5 Ministry Game-Changers for Building a Team-Based Leadership Approach
Even the strongest pastor can’t do it alone. Moses had Aaron and Hur, Jesus sent disciples in pairs, and Paul never went solo. Yet too…
Browsing: Teams
Articles
Give the Mic Away: The Team-Based Shift That Grows Faithful Youth
What is the key to a vibrant, growing youth ministry? Many churches assume it’s finding the right youth director and offering programming so entertaining it…
Church Leadership Trends for 2026
As church leaders look toward 2026, familiar approaches to leadership are proving insufficient amid changing communities, evolving teams, and growing demands on leaders. Lewis Center…
Learning to “Begat” Gratitude
Gratitude is one of the most powerful forces in shaping healthy ministry. Lewis Center Director Jonathan Page offers five practical ways to intentionally “begat” gratitude…
12 Goals Finance and Stewardship Leaders Might Choose
Church financial leaders are encouraged to set one or two focused goals to strengthen mission and financial health. From creating narrative budgets to teaching year-round…
5 Ways to Communicate More Effectively with your Congregation
Ensuring that everyone in a busy church is informed about upcoming events can be a daunting task. Doug Powe, Director of the Lewis Center, shares…
4 Steps for Forming an Inclusive Group
How can church leaders embrace inclusivity and forge intercultural partnerships to chart a new course towards vibrant, equitable communities? Dale Weatherspoon shares four essential steps…
Moses, Pyramids and Leadership After Empire: An In-depth Interview with Kathleen McShane and Elan Babchuck
How can an innovative exploration of Moses’s biblical narrative offer a more generous leadership model for today’s religious leaders? In this interview, Doug Powe speaks…
“Moses, Pyramids, and Leadership After Empire” featuring Kathleen McShane and Elan Babchuck
Podcast Episode 150 How can an innovative exploration of Moses’ biblical narrative offer a more generous leadership model for today’s religious leaders? In this episode,…
10 Essential Ways Leaders Build Relationships with Their Team Members
Dan Reiland says investing in relationships is the make-or-break factor that determines the success of your leadership. He provides ten helpful tips for interacting with…
Is Voting the Best Way to Make Collective Decisions in the Church?
Voting is part of the organizational culture of many congregations. But it can create winners and losers, leaving a bad taste in people’s mouths. While…
Leading Voices: “Leaders Invest in Their Teams with Great Love”
“Leaders Invest in Their Teams with Great Love” is presented by Rev. Dr. Hedy Collver, Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables,…
Leading Voices: “Leaders Observe, Follow, and Equip”
“Leaders Observe, Follow, and Equip” is presented by Rev. Motoe Yamada Foor, Director of Adult Discipleship at Discipleship Ministries. In celebration of the 20th anniversary…
Leading Voices: “Leadership is Always about a Group”
“Leadership is Always about a Group” is presented by Rev. Dr. Lovett H. Weems Jr., Senior Consultant, Lewis Center for Church Leadership. In celebration of…
The Divine Logic of Delegation
Ann Michel of the Lewis Center staff explains that delegation and collaboration are more than effective leadership strategies. They are acts of faith that imitate…
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…
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…
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: “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…
10 Dos and Don’ts for Handling Difficult Conversations
No one looks forward to dealing with difficult issues, but confronting problems is an essential part of being an effective leader. Chris Sonksen outlines four…
5 Tips for Building True Spiritual Community
When you move from being “in church” to being “in community,” your vision of others changes. Rebekah Simon-Peter offers five tips for daring to go…
5 Good Questions to Assess Your Volunteer Teams
Are your ministry teams reaching their full potential? Dan Reiland shares five good questions for assessing the health and productivity of volunteer teams. If…
Fruitful Meetings Are About the Right Questions
Blake Bradford describes how framing meeting agendas around critical questions promotes engagement, innovation, and discernment. Excellent questions focus the power of the group’s gathered wisdom,…
Keeping Your Meetings from Getting Stuck in the Weeds
Blake Bradford outlines strategies to make sure your meetings stay focused and productive. They include practicing mutual accountability, managing time carefully, and having a clear…
People Support What They Help to Create
David McAllister-Wilson describes how a style of leadership that engages others not only engenders support and buy-in but also promotes better decision making and more…
Managing Congregations in a Virtual Age
Are virtual meetings and work-from-home staff part of the new normal in your church? In this in-depth interview John Wimberly shares best practices for working…
Episode 89: “Managing Congregations in a Virtual Age” featuring John Wimberly Jr.
Are virtual meetings and work-from-home staff part of the new normal in your church? John Wimberly discusses best practices for working with staff and volunteers in a hybrid era.
5 Key Lessons for Managing Congregations in a Virtual Age
Turning toward a hybrid future, churches have focused much attention on digital worship. John Wimberly says it’s just as important to consider how to work…
The Art of Forging a Meaningful Consensus
Ann Michel of the Lewis Center staff says that unanimity is not required for a group to move forward. Good leaders drive consensus by extracting…
Coaching Leaders and Congregations to Reach their Full Potential
How can you connect the dots between where your church needs to be headed and the steps needed to get there? Doug Powe interviews Chris…