By Kathryn McCormack Separation of church and state has been an important pillar of our country since its inception. An individual’s freedom to explore his or her faith should be available to all who choose to cultivate a deeper sense of purpose in life and belonging within their communities. Often, this freedom is taken for […]
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By Rich Poirier The church planting movement is growing across the country — but establishing a new religious organization and actually growing it into a thriving congregation are two different battles. There are a variety of legitimate reasons to consider planting a church. Respondents to a 2016 study by Barna Group and Cornerstone Knowledge Network […]
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How to get the best, safest bus for your most precious cargo When is a new bus the best option for a church? Ami Sailor: While each church has unique transportation needs, more often than not, a new bus is the best option. Church leaders often assume that a used bus is the best […]
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By RaeAnn Slaybaugh In 2001, Word of Life Church faced two major setbacks: the senior pastor passed away, and the building project — underway at the time — came back from bid 200 percent over budget. But, 10 years later, the church completed an $11.2-million building project, including a 900-seat sanctuary, offices, adult education areas, […]
Read More >Pastors’ Social Roles Unclear in Current Cultural Climate We are only a few months into 2019 and it has already been a newsworthy year full of major headlines. With all of the dramatic changes and strong stances taking place in the current American social and political climate, pastors are feeling the effects of trying to […]
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For busy full-time church leaders, an MDiv or DMin degree might seem out of reach. Here’s the reality. Have full-time church leaders shown increased interest in MDiv and DMin training in recent years? Reggie Ogea: We have seen an increased interest in training in a variety of areas. For the MDiv, a lot of larger […]
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Expert advice for using technology to identify, engage & cultivate first-time givers What does a first-time giver look like? Mark Walker: We shouldn’t base our assumption on whether people are young or new in the pew; first-time givers look different, in different churches. As leaders, we should have our finger on the pulse of […]
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Help protect your church’s youngest members by taking these steps By Elizabeth Norman Childcare centers and preschools at churches across the nation are experiencing rapid growth right now — in fact, many of them are at capacity and even require waiting lists. With this demand, it’s important to remember to revisit procedures to help keep […]
Read More >View this insightful webinar — “Bring the Benefit Back to Your Employee Benefits Program” — now at: www.churchexecutive.com/webinars By Skylar Griego Like any employer (faith-based or not), it’s important for a church to provide a benefits program for full-time staff. This can be a struggle for a small church when program rates commonly increase 10 to 20 […]
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By Sam S. Rainer III You can sit during these meetings if you like; “standing meetings” are different than stand-up meetings. A standing meeting is one that repeats in a regular pattern and is an obligation for people to attend. I have a standing meeting every Monday at 4 p.m. with my worship pastor. We […]
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