My wife, Barbara, is a mystery to me. She loves me in spite of all my shortcomings, demands, infirmities, and idiosyncrasies. She is so smart, dynamic, funny and balanced. I really don’t deserve her… and she certainly doesn’t deserve all the garbage she gets from me! And yet she loves […]
From a letter I received in 1998 from a church member in a congregation where I was providing consultation and mediation: Our pastor doesn’t understand us. We are a good people, and we don’t want to change. We’ve gotten along fine for years and everyone was happy until he came […]
A forty-something woman was talking on her cell phone in the coffee shop where I was pretending to read. The shop was moderately full, with a handful of children and teenagers present. It became apparent that the woman was fighting with — perhaps being dumped by — a man on […]
Today, I become a member of the Wisconsin Annual Conference. Today, I assume responsibility as the Director of Connectional Ministries in Wisconsin. Today, I leave behind fifteen years serving the national church to focus on the ministries of a single episcopal area. In one week, my wife Barbara and I […]
We’re obviously in the midst of a “green” movement — but so what? I listen to the ongoing debate about “global warming” and it gives me a headache. The fate of the planet has been turned into a political playground, where “experts” on each side wastes an incredible amount of […]
I get inquiries on a regular basis to reproduce the instructions I have given to writing a Money Autobiography. I thought it would be easiest to do so here. Hope you find this helpful. This is part of the process of helping people in your congregation develop a healthier relationship […]
Fifty-five years ago the United States was deep into The Cold War. Paranoia, patriotism, and poor communication combined to allow such bizarre and embarrassing phenomena as McCarthyism and backyard bomb shelters. Our government, in an effort to protect and defend the American public, launched into a research frenzy — looking […]
Overheard, two pastors talking: Well, if this amendment passes, I can tell you one thing. My church isn’t going to pay its apportionments this year! What? You mean if you disagree with the decision you’d withhold apportionments? That’s kind of childish, isn’t it? Hey, I’m not childish. I’m childlike. Um, no, […]
Stewardship is both a worldview and a practice. Stewardship is a way of relating to God’s creation, not simply something we do in and for the church. Stewardship is about how we choose to live our Christian faith in the world. The concept of Christian stewardship was so corrupted and […]
Look at the following images. Which one most resembles your vision for mission and ministry in the church? There are visions, then there are visions. Let’s take a look at the various types of vision in our church and what impact they have on our overall effectiveness.
United Methodeviations 