indicted on ecclesiastical charges of personal and sexual misconduct last December. His trial is scheduled to begin July 20.

SBC membership down, but baptisms and attendance on the rise: report
Southern Baptist Convention membership declined in 2025, but attendance and baptisms continued to rise, according to a newly released report.

Lifeway Research published a report on Tuesday about the Annual Church Profile (ACP) statistics, which found that SBC membership dropped by over 3% last year, going from approximately 12.72 million members in 2024 to approximately 12.33 million in 2025.

How the devil was disguised in the SBC and Paul Pressler's Conservative Resurgence
During the Conservative Resurgence, I thought we were fighting for the Bible. Instead, we were also political pawns for an abuser.

One Counseling Resource Every Church Should Have
Regardless of church size or context, there’s one counseling resource every church can and should have available for those in their churches.

Climate change is getting so bad that it’s making food less nutritious
Climate change’s effects often aren’t obvious.

In a particularly lateral example of how our planet’s changing environment is coming to affect our lives, scientists are now warning that our increasingly CO2-suffused atmosphere is causing the plants we eat to be less nutritious. Though the changes are subtle, they could already be endangering millions of people with poor diets, and hundreds of millions if the trend holds in the coming decades.

Also See: Fewer insects, fewer nutritious crops: Pollinator decline puts human health at risk; After 9,000 years of cultivation, rice has reached its thermal limit

7 Traits of the Best Leaders: Lessons from a Wisdom Seeker
Looking back...the best leaders I ever had shared some common traits. There were things that set them apart from other leaders, helped them be successful, and caused me to take notice in them.

The ‘Lordly’ Supper: An Antidote to What Ails the Church
By describing communion as a ‘Lordly supper,’ Paul emphasizes the dignity and honor involved in the ordinance.

The Corinthians thought they had accepted the invitation to this great supper, but Paul’s critique reveals they had shown up to the wrong celebration.

Is a secular religion propelling the AI race?
Philosopher Émile P. Torres contends that a bundle of techno-utopian ideologies is ubiquitous in Silicon Valley. AI ‘doomers’ and ‘accelerationists’ may be locked in a ‘clash of eschatologies,’ but Torres sees them all as part of the same futuristic faith.

Faith plays key role in young people’s mental wellbeing - study
A new study suggests that religion can play a significant role in shaping the mental health and emotional resilience of young people, particularly when it is expressed through positive coping practices.

The research, led by Dr Lydia Mannion of Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, examined how religious belief and practice intersect with psychological wellbeing among students.

Don’t Divide Enjoyment and Edification in Youth Ministry
Mikey Lynch recently published an article for TGCA encouraging youth ministries to display both social activities and teaching topics on their term calendars, and I’m grateful he did. It’s a simple, practical and easily applied set of suggestions, which I can see being immediately useful to a number of contexts. Plus, Mikey wasn’t grumpy or despairing at youth ministries, nor is he belittling or condescending in his proposals. As a youth minister, I was encouraged.

However, when he asked me for my thoughts, I did find myself wanting to nuance (or even push back on) something in his initial premise. So, after a friendly exchange of emails, he invited me to pull together some thoughts.

Parents' refusal to give newborns vitamin K shots is increasing preventable deaths in US
Babies across the United States are dying from vitamin K deficiency bleeding, a preventable condition, after parents refuse the standard newborn vitamin K injection.

ProPublica's Duaa Eldeib reports multiple infants experienced catastrophic bleeding in their brains, seizures, and respiratory failure within weeks of birth. Along with autopsies revealing deaths that could have been prevented with a simple, inexpensive shot.

10 Easy VBS Tips That’ll Make Leading Vacation Bible School a Breeze
VBS doesn’t have to be hard; use our 10 easy VBS tips to make your VBS even easier!

Image Credit: David Paulsen/Episcopal News Service