December, 2012 | Church Executive

Two-thirds of Americans prefer ‘Merry Christmas’ greeting

Posted by admin Latest News Thursday, December 27th, 2012

A new survey finds Americans by a wide margin prefer the traditional “Merry Christmas” greeting to the non-specific “Happy Holidays.”

Back in Stripes

Posted by admin BLOGS Thursday, December 27th, 2012

This month the high school basketball in Ohio tipped off and I restarted my officiating career after a two-year layoff.

Is everyone on the same page?

Posted by admin BLOGS, Mike Klockenbrink Thursday, December 27th, 2012

“Let’s get everyone on the same page.” I’ve heard this so many times that it has become diluted as to what it really means.

Student Life joins LifeWay family

Posted by admin Latest News Thursday, December 27th, 2012

LifeWay Christian Resources and Student Life, Inc., minister to more than 100,000 teenagers each year as two of the largest providers of Christian student conferences. On Aug. 15, Student Life officially became part of the LifeWay family of resources.

Church Executive, December 2012, Volume 11, Issue 12

Posted by admin CURRENT ISSUE Wednesday, December 26th, 2012

Perspectives on 2013 Church Executive’s Editorial Advisory Panel looks at the year ahead from the perspectives of their work and interests. Good Steward: Construction Gateway Church, Southlake, TX; Word of Life, Flowood, MS Good Steward: Financial Management Christ Community Church, St. Charles, IL; North Coast Calvary Chapel, Carlsbad, CA; First Baptist Church of West Palm [...]

Churches under fire for using gun classes as outreach

Posted by admin Latest News Thursday, December 20th, 2012

By Greg Horton (RNS) Pryor Creek, Okla., is gun country. Located midway between Tulsa and Siloam Springs, Ark., the town of approximately 8,500 sits in the heart of Oklahoma’s greenbelt. Hunting and fishing are simply part of everyday life in Pryor, as it is known to locals. Derek Melton is the assistant chief of police [...]

A step-by-step church staff review guide

Posted by admin BLOGS, Tim Spivey Wednesday, December 19th, 2012

As I mentioned in my last post, staff reviews are thought by some to be intrinsically miserable and somewhat useless.

Unbelief is now the world’s third-largest ‘religion’

Posted by admin Latest News Wednesday, December 19th, 2012

By Kimberly Winston (RNS) A new report on global religious identity shows that while Christians and Muslims make up the two largest groups, those with no religious affiliation — including atheists and agnostics — are now the third-largest “religious” group in the world. The study, released Tuesday (Dec. 18) by the Pew Forum on Religion [...]

Richard Hammar notes 39 church and clergy tax developments as 2013 begins

Posted by admin Latest News Wednesday, December 19th, 2012

CAROL STREAM, Ill./Christian Newswire/ – Congress enacted new tax laws in 2012 that include provisions of direct relevance to churches and pastors. Several of the most important changes and clarifications are summarized in the January/February issue of Church Law & Tax Report and will assist ministers and churches in correctly preparing tax forms and returns [...]

Newtown shooting galvanizes religious gun control advocates

Posted by admin Latest News Tuesday, December 18th, 2012

By Adelle M. Banks (RNS) The shooting deaths of 26 children and adults at a Connecticut elementary school has revived religious support for gun control, galvanizing a movement that has struggled to gain traction against the powerful gun lobby. “We are going to win this and save lives, and faith leaders will not need to [...]