Two major research projects have essentially defined my ministry for the past ten years: congregational vitality and seeker spirituality. A recent job change offered me (forced) a unique opportunity to pore through a veritable mountain of surveys, interviews, and site visit notes to determine what to keep and what to […]
Do you have to be stupid to be a Christian? I sometimes wrestle with this very question. It’s reminiscent of the joke poster — “You don’t have to be crazy to work here… but it helps.” One of the most common reasons Christian spiritual seekers outside the church give for […]
For years, United Methodists have pledged to uphold the church by their “prayers, presence, gifts, and service.” Just this year a fifth promise was added — “witness.” It is a little problematic that we’ve added a fifth when we haven’t done a very good job with the first four — […]
It’s always nice to connect with your readers. Here’s an excerpt from an email I got in response to “The Path of Least Resistance Is Paved With Good Intentions,” You have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. I am lead pastor of an 11,000 member church, and we’re as […]
In 1995 I had the privilege of meeting Peter Drucker, and he graciously gave me two hours of his valuable time. We talked about “the church,” and covered dozens of topics. One of the topics was the then relatively new “mega-church” and I remember well what Drucker had to say: […]
