The Vinedresser often prunes the vine so that the dead branches are cleared to make way for fresh, new growth. I believe that may be happening within American evangelicalism. I’m not a prophet, so time will tell, but I do believe that the events of 2020 and 2021 (so far) have thrown back the curtains and shined the light on some of our greatest weaknesses. People are leaving in unprecedented numbers, both church-goers and pastors, and it’s more than just fear of contracting a virus. There are numerous reasons why people have become disillusioned. Out of my own heart and with my ear to the ground, I’ve listed out at least fifteen reasons why.
3 Reasons Local Ministry Matters
I recently spoke with some friends in ministry about how the pandemic has impacted the Church for life. I have said it before, and it is the focus of Ministry Pivot, that this is a season of opportunity. Our churches and ministries have a chance now to impact people not just in our zip code but anywhere in the world. The truth is we had this opportunity before, but this season has made that more plausible. However, my conversation with my friends was around the fact that “local” still matters and is still essential. While we see many churches and ministries entering new cities, which I think is excellent, we still have to realize the local is local. Here is what I mean....
The New Metrics: 6 Things Pastors Need to Start (and Stop) Measuring
With hybrid church (physical + digital ministry) as the new standard, how do you measure what happened at church last week? Measurements matter only insofar as they help you assess the extent to which you’re accomplishing your mission. If the goal is to turn online views into real relationships and actual discipleship, do you have any idea what to look for to know if that’s actually happening?
Can I Be an Effective Pastor If I Don’t Like Management?
Pastors are not managers, at least in a corporate-business-world-publicly-traded-company-sort-of-way. But pastors are shepherds. And shepherds manage sheep. Leading a church involves management. A church hierarchy assumes management. And most churches—even smaller congregations—are not completely flat in structure. Even at the most basic level, churches require management. Who pays the bills? When does the meeting start? Who is responsible for snow removal? Who fills the baptistery? What is our policy? Those are basic managerial questions. Most churches are more complex.
5 Actions That Will Immediately Encourage Discipleship in Your Church
As leaders we know there are many areas where we need to grow in our walk with Christ. Sometimes, as we multiply similar needs across a congregation, it can be hard to know where to start. What area of discipleship should we emphasize? Where can teaching, exhortation, and a congregational focus make the most difference? For over a decade, Lifeway Research has researched the discipleship journeys of Protestant churchgoers, and we have asked this question more than once.
Most Pastors Say Sexually Abusive Ministers Should Step Down Permanently
As Christian groups and denominations debate the proper response to clergy sexual misconduct (both child sexual abuse and adult sexual assault), most pastors believe those who commit such crimes should withdraw from public ministry permanently. At the recent Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, the topic of pastoral sexual abuse and assault dominated much of the conversation and business, including passing a resolution that “any person who has committed sexual abuse is permanently disqualified from holding the office of pastor.”
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