Death, Funerals, and How to Pre-plan, on Called Ep. 10
Pre-planning funerals give you a chance to talk (and live) the Gospel. Here’s how to help church members pre-plan, plus a bunch of advice on funerals and burial in general.
Ministry
I’m an exvangelical, and I was born again (twice). video + transcript
I grew up in a conservative Evangelical home and had two born again experiences as a child. Now, I’m a progressive Christian and work in a progressive church. This summer at my church, we had weekly testimonies from church members and staff about times that we had experienced God in our lives. When it was …
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Great Church Meetings (Yes, They’re Possible!), on Called Ep. 9
How can you lead a great committee or staff meeting? And how can you influence a meeting for the good when you’re not running it? Bill and I talk about purpose, organization, and most importantly, energy – with a side of fried chicken and social connection. (Plus the important question: should you forward this episode …
Great Church Meetings (Yes, They’re Possible!), on Called Ep. 9 Read More »
The One Thing You REALLY Need in Ministry (That You Didn’t Learn in School), on Called Ep. 8
Spoiler alert: it’s flexibility! Why you need it, how to develop it, and how to encourage your congregation toward it – plus an ear toward the Holy Spirit’s leading. Click on the player to listen to the conversation, or scroll down to read the transcript.
Patriotic Holidays and Church Services (now with a transcript!), on Called Ep. 7
What should we DO with patriotic holidays in the church? Celebrate them? Mention the occasion in a pastoral prayer? Run for the hills? Bill and I talk about the challenges of patriotic holidays and offer healthy ways to approach them. Transcript of our conversation below!
The Church Has Left the Building (And Other Summertime Pros and Cons), on Called Ep. 6
It’s hot outside, and the church has left the building. How can we learn from the downsides of summer, and lean into the positives? Bill and I share how we make summer a productive season of the church year, starting with the big one: enjoy the breathing room.
Open to Change? Cultivating a Personal Openness to Change (And Why You Should), on Called Ep. 5
Change is one of the great constants of the world – right up there with death, taxes, and the love of God. But even though it’s inevitable, we’re often reluctant to change, and get anxious when change happens. On this episode, Bill and I share strategies for how we’ve cultivated our own openness to change …
Forget hymnals. The issue is accessibility.
I love hymns. I can sing hundreds from memory. I’ve been a church musician for 20 years, always in churches that used “traditional” hymnody. I even did a PhD dissertation focused on Christian congregational music. BUT. I don’t love hymnals.
6 Strategies for Settling in at a New Church, on Called Ep. 4
Where should you start when you move to a new ministry? Here are six strategies to help you settle in: People are #1. Get to know the landscape. Literally. Find out what’s normative. Seek out the sacred cows. Figure out what to do now – and what to postpone. Give yourself some grace.