Proven strategies to keep your people safe — from recognizing red flags to re-screening practices, cost considerations, and navigating potentially sensitive conversations Many churches fall victim to an “it-can’t-happen-here” mentality. In actuality, what makes churches especially prone to ill-intentioned volunteers? Norton: The nature and admirable traits of most clergy is one of compassion and trust. […]
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By Kerry Jones You spend hours working on sermons. You spend money, time and effort building outreach programs. You evaluate those programs and community involvement constantly in an effort to grow attendance at your church. But is your church facility prepared to handle that growth? If you’re not sure, here are 3 important keys that […]
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Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue poses critical church-state separation issues By Kimberlee Norris, attorney at law The Supreme Court will be deciding Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue this Term. The decision could be very important for Church Executive readers, particularly if it alters or clarifies the Court’s 2017 holding in Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley. […]
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How to properly protect your parish from scammers By Elizabeth “Betty” Norman Cyber criminals seek out organizations that seem unsuspecting. Unfortunately, churches often offer just what they’re looking for. In late April 2019, Father Bob Stec of the Saint Ambrose Catholic Parish in Brunswick, Ohio found himself sending a note to parish members that no […]
Read More >Emerging trends, outdated ones, and ministry-specific design movements What’s especially appealing about working with churches? Trung Doan: Churches are the hands and feet of faith, and we consider it a privilege to equip churches to continue making a difference. Rodney C. James: Mentoring, leading and helping pastors. Most didn’t get a class in church design, […]
Read More >By RaeAnn Slaybaugh Prior to enlisting One Call Now notification technology (text-messaging en masse) at Seventh-day Adventist Church in Adairsville, Georgia, email was the main channel for keeping members up-to-date on church happenings. As Elder Woody Davis explains, this approach presented a handful of challenges and limitations. “People just didn’t get the information quickly,” he […]
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By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Child sexual abuse risk in ministry contexts cannot be ignored. This statement implies child protection has been ignored by some ministries in the past. For most ministries, however, the challenge is ignorance of the problem. Most ministries are doing something, but not doing the right thing. Church Executive and […]
Read More >When Crossroads United Methodist Church, Washington, Illinois, concluded their vision for ministry was significantly larger than their current footprint could handle, they began the long and expensive journey of relocating to a new site. In 2001, they constructed the first of a two-phase construction project that would change the course of their ministry forever. Relocating […]
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Jeff Wilson & Severns Valley Baptist Church By RaeAnn Slaybaugh In 2007, when Severns Valley Baptist Church relocated to its current property in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, it was a major move. After all, this congregation (established in 1781) is older than the United States Constitution itself and was attended by Abraham Lincoln’s grandparents — also, very […]
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By Jennifer Wise Many churches are battling declining memberships and being challenged in their ability to have a significant impact. How can your church go on the offensive to defend its significance and connect with an increasingly secular society? Consider strengthening four core areas to overcome stereotypes that might hinder people from coming in […]
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