Why Nimble? on Getting To Nimble Ep. 16
What is “nimbleness” and why should we value it as church leaders?
Ministry
12 Resources for an Organized, Thoughtful New Year
New year, new decade – pretty exciting stuff! (Or, you know, totally arbitrary….try explaining why today of all days is the “new year” to a 3-year-old!) So today, 12 resources for a thoughtful, organized year – I hope some are helpful to you. Happy New Year!
Hospitality (Plus an Announcement!), on Called Ep. 15
‘Tis the season for hospitality! Bill and Sarah talk about open houses, small groups, alcohol, and what it means to focus on the church’s social cohesion (not on our personal friendships). Plus an announcement! We are changing our podcast’s name from “Called” to “Getting to Nimble.” This change should show up in your podcast feed …
Hospitality (Plus an Announcement!), on Called Ep. 15 Read More »
Social Media for Church Staff, on Called Ep. 14
Social media can be tricky for those of us who minister in churches. Bill and I share four perspectives to help us make wise use of this tool: Ask yourself, “Who is my neighbor?” given the endless, often anonymous nature of social media Use social media as a pastoral tool, a way to minister to …
Annual Reviews, on Called Ep. 13
Here’s how to lead a productive, generous annual review process – and why you should.
Preaching in the Purple Zone – A Review
Earlier this summer I read Leah Schade’s book Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide, then interviewed her for my current book project. Preaching in the Purple Zone was also one of my “reads of the week” on the Called podcast, and it’s the only book I’ve ever mega sticky-noted TWICE (a …
Family at Church, on Called Ep. 12
How do our families connect with our church ministries? And how can we alleviate some of the pressure on our “preacher’s kid” families? As a pastor and a musician, Bill and I have encountered very different expectations and experiences.
Announcing My Book!
Big news! I’ve signed a book contract! Professional Christian: Integrating Personal Faith and Public Ministry in a Fragmented, Filtered World is a leadership book for church staff and other people in Christian ministry. It’s under contract with Westminster John Knox. What a joy and privilege to have years of work begin to come to fruition! …
Flow and Movement in Services, on Called Ep. 11
Want to avoid dead air and awkward pauses in worship services? Planning for flow can help. Bill and I share how we plan for a smooth flow in worship services, plus the small steps we take that make a big difference.
When Going to Church Feels Like Work
I think church staff members fall into two categories: those who attend “extra” church events in addition to ones for their job, and those who don’t. People that I know in the first category attend services to worship as part of the congregation. It gives them a break from focusing on leading the service and …