Wednesday's Catch: 'Should Churches Celebrate July 4th? (And How Much)' And More

Should Churches Celebrate July 4th? (And How Much)
Independence Day is a unique holiday for the American church. An overt Christian connection does not exist like with Christmas or Easter. July 4th is also specific to the United States, so churches outside of our country—as expected—would not recognize the holiday. Four predominant views exist concerning whether American churches should recognize the holiday in a worship service. These views are on a spectrum, and godly people can have widely differing perspectives.

Like Sam Rainer, I fall into the second category and see the July 4th holiday as an excellent outreach opportunity to draw the community to the campus of my church. My church takes part in the annual Freedom Fest parade and distributes flyers and freezies to the people lining the parade route. The flyers invite the parade watchers to send their kids to the church's Vacation Bible School. Other outreach activities in which I have participated have included distributing free bottled water and balloons to Freedom Fest attendees and face painting.

That Ten Commandments law isn’t the worst thing about Louisiana’s ‘Dream Big’ act for public education 

I worked as a social worker in Louisiana for 27 years and my mother taught in the state's schools. I see these measures as extremely irresponsible and wrongheaded and seriously damaging public health and public education in the state and endangering the state's children.

Christian nationalism: A Baptist evaluation and response
As Ronald S. Cava writes in this article, "“Coerced faith is no faith at all.”

Creating Church Experiences Worth Experiencing
Welcome to the Experience Economy! Actually, we’ve been living in it for a decade or two, even if you and I haven’t realized it. Most of us are old enough to remember the previous service economy. The economic progression away from the service economy has been evolving for quite some time and has real implications for your church.

Intergenerational Ministry: Strive for Understanding, Connectivity
For churches of all sizes, intergenerational ministry is a necessary and worthwhile undertaking.

Building New Relationships: 4 Strategies for Church Leaders in Transition
Let’s face it, a successful ministry hinges on connection. But transitions can be tough. Front and center for many of us is the question: how do I build strong relationships with this new church family? New faces, new routines, and the pressure to build strong connections quickly – it’s enough to make even the most outgoing pastor sweat a little. And that’s where the misconception that you can just saunter right into your new appointment and the congregation will welcome you with open arms, comes in.

4 Practical Tips for Building a Strong Sunday School Team
As a Sunday school leader, you want to ensure that your ministry has a solid foundation—and that includes your team. Consider these practical tips for building a strong Sunday school team.

Maintaining Purity for Long, Healthy Ministry
Let’s determine to handle our desires with Christlike purity. Let holiness and our sanctification be the benchmarks in our lives.

VOICES: 9 ways to keep the missional fire burning
Looking back at the Church’s dynamic beginnings in Acts 19, we see that its “first works” were characterized by passionate discipleship, bold Gospel proclamation, regional transformation, and the planting of vibrant Jesus communities across Asia Minor.

Tuesday's Catch: 'General Convention COVID Cases Near 100' And More

General Convention COVID Cases Near 100

Nearly 100 people who attended the 81st General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, have reportedly tested positive for COVID, either after returning home or while still at the eight-day convention, which ended June 28.

A Parish Grows in Brooklyn
St. John’s Park Slope describes itself as the second-oldest Episcopal church in Brooklyn, and adds: “But don’t let our age fool you, we’re just getting started.” 

To renew the church, let’s redefine ‘Christian community’
The decline of the church in the Western world has been the subject of extensive study and speculation. Often, we focus our attention on the motivations of those who have left Christianity. In this season following Pentecost, however, perhaps we in the church should turn our reflections inward and consider what these dwindling numbers might reveal about our own lives of faith.

Leading Five Thriving Dinner with Josh Gering
What if your church is thriving, but not in the way you want it to? In this discussion, you’ll hear from Josh Gering, who oversees five dinner churches in a County that is exactly between Seattle, WA and Portland, OR. Josh’s church was doing great, but they wanted to reach more people outside of the reach of their church. This interview highlights the unique ways Dinner Churches can work alongside existing congregations to do what they cannot.

Supreme Court rules Trump has immunity from prosecution
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that former President Donald Trump and other U.S. presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts undertaken while in office.

Monarchy redux: Follow the money
Who’d a thought that just prior to commemorating our overthrow of a king, the U.S. Supreme Court would reinstate monarchy? That might be an exaggeration, but only a teeny-weeny one. With today’s Supreme Court ruling, presidents of the U.S. have “at a minimum, a presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts.

7 Practical Questions to Evaluate Your Church Ministries
When was the last time you conducted a ministry audit? It’s always best to be continually monitoring and measuring the effectiveness of your church’s ministries but every two-three years it’s good to take a comprehensive look at all of your ministries together. It’s important to know what is working and what isn’t.

10 Best Practices For Worship Sound Techs
Worship is a dynamic environment in which God is meeting with people, and people are meeting with God. For that reason alone, the Worship Sound Tech must take their place – with active attention – among the worship leadership influencers in the room.

4 Ways to Increase Great Commission Discipleship
The current state, marked by inadequate Great Commission discipleship, can be transformed by emphasizing four key solutions.

Nazarene Church cracks down on LGBTQ-welcoming leaders
The Church of the Nazarene is cracking down on three longtime leaders who seek to minister to LGBTQ people, charging them with disobeying the denomination’s 2019 ruling that same-sex individuals must remain celibate and that clergy cannot bless or perform same-sex marriages. Some see the disciplinary actions against Selden “Dee” Kelley, Jim Scharn and District Superintendent Rick Power as a much-needed affirmation of the denomination’s Holiness movement origins. Others say the actions represent a culture-war-fueled rejection of the movement’s compassion for any in need of God’s grace.

'Mission and values': Tractor Supply Co. abandons LGBT, progressive causes amid backlash
Tractor Supply Co. is abandoning its embrace of LGBT and progressive causes in the wake of consumer backlash. The major retailer announced in a Thursday statement that moving forward, it will "ensure our activities and giving tie directly to our business." The chain of more than 2,200 stores employing 50,000 workers indicated that its actions stem from a desire to "live up to our Mission and Values every day and represent the values of the communities and customers we serve." "We have heard from customers that we have disappointed them," the statement asserted. "We have taken this feedback to heart."

Monday's Catch: 'Episcopal Church General Convention approves diocesan mergers, updates' And More

Episcopal Church General Convention approves diocesan mergers, updates
On its final day in Louisville, Kentucky, the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church approved the mergers of three Wisconsin dioceses and two Michigan dioceses, and a much anticipated change in status to missionary diocese for the Episcopal Church in Navajoland. Earlier during the June 23-28 convention, members approved the expansion of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii to include Guam and Saipan, which formerly comprised the Episcopal Church in Micronesia.

Related articles: 81st General Convention finalizes reunion of the Diocese of Wisconsin, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan celebrate approval of merger as Diocese of the Great Lakes, and Deputies Give Navajoland a Joyous Welcome.

Now both the Anglican Church in North America and the Episcopal Church have a Diocese of the Great Lakes.

Wippells brought back to life by its old rivals
The historic church furnisher J. Wippell & Co has returned to the ecclesiastical market, thanks to its former neighbour and one-time rival, Watts & Co.

How to Hold Church Staff Accountable in a Hybrid Work-from-Home Arrangement
How do you hold staff accountable without being too rigid with required office hours?

How to Be an Elder on Sunday Morning
Every church as its equivalent of "elders," people occupying positions of leadership in the church.

10 Common Worship Distractions
...here are 10 distractions we’ve encountered in the music element of worship.

The Vital Role of Preaching in the Local Church
The weekly preaching of God’s Word stands as the most significant activity in a local church. While prayer, singing, fellowship, discipleship, service, and evangelism are also crucial, preaching holds a primary place in advancing God’s kingdom purposes (Acts 6:2). So the regular expounding of Scripture—especially when pastors faithfully and clearly communicate it—profoundly impacts the life of a local church.

A Case for Shorter Sermons
... shorter, more succinct sermons are most helpful to modern people....aiming for shorter sermons allows preachers to deliver the truths within the biblical text in a timeframe that is more consumable.

One of the Best Ways We Can Love Our Loved Ones
When we care deeply for people, we can demonstrate that love by praying them through every season of their lives.

Becoming a Disciple
Tis article is adapted from from James Emery White's After “I Believe”: Everyday Practices for a Vibrant Faith.