Saturday Lagniappe: 'Every Church Needs the Global Church' And More

Every Church Needs the Global Church
From the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit blew into the upper room, the church has been a global people. It can be easy for Western Christians, however, to forget that they need the global church just as much as the global church needs them. Listening to fellow believers from around the world can help Western Christians assess their own theological formulations with a critical eye, better understand Scripture, more faithfully engage in mission, and learn what faithfulness under persecution might look like. Adopting a posture of mutual edification helps the Western church to receive these good gifts from global brothers and sisters.

Christian Nationalism and the Crisis of Church Unity
In the aftermath of 2020, many church leaders continue to navigate fractured relationships and deep political division within their congregations. In his book Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor, Caleb Campbell calls pastors to respond not with hostility, but with a missionary posture shaped by the way of Jesus.

Also See: Part 1 — “Loving Across the Divide: Conversations on Christian Nationalism” featuring Caleb Campbell and Rachel Williams; Part 2 — “Loving Across the Divide: Conversations on Christian Nationalism” featuring Caleb Campbell and Rachel Williams

Anti-Christian bias task force blasts Biden for targeting 'traditional Christians'
The 500-page report offers an array of incidents to depict a clash between the Biden administration and what the report calls 'traditional Christians.'

The Myth of the Devout Immigrant: Why immigration won't reverse America's secular drift
There’s another argument for increased immigration that I see every once in a while on my social media feed, though. It’s that immigrants tend to be more religious than people whose family has been in the United States for generations. So, if we bring in a lot of new immigrants, that will move the needle on overall religiosity in this country and stem the tide of secularism that has been increasing since the late 1990s.

But is that actually the case, though? I mean the entire presupposition of that argument is that immigrants to the United States are significantly more religious than folks who already live here. I can test that.

Also See: What Pulls Christians Toward Trump: Abortion or Immigration?

How to Welcome Gen Z Men to Your Church: Some dos and don’ts
I ran across a link to this articles on the Reformed Episcopal Church Discussion Group's page on Facebook. The Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) is one of the founding organizations of the Anglican Church in North America and forms a sub-province of the ACNA. The REC was founded in the late 19th century in reaction to the spread and growth of the Oxford Movement and ritualism in the then Protestant Episcopal Church. The REC is composed of conservative traditionalist clergy and congregations of various stripes. The REC is one of the subdivisions of the ACNA opposed to the ordination of women in that ecclesial body. 

Both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church are reportedly attracting Gen Z men. I would like to see more research on what kinds of churches are attracting Gen Z men and why.

A note on Anglican ecclesial understanding
It is necessary to address certain assertions that misrepresent both the ecclesiological self-understanding of the Anglican Communion and the nature of inter-ecclesial relations within historic Christianity.

Finally! A satisfying answer to why God sometimes seems absent
Christians love to talk about feeling God’s presence, especially in the highs and the lows. But there’s a quieter, more uncomfortable reality most believers don’t volunteer: the moments when God feels nowhere to be found … right when you need Him most.

Ever been there? I have.

What If Church Leadership Isn’t about Doing More?
Is the church’s biggest problem decline—or distraction? Craig Meek says that the answer may be unexpected. He engages with When Church Stops Working by Andy Root and Blair Bertrand, challenging common assumptions about leadership, innovation, and growth. Rather than offering another strategy for success, the answer may be to slow down, discern, and recover a way of being rooted in God’s action.

4 Ways Pastors Can Successfully Lead Change in Ministry
Great leaders manage change well. Great pastors also manage change well. But it’s not easy. In my research for my book, Brain-Savvy Leaders: the Science of Significant Ministry, I learned that brain insight can help us navigate change successfully. Consider these 4 ways to successfully navigate a change you’re facing. (Reprinted by permission from Brain-Savvy Leaders).

The Best Board and Trustee Structure for Churches
While some church power struggles stem from bad actors, a more common cause is blurred lines. In this episode, Thom and Sam tackle one of the most common sources of church dysfunction: confusion between what the board should do and what the staff should do.

Image Credit: St. Julian of Norwich, Cedar Park, TX