What to do When a New Church Comes to Town
Pastor Eric Daniel describes how he overcame feelings of jealousy and competitiveness when committed members of his congregation started drifting to a new, better-resourced church.…
Browsing: Leadership
Articles
Leading Voices: “Leadership is the Key to Success”
“Leadership is the Key to Success” is presented by Dr. G. Douglass Lewis, former President of Wesley Theological Seminary. In celebration of the 20th anniversary…
4 Tips for Experimenting with Change This Summer
Lewis Center Director F. Douglas Powe says that the summer is the perfect time for a congregation to test possible changes through short-term experiments. He…
Leading Voices: “Leading Change Means Making it Easy for People to Do Hard Things”
“Leading Change Means Making it Easy for People to Do Hard Things” is presented by Dr. Dwight Zscheile, Vice President of Innovation and Professor of…
3 Key Skills for Leading in Today’s Argumentative Climate
Joel Snider says church leaders need new skills to move people toward common goals in a time when conflict surrounds so many church decisions. Rather…
Leading Voices: “Leaders Need a Servant’s Heart”
“Leaders Need a Servant’s Heart” is presented by Tracy Malone, Reverend Bishop of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. .In celebration of…
Keep Your Bucket Full of Energy and Compassion
Alan Baker highlights the importance of self-care for pastoral care providers to keep their personal buckets filled so that they are not emptied by burnout…
13 Do’s & Don’ts for Incoming Cross-Racial and Cross-Cultural Pastors
How can an incoming pastoral leader lay the groundwork for successful ministry in a congregation where most members are from a different racial or cultural…
Who will be God’s Agents of Pastoral Calling?
Many pastors recall that it was another pastor who first invited them to consider their call to ministry. Yet it seems fewer and fewer pastors…
Effective Pastoral Transition: An In-Depth Interview with Lee Kricher
How can a seamless pastoral transition lead to a more effective leadership transition? Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff speaks with Lee Kricher, author…
Leading Voices: “Good Leaders are Curious”
“Good Leaders are Curious” is presented by Johannah Myers, Director of Disciple Formation at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Greenville, South Carolina. In celebration of…
“Effective Pastoral Transition” featuring Lee Kricher
Podcast Episode 124 How can a seamless pastoral transition lead to a more effective leadership transition? We speak with Lee Kricher, the author of Seamless…
The Importance of Holy Friendships
Victoria Atkinson White says that pastors and Christian institutional leaders cannot do their holy work without the support of holy friendships. Mutual, sacred relationships deeply…
Leading Voices: “All God’s People are Leaders”
“All God’s People are Leaders” is presented by Dr. Ann A. Michel, Senior Consultant, Lewis Center for Church Leadership. In celebration of the 20th anniversary…
How to Keep Preaching Fresh: An In-Depth Interview with Teresa Fry Brown
How can preachers keep their preaching fresh? Doug Powe of the Lewis Center staff interviews Professor of Preaching Teresa Fry Brown about preaching familiar texts…
5 Characteristics of Effective Ministry Teams
To celebrate the Lewis Center’s anniversary, we are highlighting Leading Articles — some of our most popular posts of the past 20 years. We are…
Leading Voices: “Leaders Must Embrace Community Stakeholders”
“Leaders Must Embrace Community Stakeholders” is presented by Rev. Dr. Ronald Slaughter, Senior Pastor, St. James African American Episcopal Church, New Jersey. In celebration of…
Is Spiritual Maturity a Prerequisite for New Church Leaders?
Ann Michel of the Lewis Center questions the common advice that churches should only invite those who are already spiritually mature into leadership roles. She…
Humility is Critical to Successful Pastoral Transition
Lee Kricher says that one of the key variables in a successful pastoral transition is humility. It is difficult but essential that both outgoing and…
4 Keys to More Effective Church Communication
Joel Snider explains that a healthy church culture requires constant attention to good communication. Effective communication requires a consistent process that begins with a healthy…
Leading Voices: “People Support What They Help to Create”
“People Support What They Help to Create” is presented by Rev. Dr. David McAllister-Wilson, President of Wesley Theological Seminary. In celebration of the 20th anniversary…
Covid Taught Us How to Shift and Pivot to Sustain Our Mission
James Kim describes how new expressions of ministry initiated in the years of Covid helped his two-campus church in Lakewood, Washington, thrive and grow. He…
When the Pastor Is Your Plumber
Lovett H. Weems Jr. writes about the long and rich history of bivocational ministry in the Bible, throughout the generations of American history and around…
Leading Voices: “The Power of Presence”
“The Power of Presence” is presented by Rev. Dr. Amanda Stein, South West District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church District Office Center in Wisconsin.…
Leading Voices: “All God’s People are Leaders”
“All God’s People are Leaders” is presented by Rev. Dr. Theresa Thames, Associate Dean of Religious Life and Chapel at Princeton University. In celebration of…
3 Practices to Help Pastors Increase Productivity
How can pastors maximize their effectiveness when it comes to time management? Eric Daniel shares three practices to help pastors work more productively and address…
Leading Voices: “Leaders Do Not Take Everything Personally”
“Leaders Do Not Take Everything Personally” is presented by Rev. Dr. Camille Cook of Georgetown Presbyterian Church. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the…
5 Ways Pastors Make Ministry Harder than It Needs to Be
How do church leaders make ministry harder than it needs to be? Carey Nieuwhof identifies five ways that many pressures faced in ministry are more…
Ten Traits of Jesus as Transformational Leader
To celebrate the Lewis Center’s anniversary, we are highlighting Leading Articles — some of our most popular posts of the past 20 years. We are…
How Inclusive, Participatory Leadership Revitalized the Girl Scouts of America
Lovett H. Weems Jr. highlights leadership lessons from the life of Frances Hesselbein and her impact on the Girl Scouts. She was a passionate servant…
