Learning to grow our congregations, naturally
The thermometer had just hit 104 degrees when Canon Holladay Sanderson and I drove into Vancouver, WA, in July for a three-day training session on Natural Church Development (NCD). The improvised classroom in the worship space at Cascade Park Baptist Church, though, was cool and comfortable as we settled in with eight others for a [...]
St. Mark’s offers ministry in time of tragedy
Once in a while I notice a sign in one of our churches that gives a clue about how that church sees itself in the community. Something like “Love Spoken Here,” or “Servants’ Entrance.”
A few weeks ago, St. Mark’s, Moscow, opened its heart to its town and practiced servanthood in some poignant ways in the [...]
Have you unified your diocese today?
Have you unified your diocese today? Of all of our diocesan mission imperatives, unifying the Diocese may be the most interesting challenge.
There is a lot of diocesan geography in eastern Washington and north Idaho (or was that east Washington and northern Idaho?). There are deaneries where you can drive for hours between congregations. We have [...]
Living passionately in our daily routine
I was tearing through the exhibit hall towards the end of General Convention in Columbus, OH, last summer, a woman on a mission. I was searching for a book for a group of women who gather each week to share reflections and offer prayers. They had just finished “The Cup of Blessing,” by Joyce Rupp [...]
Plan-do-evaluate-plan-do-evaluate…
For most of us, the subject of restructuring Diocesan Council is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But the restructuring that is going on right now could have some much more exciting possibilities for the Diocese.
Diocesan Council, with elected and appointed members from across the Diocese, functions a bit like a vestry or bishop’s [...]
When saying you want to grow isn’t enough
In 10 years of working with congregations, I’ve never met a church that didn’t want to grow. These were all sincere wishes, I’m sure. But sometimes just saying you want to grow isn’t enough. It takes a few other things..
One of those things is motivation. Growth usually doesn’t happen unless we make some effort. Another [...]
Resolutions of different sort have impact on whole diocese
Have you made any New Year’s resolutions yet? Many of us are wrestling with those traditional resolves to eat less and exercise more; to clean out those overstuffed closets and corners of the basement; to read more good books.
But let me suggest a few resolutions of a different sort. These have to do with those [...]
