50 Ways to Improve Pastoral Transitions
Pastors moving from one church to the next need to focus on how they can effectively conclude their ministry in the church they are leaving,…
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Lewis Center
The Lewis Center staff has assembled and edited this material.
Webpages for Superintendents and Board of Ordained Ministry
The Lewis Center brings together some of its most used resources for District Superintendents and Boards of Ordained Ministry on dedicated webpages. Feel free to…
Resource to Help Churches Discover Their Next Faithful Step
Discovering God’s Future for Your Church is a turn-key tool kit to help a congregation discern and implement God’s vision for its future. The resource…
Lewis Center Podcast Series
Leading Ideas Talks brings to the table cutting-edge leaders on subjects relate to church leaders. Outstanding United Methodist leaders are interviewed along with other scholars,…
50 Ways to Welcome a New Pastor
Congregations can help a new pastor get off to a strong start with these 50 Ways to acclimate a new pastor and make that new…
50 Ways to Welcome New People
One key to effective outreach is making sure that worship visitors feel truly welcome. These 50 Ways will help your congregation make a good first…
50 Ways to Engage Local Schools
Many congregations find that reaching out to their local schools is an important way to serve children and their families and strengthen ties with the…
Why Wesley? The Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership from Wesley and the Lewis Center
Two years ago, four clergy colleagues from the Alabama-West Florida Conference UMC decided to pursue their Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership together at Wesley…
50 Ways to Increase Worship Attendance
Vital worship strengthens other areas of ministry by inspiring faith, building community, and connecting people to the congregation’s mission. Because worship is at the center of…
Clergy Age Trends In The United Methodist Church: 1985-2018
Download the complete 2018 Clergy Age Trends Report. Highlights of the 2018 Report Number of Young Elders Holds Steady at Somewhat Lower Level After three…
Episode 13: “Dream Big to Reach New People” featuring Olu Brown
How can dreaming big help your church reach more people? In this episode Lewis Center Director F. Douglas Powe, Jr., speaks with Rev. Olu Brown…
Episode 12: “Sacred Resistance” featuring Ginger Gaines-Cirelli
How can churches grow beyond simply engaging in political activism and instead practice “sacred resistance?” In this episode Lewis Center Associate Director Ann A. Michel…
Episode 11: “Effectively Engaging Millennials” featuring Joshua Mitchell
How can we reach millennials? In this episode, Lewis Center Director F. Douglas Powe, Jr. speaks with the Rev. Dr. Joshua Mitchell about connecting with…
Episode 10: “Moving beyond Fear” featuring Adam Hamilton
Why does fear so often prevent leaders and congregations from taking action? Listen as Lewis Center Associate Director Ann Michel speaks with Rev. Adam Hamilton,…
Episode 9: “Leading a Historic Congregation” featuring Amy Butler
How do you balance tradition and innovation? In this episode, Lewis Center Director F. Douglas Powe, Jr., speaks with Rev. Amy Butler of The Riverside…
Resources You Can Suggest Related to Gun Safety Research
In last week’s issue of Leading Ideas, the Lewis Center newsletter for congregational leaders, Lovett Weems asked “Can Church Leaders Reframe the Gun Debate” in…
Funeral Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr., by L. Harold DeWolf
Former Wesley Theological Seminary Dean L. Harold DeWolf, who was Martin Luther King’s dissertation director at Boston University, delivered this tribute at King’s funeral on April…
LPLI Helps Good Clergy Become Better
LPLI, the Lewis Pastoral Leadership Inventory, is a confidential, online, 360° leadership development instrument. It helps pastoral leaders improve their ministry effectiveness by identifying individual…
Free “50 Ways” Resources
Need practical, actionable strategies to reach people more effectively? The Lewis Center’s popular “50 Ways” series provides tips for building strength in areas of ministry…
Pastors Moving to New Churches Need the Right Start
Are you a pastor preparing to begin ministry in a new setting? With The Right Start Video Tool Kit, you’ll learn how to end your…
“Protect, Sustain, Grow: Best Practices for Handling Your Church’s Money” Conference and Livestream
Saturday, March 10 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Eastern (9 a.m.-12 p.m. Central) Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC Managing church finances requires skill, dedication, and know-how, but…
Who Should Follow a Founding Pastor?
The Lewis Center for Church Leadership conducted research across the United Methodist Church about “second pastors,” those who follow founding pastors. This project was commissioned…
Support the Lewis Center When You Shop Online
You can support the mission of the Lewis Center whenever you shop Cokesbury.com, and it won’t cost you a cent. Simply enter the sites through…
Watch “Reaching More People: Toward a Mixed Economy of Church”
Dr. Kenneth H. Carter, bishop of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, addresses the challenge of reaching more people. He explains the need…
Watch “Reaching Younger People: Overinvesting in the Young”
Dr. Janice Riggle Huie, a retired bishop of the United Methodist Church now serving with the Texas Methodist Foundation, addresses the challenge of reaching younger…
Watch “Reaching More Diverse People: Embracing the Neighbors Around Us”
Rev. Dr. Joseph W. Daniels, Jr., lead pastor of Emory United Methodist Church in Washington, DC, addresses the challenge of reaching more diverse people. He…
Take the Next Step: Reaching More People, Younger People, More Diverse People
“There is no future for a church or denomination that cannot reach more people, younger people, and more diverse people,” according to Dr. Lovett H.…
Leadership Lessons that Shaped My Ministry
Lovett H. Weems, Jr., delivered these remarks to a gathering celebrating his tenure as founding director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. The event…
Reach New Disciples This Advent and Christmas
The liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas are nearly upon us, and Leading Ideas offers many ideas to help your congregation reach more people and unchurched people,…
Moving Faith Communities to Fruitful Conversations about Race
Moving Faith Communities to Fruitful Conversations about Race is a dialogue about race in America that may be used to help your church bring people…