The Back Page
Thanksgiving is one of America’s most cherished holidays. For most people, the observance means traveling, family time, turkey and stuffing, pumpkin pie, football, and naps. Gratitude usually fits in somewhere, but giving thanks is often relegated to a brief prayer or blessing before the meal — or gratitude that traffic wasn’t worse. Some churches and…
Conversations about candidates and political issues can get heated during an election year. But civic engagement can — and should — remain civil. This is especially true when God’s people gather to worship, study and discuss Bible-based living. Church leadership and Christian congregants will likely have differing views. Political disagreements might even arise. So, during…
Staff departures are inevitable at any organization, including churches. The entire congregation is affected, whether a staffing upheaval is anticipated or unexpected. Pastors and church leaders need to manage HR considerations as well. By navigating staff changes with grace and transparency, ministers can maintain a stable, united and healthy church. What is the best way…
The season of Lent is a significant and substantial part of the church liturgical year. For a month and a half, pastors ask parishioners to prepare for Easter by focusing on self-reflection, repentance, sacrifice, prayer, almsgiving and other faith practices. Maintaining our Lenten sacrifices requires long-haul devotion and perseverance. As with New Year’s resolutions, we…
If someone asks for your pastoral ministry job description, where would you begin? To some people, pastor is synonymous with preacher. But preaching to God’s people is usually just one part of the job you’ve been called to do. If you’re like most leaders of small and medium-sized churches in America, you probably wear a…
When the pandemic temporarily halted in-person worship services, churches turned to the internet for a handy substitute. Virtual gatherings were a blessing for congregations that already had livestreaming in place or could quickly access and master the technology. Worshiping together online provided comfort and unity during a challenging time for church members and leaders. But…
Having a church security and safety plan is no longer optional. Whether you lead a megachurch in the city or a small congregation in a rural area, you must be prepared for a wide range of emergency situations. The scourge of mass shootings in the United States is certainly a key reason to bulk up…
Recent headlines about ChatGPT may have you wondering about using artificial intelligence (AI) to write sermons — or at least to conduct sermon research. In fact, some people are promoting AI as a time-saving tool for overworked church leaders. Most pastors can relate to being short on sermon-prep time, or lacking ideas for yet another…
The original telephone was a large wooden box, often in a walnut finish, that hung on the wall. When it rang, you had to get up, go to it, and speak into a microphone mounted on the box. In 1919, the “candlestick” tabletop model was introduced. In the 1920s, the black desktop device with a…
The season for pastoral moves in some denominations is right around the corner. While you’re packing boxes, painting walls, grousing about mortgage rates, and threatening to fire your realtor, you’re also looking forward to a new church where the people will certainly be nicer, the building is new and problem-free, and the worship is more…
