Sexual abuse: training ministry staff to care well AND prevent At the beginning of each new year, many of us make New Year’s Resolutions: evaluating our past year or present circumstances and resolving to improve on a particular matter (i.e., more time with the kids, less coffee, more exercise). For the Southern Baptist Convention, the […]
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Expert advice for helping to prevent — and, if necessary, respond to — a security emergency on your campus In a lot of churches, an “it-can’t-happen-here” mentality prevails. But how big of a threat is a security emergency? Bill Cushwa: Let’s quickly dispel the false sense of security. Our school shooting occurred seven years ago […]
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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 […]
Read More >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 […]
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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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By Jeff Barnett When you buy new gear, there’s always a measure of anticipation. The new and enhanced features, the easier workflow, the ability to do more and bigger things — it’s simply exciting. But just purchasing new gear won’t take you all the way to a job well done. That takes a well-trained tech […]
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By Jack Siegman Trends aren’t easy to see while in the middle of ministry, or even by viewing reports or spreadsheets. But the fact is, your data tells a story. What story is your data telling? Are you using that story to make informed strategic decisions? And more important: are you able to understand […]
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Pastors addressing sexual and domestic violence In the wake of the #MeToo movement and the growing number of sexual misconduct accusations in churches across the world, LifeWay Research recently conducted a study — sponsored by IMA World Health and Sojourners — about the reasons pastors address sexual and domestic violence from the pulpit.
Read More >Expert perspectives on the expectations church leaders face today, common pitfalls and risks, and how to rise to the challenge Overall, are pastors adequately trained and prepared with regards to counseling their congregations?
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By Jenny Williams & Mandy Ford Students at Bethany Theological Seminary and Earlham School of Religion (ESR) get more to their educational experience than meets the eye. As seminaries across the country are downsizing, merging, or closing, these two schools in Richmond, Indiana, intend to keep building on a partnership that began a quarter of […]
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