Doctrines are attempts to articulate central tenets of the faith. Our faith becomes the framework through which we interpret and…

“We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine . .…

Here is an exercise that I would wager would not only be fun but could generate some good material for…

Yesterday we looked at questions around the theme of worship. Today let’s look at the theme of the mission of…

OK, now for the fun of the types of questions you might ask in your congregational poll. In the end…

We are still building on the ideas developed on Monday and Tuesday’s blogs. We will explore possible subject matter soon…

Building on yesterday’s preparation for your congregational poll, there are still a couple of preparation steps that you need to…

Let me propose a simple way to work with some trusted colleagues and get a measure of your congregations that…

It is not unusual for a pastor and a pastor’s family to experience what I can best describe as a…

Sabbaticals are a vital part of a clergy’s journey in the ministry. It provides a chance to step back and…

Not infrequently as I advocate for a sabbatical in a congregation, someone will say that no one ever offered him…

Drawing upon yesterdays explanation of some of the theological truths imbedded in the Sabbath, let us look at its implications…

As a framework for both the congregation and the pastor as they consider a sabbatical are the theological underpinnings of…

I am filling in for a pastor of a small church while he is away on a sabbatical. I am…

Now it is time for a family discussion. Depending on the ages of your children, you may want to make…

Today we are continuing the discussion between the couple. Later there is value for a full family discussion. The first…

Sometimes it is difficult to discuss family finances and this can be a source of underlying tension in a family.…

Clergy families have not escaped the challenge of obesity that is plaguing our nation. Some denominational studies suggest that pastors…

There is ample medical evidence that stress takes its toll on our physical bodies. Stress, both good and bad stress,…

A variation on the exercise described yesterday is to have members of the session list the four top things they…