Blog - Page 141 of 301 - Church Executive

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Blog - Page 141 of 301 - Church Executive

Hurry not

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Church leadership, Leadership lessons, pastor leadership, Time management, work life balance

February 6, 2015 at 4:59 pm.

Being hurried through the day is in deep contrast to the example of Jesus, who never seemed to be in a hurry. Jesus not only refused to be hurried, but prayer and solitude was a regular part of his daily routine. Jesus told his disciples, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place” (Mark 6:31-32). This practice of solitude was a practice of many in the early church. Not only did monks and hermits practice solitude, but the Rules of St. Benedict of prayer, work, study, hospitality and renewal were embraced by both clergy and the common people.

Pastor, you’re a statesman, too

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Church leadership, church pastor, Leadership lessons, pastor leadership, pastor perception

February 6, 2015 at 4:35 pm.

I use the term “statesman” not in a truly political sense, though I do believe pastors should be the most active “ambassadors” for Christ in their churches. Pastors are statesmen in that they must realize they always represent their churches. That hat never comes off.

The value of a pastoral relations committee

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church administration, church board governance, church finances, Church leadership, pastor liaison, pastoral relations committee

January 28, 2015 at 5:20 am.

For many of us, the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are a time when we give ourselves permission to overindulge in rich dishes and irresistible desserts. January brings the time to take stock of all that feasting and make a resolution to lose weight and get in shape.
Churches can also benefit from the opportunity that the New Year provides to re-think priorities. One issue to consider is how to improve communication between the pastor and the congregation. Among the most effective methods for strengthening the lines of communication is the formation of a Pastoral Relations Committee.

The CE Interview: MARI BETH POOR — finding solutions by serving

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Church leadership, Leadership lessons, pastor leadership, pastor time management

January 28, 2015 at 3:15 am.

As iServe pastor, Mari Beth Poor oversees the “on the mountain” ministries that enhance the overall experience of people attending Sunday worship services at Mountaintop Community Church. These include guest services, student ministries, children’s ministry, and worship and media. She also leads the church’s “off the mountain” community efforts and global outreach.

Engaging sanctuaries: 3 design “musts”

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church sanctuary design, church worship space design, engaging church design, engaging worship spaces, sanctuary architecture, sanctuary design, worship space architecture

January 28, 2015 at 3:00 am.

Depending on the culture and style of your congregation, your sanctuary might look more traditional or more modern — there are many ways to express the beauty of Christian worship. Despite these differences, however, there are some common design elements that are useful in creating an engaging sanctuary, no matter what your worship style might be.

Safety Strategies: Clear your path to a safe church

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church accidents, Church insurance, Church risk management, church risk prevention, church safety, church slips falls, slip fall prevention

January 28, 2015 at 3:00 am.

The aisles that guide your congregation to a higher power could lead to slips, trips and falls if you’re not careful. Falls are one of the leading causes of unintentional injuries in the U.S., according to the National Safety Council. Those injuries accounted for about 8.8 million visits to the emergency room in 2013 — a nearly 500,000 drop from about 9.3 million visits to the emergency room in 2011.

Church management software: Where ministry meets monetary

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choosing church software, choosing CMS, church CMS, church finances, selecting church software, selecting CMS

January 27, 2015 at 5:38 pm.

While churches might have to be run like businesses, there are specific needs and flexibility which non-CMS financial management applications just cannot provide. For some, the leading secular accounting software might be the answer — but we suggest otherwise. Here’s why.

Get organized! 3 priorities for a successful campaign

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capital campaign leadership, capital campaign success, church capital campaign, Church fundraising, church generosity, church giving

January 27, 2015 at 5:40 am.

In this series installment, Paul Gage — who has consulted more than 500 church capital campaigns, with results exceeding $1 billion — focuses on the second phase of a campaign: Organization. According to Gage, the three most critical components of this phase are Prayer, Presentation and Preaching.

Church management software: financial management Q&A

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church CMS, church management, church software, church technology, CMS selection, managing the church, maximize CMS, software selection

January 27, 2015 at 5:38 am.

Mark Kitts served as a founding pastor before establishing People Driven Software, which merged with Elexio Church Software. Today, Kitts is Elexio’s Lead Software Architect. Here, he talks about how church management software helps churches with financial management.

Worship takes shape: examining traditional sanctuary design

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church auditorium design, church facility design, church sanctuary design, church worship design, church worship space design, sanctuary design, worship space design

January 27, 2015 at 5:35 am.

As Part 2 of this “Designing Worship Areas” series begins, let’s reiterate a primary concept from
Part 1: Every church is different. Having restated that precept, let’s now look at the traditional worship space and the elements through which it contributes to a person’s worship experience.