Friday's Catch: 'The Episcopal Church is a story of renewal, not decline' And More

The Episcopal Church is a story of renewal, not decline
Ours is a story of renewal and change, not decline and death. The invitation is simply to say so, plainly, and to live it across our communities and neighborhoods.

Also See: History: Parish and Building; Years after Long Island church’s closure, renovated building offers home to Latino congregation

Australian Synod Weighs Viability of Rural Dioceses
Rich diocese, poor diocese – budget issues have loomed like a dark cloud over an otherwise generally productive and co-operative General Synod in Australia.

Clergy Among Thousands Evicted from South Africa
Anglican clergy serving in South Africa are among the thousands evicted from the nation this month in a campaign launched by the March & March Movement. The movement put pressure on employers and landlords across the country to evict all undocumented persons by July 1, 2026, and recent reports note that more than 178,000 people have fled the country.

With three prisoners scheduled for execution, southern churches toll their bells
Faith-based anti-death penalty activists have used the bell-tolling tactic throughout the country in various waves.

UMC sues Dallas church for making unilateral governance changes
One of the nation’s largest and most affluent Methodist churches is being sued by its denomination for previously unreported changes made to its governing documents four years ago.

The Horizon Texas Conference — previously known as the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church — is suing Highland Park United Methodist Church claiming the church improperly removed oversight by the denomination and its own congregants.

Also See: Horizon Texas Conference Sues Highland Park UMC, Its Largest Congregation

Evangelical Press Association seeks new name and director
The Evangelical Press Association, which was founded in 1948 and counts more than 300 member organizations, publications and individuals that reach an audience of more than 20 million people, is weighing a name change and seeking a new executive director to succeed Lamar Keener.

Following a year-long strategic planning effort, EPA’s board has proposed a name change to Christian Communicator’s Network. EPA explained the rationale for the change in the July issue of its Liaison newsletter.

VOICES: How tyrants use religion — and how Scripture exposes them
A common strategy among tyrants is to use religion and a veneer of piety for their own political goals. Those in power — or those seeking power — can further legitimize their rule by cleverly manipulating religion and sacred texts for their own ends.

This strategy isn't confined to politics; it's prevalent in the Church, too. Have you ever heard a sermon, a devotion, or a town hall report where the leader declares that what God is doing aligns exactly with their personal agenda?

More than Money: Nathan Meador & Heath R. Curtis on Stewardship for the Care of Souls (Ep 134)
“Stewardship is pastoral care, and the task of pastoral care is theological in nature. It’s not enough that a stewardship program works.”

Empowering the Next Generation: 5 Leadership Frameworks for a Changing World
What does it take to prepare the next generation of Christian leaders? Applying insights from an extraordinary gathering of ministry leaders, Elizabeth Tamez Méndez explores how churches can engage with Gen Z leaders. She shares five frameworks that can help experienced leaders build trust, foster collaboration, and intentionally pave the way for the future of the church.

The Rhythms That Sustain Ministry
Sustainable ministry requires more than working harder or managing stress. Drawing on biblical rhythms of Sabbath, joy, friendship, and receiving care, Laura Heikes offers practical ways church leaders can embody the patterns of rest they encourage in others.

How is Online Worship Working? Approaches to Strengthening Virtual Worship
Online worship has now become commonplace for many of our congregations, but it was not always so.

Some churches were offering worship online before the pandemic, but most were not. In 2019, the year before the pandemic, only 14 percent of United Methodist churches reported attendance for online worship. Most churches embraced virtual worship when pandemic safeguards prevented them from gathering in person. For many of these churches, their early attempts at online worship were often awkward. Leaders were ill-equipped. There were technological challenges. And most clergy and musicians had little experience in communicating effectively in this new medium. But as time went by, the services improved for most churches. As the worst of the pandemic subsided, most churches were managing their virtual worship relatively well.

Not all online services continued after in-person worship resumed. Some assumed from the beginning that virtual services would be unnecessary after the pandemic. But most church leaders understood that basic changes were taking place in how people live their lives and post-pandemic worship may not return to “normal.” Online worship would be needed for those unable to attend in person for health reasons. But also, there would continue to be an audience for online worship alongside in-person, as well as church worship services broadcast on radio and television. The decision of whether to continue an online service was no longer just a matter of providing access to members unable to attend because of the pandemic.

Carey Nieuwhof on AI, Authenticity & the Future Church
In this episode, Ashley LaLonde and David Kinnaman sit down with Carey Nieuwhof, bestselling author, podcaster, and founder of the Art of Leadership Academy, to explore new Barna data on AI and the church—including that 41% of pastors say AI has helped them with Bible comprehension and study. Together, they unpack why authenticity and a pastor's own voice matter more than ever in an AI-assisted sermon, Carey's litmus test for when AI use has gone too far ("if you're uncomfortable disclosing how you use it, you're probably overusing it"), and why the church may be the last truly human place in an increasingly artificial world. Plus, a bonus conversation between David and Pushpay CEO Kenny Wyatt discussing Barna's newest study with Pushpay, Technology for Missional Impact.

How to Do New Believer Follow-up With Kids
What could new believer follow-up look like with children in your church after the summer season begins to wind down?

A Theology of Mission
What is the mission of the church in the world today? In this episode of Logos Live, Kirk E. Miller sits down with author and missiologist Dr. Ed Stetzer to trace the mission of God from Genesis to the Great Commission.

Whether you are navigating between evangelism and social justice or seeking to avoid “mission drift” in your local congregation, this conversation provides a biblical-theological framework for understanding our purpose in God’s grand purposes.

Image Credit: St. John's Episcopal Church, Kingston