Congregational Revitalization - Lewis Center for Church Leadership

Old brick church surrounded by tall modern buildings

April 18, 2018 0

Episode 8: “Rooted in Place — Committed to the City” featuring William Lamar

What does it take for an older church to thrive in a changing urban context? Listen as Lewis Center Associate Director Ann Michel speaks with Rev. William Lamar, pastor of the historic Metropolitan AME church in downtown Washington, DC.

Related Resources

Begin with Where by Bill Lamar
5 Key Practices for Connecting with Your Context by Mark Gornik and Maria Liu Wong
Is Your Building Impeding Your Mission? by Mark R. Teasdale

Leading Ideas

Person holding a brightly lit light bulb in a dark room

March 7, 2018 0

What is Your Signature Ministry?

In their book Small Church Check Up, Kay Kotan and Phil Schroeder say stable, smaller churches can remain vital by focusing on a “signature ministry,”…

Leading Ideas

Rusty heart-shaped lock on a closed gate

February 21, 2018 0

16 Signs Your Church May Need a Renewed Focus on Disciple Making

Mike Schreiner and Ken Willard say too many churches are driven by structure and programs, not the imperative of making disciples. They outline 16 symptoms…

Leading Ideas

Note cards with handwritten words 'new rhythms' 'risk taking' and 'fresh start'

February 14, 2018 0

A New Start in Lent

Lewis Center Director F. Douglas Powe says that congregations, as well as individuals, can make a new start during Lent by giving up some things,…

Pastor Jasmine Smothers smiling as she preaches

January 24, 2018 0

Episode 2: “Multicultural Goes beyond Race” featuring Jasmine Smothers

How do you do ministry with people who don’t look like you, sound like you, or think like you? Listen as Lewis Center Director F. Douglas Powe speaks with thought leader Rev. Jasmine Smothers about insights for doing effective ministry outside one’s native culture.

Leading Ideas

Child holding a clay model of a building while standing on stairs in front of large building

January 17, 2018 0

Is Your Building Impeding Your Mission?

Evangelism professor Mark Teasdale writes that, while a church building demands respect, too many congregations let upkeep of their facilities become more important than serving…

Smiling person arriving at a potluck dinner

January 8, 2018 0

Episode 1: “The Possibilities of Fresh Expressions” featuring Ken Carter and Audrey Warren

What can church look like in your neighborhood? Listen as Lewis Center Associate Director Ann Michel speaks with Bishop Ken Carter and Reverend Audrey Warren…

Focus

Photo of a diverse group of younger people

November 14, 2017 0

Reaching More People, Younger People, More Diverse People

The United Methodist Church faces a looming adaptive challenge that can only be addressed by major learning, innovation, and prayerful discernment. United Methodists in the…

Videos

November 14, 2017 0

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.…

Leading Ideas

Sepia-toned photo of an old camera, film, and photographs

October 18, 2017 0

Does Your Faith Community Live out of Memory or Imagination?

Bill Wilson, director of the Center for Healthy Churches, says that while memories of the past are vital, they must be balanced with a creative…

Leading Ideas

October 11, 2017 0

5 Steps to Church Vitality and Turnaround

Baltimore Pastor C. Anthony Hunt outlines a five-part process helpful to churches or non-profits looking to renew their vitality. He shares how this process helped…

Leading Ideas

Photo of Calvary United Methodist Church in Lemoyne, PA

September 6, 2017 0

The Case of a Small Church in an Oversized Building

Lewis A. Parks, author of Small on Purpose, describes how smaller congregations can easily squander their last resources for ministry attempting to keep up with…

Leading Ideas

August 23, 2017 0

Missional Church: More than a Catchphrase

What does it really mean to be a missional church? Lewis Center Director Doug Powe says it’s more than a catchphrase for activities aimed at…

Leading Ideas

Photo of people having a conversation near a busy intersection

August 9, 2017 0

Staying Attuned to Your Community

Lovett H. Weems, Jr., writes that congregations all start not for themselves, but to serve other people. But with the passage of time, they tend…

Leading Ideas

Photo of a diverse group of children running with an American flag, which highlights the coming demographic shift. CREDIT: Ariel Skelley / Blend / Learning Pictures / Universal Images Group

June 28, 2017 0

Preparing for the Shift

Incoming Lewis Center Director Doug Powe says that demographic shifts will bring increased diversity to the neighborhoods around most churches in the coming decades. Rather…

Leading Ideas

March 15, 2017 0

The Importance of Why

Healthy churches know why they do what they do, says pastor and author Graham Standish. When what we do is based on a clear why,…

Leading Ideas

Looking down at directions on concrete. Go one way for new life and go another way for old life

January 4, 2017 0

Why Some Ministries Need to Die

Every ministry has a lifespan, according to pastor and author Graham Standish. When a church forces dying ministries to stay alive, it prevents new ministries…

Leading Ideas

November 30, 2016 0

10 Qualities Your Church Doesn’t Need to Grow Young

What types of churches attract young people? Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin, the authors of Growing Young, dispel a number of common myths. Their…

Leading Ideas

November 2, 2016 0

Some Old Handbells Became Our Fish and Loaves

Pastor Rosario Picardo tells how selling two old sets of silver handbells that hadn’t been used for 20 years provided a surprisingly large infusion of cash…

Leading Ideas

October 19, 2016 0

Do Your Church Events Serve a Healthy Purpose?

Is your church calendar crammed with one event after another? Church consultant Tony Morgan says many congregations just keep scheduling the same events without ever…

Leading Ideas

October 12, 2016 0

The 75 Percent Rule to Reach Younger People

Lee Kricher, pastor of Amplify Church in Pittsburgh, says it’s unlikely that younger adults will be drawn to a service where the people in visible…

Leading Ideas

September 28, 2016 0

The Power of Core Values

Anthony Hunt, pastor of Epworth Chapel in Baltimore, describes how discerning and naming core values can help a church stay focused and on track. Clear…

Leading Ideas

September 21, 2016 0

6 Ways to Jumpstart Leadership Formation

Pastor Mike Slaughter says one of the key factors determining the effectiveness of a congregation is the presence of principled leaders who demonstrate a vital…

Leading Ideas

July 20, 2016 0

Living Through a Church Renovation

Daniel Hilty says that any large-scale facility renovation requires a congregation to tolerate a tremendous amount of change and disruption. It’s critical to share information,…

Leading Ideas

July 13, 2016 0

Four Questions for Congregations

Lovett H. Weems, Jr., says vital congregations are clear about their mission, outwardly focused, oriented toward the future, and concerned more with results than processes.…

Leading Ideas

June 22, 2016 0

A Simple Planning Process

Lovett H. Weems, Jr., outlines a simple planning process that churches can use to identify issues and concerns and develop realistic plans to address them. Key…

Leading Ideas

April 6, 2016 0

Changing Congregational Trends

Every five years Faith Communities Today provides a marvelous service to all churches through their very thorough survey of religious congregations across the United States.…

Leading Ideas

Silhouettes of people worshiping in a contemporary setting

March 16, 2016 0

Cool Church Isn’t What It Used to Be

In a rapidly changing culture, churches cannot stay relevant by simply adopting the latest trend, says Carey Nieuwhof, especially as indifference to church grows. The…

Leading Ideas

Stock photo of a myriad of white business cards with "YES" printed on them in bold, black letters

March 9, 2016 0

Becoming a Leader Who Says Yes!

During my tenth year as pastor of a large multi-staff church, the laity offered me a twelve-week study leave for rest, renewal, and learning. I…

Leading Ideas

Stock photo of a chancel that has a desk for choristers on it

October 7, 2015 0

Fresh Expressions

“Fresh expressions” is a movement that began in the Church of England and British Methodist churches but soon spread to other denominations in England and…

Browsing: Congregational Revitalization

Articles

Shop

Changes Congregations Face

Resources

Stewardship

Reaching Others

Pastoral Excellence

Learning

About

Shop

Donate