What Will It Take For Mainline Denominations To Grow Again?

Nobody will argue that mainline denominations are in decline. It doesn’t matter if the decline is 80 percent or 65 percent as suggested by a recent Barna study, mainline denominations are seeing fewer and fewer people in the pews. This decline begs a question – “What will it take to turn this decline around?”

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Unlearning Our Way Forward

I’m sure we would all agree that our world is changing faster than at any other time in our lifetime and most likely in all of history. And with such fast paced change we are watching many of the tried and true principles by which pastors have led and grown churches are no longer […]

Clergy, Co-Leaders

From Bill Easum

It is my belief multiple pastors is a model for the 21st century. Here are some examples and some thoughts. You can find more in my book Leadership On The Otherside: No Rules, Just Clues to be published in June of 2000.

Fellowship Bible in Little Rock AR began with four equal pastors […]

Focus Interviews Searching for Clergy and Staff Leadership: Part 3 of 3

Search committees are always looking for pastors and additional staff, but they need to know the difference between mission-driven leadership and maintenance-drive leadership. Here is the first set of distinctions you need to make in your interviews:

I am in a therapeutic process          I am charging ahead with clarity of purpose

Ministry is a stage in life                  […]

Focus Interviews Searching for Clergy and Staff Leadership

Search committees are always looking for pastors and additional staff, but they need to know the difference between mission-driven leadership and maintenance-drive leadership. Here is the first set of distinctions you need to make in your interviews:

Maintenance                                  Mission

Serving the church                         Serving the Mission

Serving the membership                Serving Christ

Care Taking for members               Care Giving to strangers

Equipping to do […]

Focus Interviews Searching for Clergy and Staff Leadership: Part 2 of 3

Search committees are always looking for pastors and additional staff, but they need to know the difference between mission-driven leadership and maintenance-drive leadership. Here is the first set of distinctions you need to make in your interviews:

Do you love the church?                Do you desire to be with Jesus?

Philanthropy to do good stuff        Mission to […]