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In a provocative discussion on “competencies,” the CRCNA’s Leadership Development Team claims we “should not overstate the distinction between character and competence.” Yet the echo of competency rooted in character sounds often.
Now that so many church members have digital cameras and so many congregations can project images, the possibilities for using photography in worship have soared. Here are tips from congregations that use photography to build community and to picture the entire world as belonging to God.
I came to Grand Rapids from Scotland to work as part of the co-opted staff with the news team here, to cover the unification of the two main ecumenical groups of Reformed churches throughout the world. And here's my story!
The basic guidance that Jesus as Lord gives through his Word and Spirit to us as a community include 1) the call to conformity, 2) the call to service, and 3) the call to community. In this article I will focus on the first.
Here are some pointers on visiting from Jim Dekker (pastor's network).
Including thoughtfully-chosen images in worship may minister to certain people in ways that the rest of the service does not.
Along with booking flights and packing suitcases, it is vital that those who plan to serve with our ministries are as best prepared as possible.
Your experience and effectiveness will be greatly enriched if you are intentional about the spiritual dimensions of your journey, before, during, and after the trip.
Here are a few ideas for encouraging cross generational service at your church this summer!
Cynthia* never expected that a pool party with church council members and her pastor would leave her humiliated and traumatized decades later.
Developing a small group plan is essential as you begin your ministry, or as you revise it along the way. Here are three simple questions to help you get started.
Strategies for elders to support members of the church to grow in faith and service in the Lord.
We’ve got one hour with kids every Sunday morning—if we aren’t babysitting, what are we hoping for out of this time?
If you pair up with another leader to share a class or rotate by unit or quarter, consider having a conversation about these key concerns.
What are your resources and what are the resources of those with whom you wish to partner? Use these questions to help recognize the varied diversity of resources which can be found in a person, a church, a group or a community.
Why do we still need hymns in a postmodern world? Here are several reasons.
The person behind the mixing board is the invisible member of the worship team, every bit as integral as singers or drummers or even leaders. So it’s important to get the right person for the job.
Here are answers to some FAQ's about hearing loops such as "How many Americans live with hearing loss?" and "Why are hearing loops needed? Don’t hearing aids enable hearing?"
The key to calling volunteers is to “find people who love God and love kids; then equip them with the skills they need to lead a group of children.”
How can this service faithfully and imaginatively bring this scriptural text alive? How can the service invite the meaningful participation of everyone present? How can we serve as the prophets and priests for our community at worship? Planning worship is more a pastoral task than a logistical task.
In Leadership we position ourselves in relationship to God and others for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Some basic relatively simple principles keep us on the right track.
Engage your right brain for about 1250 more words as you read a recently discovered and freely translated verbatim of a meeting of the Central Jerusalem Wannabe Temple Worship Committee.
Vision is a way of helping us stay focused on the central mission of the church’s life. Vision is a journey of change, not a destination. Read more about vision in this article.
James C. Dekker, pastor of Covenant Christian Reformed Church in St. Catharines, Ontario, remembers that he never was able to practice personal devotions faithfully until he suffered his own mini-death and found hope from Christ’s resurrection from once-broken colleagues.
How do you determine the balance between too much or too little organization? Leaders need to understand their mission and clearly see that the structure and organization assists in accomplishing ministry.