https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Tue, 16 Apr 2024 04:35:47 +0000 Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/council/dont-bring-it-sunday It is important for church members to be able to communicate easily and effectively with church staff and pastors. Just don't do it on Sunday.  But It's So Easy! Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/council/dont-bring-it-sunday Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/pastor-search-committees/duos-and-trios-it-wise-offer-vote-between-two A “duo” occurs when a council recommends two names of pastor candidates to the congregation for a vote at the same time. The congregation first votes to indicate their preference between the two candidates and then votes “yes” or “no” on the preferred candidate to become the new pastor. Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/pastor-search-committees/duos-and-trios-it-wise-offer-vote-between-two Mon, 26 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/congregational-feedback-surveys-vs-listening-circles Mark it in the Calendar Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/congregational-feedback-surveys-vs-listening-circles Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/called-elsewhere-including-current-churches-pastoral-discernment “Dating” and “courtship” are two of the most commonly-used metaphors to describe the experience of churches searching for pastors in the CRCNA. Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/called-elsewhere-including-current-churches-pastoral-discernment Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/pastoral-retirement-uncomfortable-opportunity-transition If you are looking ahead to whatever comes after full time, pastoral ministry, then you are entering a season of substantial transition. There are opportunities and uncertainties ahead. There are options for addressing them, and all of them have important implications.  Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/pastoral-retirement-uncomfortable-opportunity-transition Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/pastor-search-committees/how-vote-pastor Thrive exists to support churches in times of transition and pastor search. Learn more at Pastor Search Process. Who actually votes to call a pastor?  Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/pastor-search-committees/how-vote-pastor Mon, 29 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/pastor-search-committees/pastors-heres-how-crcna-can-help-you-find-your The Way It Was: Wait for the Call to Come in Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/pastor-search-committees/pastors-heres-how-crcna-can-help-you-find-your Mon, 22 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/pastor-search-committees/looking-new-pastor-how-crcna-can-help-your The Way It Was Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/pastor-search-committees/looking-new-pastor-how-crcna-can-help-your Fri, 12 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/post-synod-not-every-decision-requires-separating-some-might At your church, maybe the learning is mostly done, maybe there isn’t much discernment or decision-making left. Maybe the only thing for you to do is simply inform your people of what has been decided and begin to try to live together with the decision.  Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/post-synod-not-every-decision-requires-separating-some-might Thu, 31 Aug 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/post-synod-make-decisions-about-truth-without-losing-grace For many of us, the hardest thing about contentious issues is the looming sense that at some point, a decision may have to be made. We eventually realize that, at some point, even not deciding is actually a decision. Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/post-synod-make-decisions-about-truth-without-losing-grace Mon, 28 Aug 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/post-synod-discerning-and-desiring-gods-will-contentious-issues A wise teacher once pointed out to me that most of the work of discernment is simply getting to the point where you desire God’s will. Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/post-synod-discerning-and-desiring-gods-will-contentious-issues Mon, 21 Aug 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/post-synod-learning-about-hard-topics-helpful-ways Whenever you’re facing a contentious issue, it's important to learn about and understand the issue. In a lot of our churches, that learning happens through preaching, teaching, Bible studies, and committees reports.  Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/post-synod-learning-about-hard-topics-helpful-ways Mon, 14 Aug 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/post-synod-christian-decision-making-anxious-times When a church faces a contentious issue people tend to respond in fairly predictable (and unhelpful) ways.  These common responses can be represented with the chart pictured above. Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/post-synod-christian-decision-making-anxious-times Mon, 07 Aug 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/how-communicate-questions-and-concerns-your-council-6-steps Have a question or comment you need to relay to your church’s leadership? Try this six-step process for best results.  Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/how-communicate-questions-and-concerns-your-council-6-steps Sun, 05 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/leadership-development/why-does-your-church-need-code-conduct What is to be gained from having your congregation adopt the denomination's new Code of Conduct?  Dave Den Haan https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/leadership-development/why-does-your-church-need-code-conduct Mon, 21 Nov 2022 18:50:56 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/virtual-workshop-pastors-exploring-their-call Are you asking questions such as:  Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/virtual-workshop-pastors-exploring-their-call Wed, 16 Nov 2022 15:01:37 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/post-synod-what-if-there-no-way-forward Background: Pastor Church Resources has launched Challenging Conversations: Next Steps Discernment, a process intended to help you hold grace and truth as Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/post-synod-what-if-there-no-way-forward Tue, 13 Sep 2022 00:21:53 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/church-order/post-synod-3-ways-love-while-we-disagree Background: Pastor Church Resources has launched Challenging Conversations: Next Steps Discernment, a process intended to help you hold g Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/church-order/post-synod-3-ways-love-while-we-disagree Wed, 31 Aug 2022 13:56:35 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/post-synod-will-discernment-season-ever-end Background: Pastor Church Resources has launched Challenging Conversations: Next Steps Discernment, a process intended to help you hold g Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/post-synod-will-discernment-season-ever-end Mon, 29 Aug 2022 19:05:50 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/post-synod-alternative-way-forward Background: from November 2020 to June 2022, nearly 2500 people from more than 80 CRC congregations participated in Challenging Conversations listening circles. Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/post-synod-alternative-way-forward Mon, 29 Aug 2022 13:11:02 +0000