George Bullard's Journey

Implications of the Next Christendom

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Download this summary of the implications for the North American Church of the next Christendom coming from the Southern Hemisphere.

You Would Destroy Your Church for This?

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What are the issues that are so important you would destroy your church to win?

At a certain point in the congregational conflict process, participants in the conflict may have to decide whether the church is more important, or if there is an issue or issues that are more important.

It's a crazy thought, but once conflict moves to an intensity where current congregational clergy and lay leadership cannot reasonably handle the conflict without outside intervention, they are faced with this choice.

What choice would you make?

Your first response may be that it depends on the issue. But, there are different categories of issues. Would an issue in any and every category be enough?

For many people there are some absolute truths. If an issue comes up surrounding one of these truths, then the decision may be easy. They would not sacrifice an absolute truth. If the congregation is outside this absolute truth, then some people would sacrifice the church.

Present at the same time is a body of information known as perceived truthful information. This has to do with information persons perceive to be objective truth. In reality the information they have is subjective or perceived truthful information. This type of information is often stronger than objective truth. It is the information on which people act rather than on objective truth.

For others it is a matter of control. If they have an unreasonable desire, or even compulsion, to be in control, they would rather sacrifice the church than compromise on an issue or issues.

With these in mind, what are seven ways to destroy your church?

The Seven Beatitudes of Christian Ministry Teams

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Teams are a hot topic. Many congregations, denominations, parachurch organizations, or other faith-based groups use teams as a way to gather both staff and volunteers for focused action.

This is a good thing. It is a movement away from committees and councils. It is not a move as far into the future as will be the one when we embrace leadership communities, learning communities, and collaborative communities. But, it is a definite positive movement for congregations and those who champion the work of congregations.

Recently I felt inspired to write a piece on the characteristics of good team interaction. I call it The Seven Beatitudes of Christian Ministry Teams. I invite you to read it by downloading it using the link above, or click on "Continue reading" link below to go to the next page. It is a work-in-progress, so I also invite you to comment on it by clicking on the "Comments" link to help me strengthen it.

Empty Nest Households Ministry

An often overlooked life stage ministry in congregations is a ministry to empty nest households. These are households where children have grown up and left the nest to live on their own.

Congregations often have ministries to preschoolers, children, youth, singles, young adults, median adults, and senior adults.

Few congregations have ministries that directly focus on empty nest households and the unique needs of this life stage. Often congregations expect these households to provide a disproportionate share of financial contributions and leadership efforts to the congregation at a time they are thinking about traveling more and being at church less.