Responsive Congregations
Congregations and Creation Care
One compelling reason to think that congregations could help lead the fight against climate change is that creation care combines some of the things they do best. Namely, it brings people together in community to work out—and live out—their values, usually with an eye on improving the world for future generations.
Congregations, LGBTQ Issues, and Cultural Change
Cumberland First Baptist is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA (ABC), which Watkins describes as being “on the moderately progressive side” among mainline Protestant denominations. In the early 2000s, Cumberland First Baptist was “on the bubble” because of its move toward becoming an open and affirming congregation. Some affiliated churches viewed it with suspicion,…
Building Community Faithfully
Like many congregations, Englewood Christian Church in Indianapolis strives to honor, understand, and live by the hard sayings of Jesus. The church sometimes calls this following “the way of Jesus.” Unlike many congregations, however, Englewood does not define this way in terms of political flashpoints like abortion rights and same-sex marriage, nor in terms of…
Impact Congregations
Megachurches often become “multisite” churches, meaning they launch satellite congregations in other communities. There were roughly 200 multisite churches in the U.S. in 2001, when Rev. Chris Philbeck became Mount Pleasant Christian Church (MPCC)’s senior pastor. The trend exploded after the turn of the century, as megachurches (defined as 2,000+ members) expanded their reach and…
Racial Diversity and Congregational Leadership
Racially diverse leadership teams are a concrete and very visible step that organizations can take to manifest their commitment to greater equality. And the benefits flow both ways. As with the reading groups, workshops, and other antiracism initiatives that many congregations have initiated, however, creating positive change will be a long-term process. Diversity in itself…
Doing the Right Thing: Three Takes on Congregations and the Work of Antiracism
For anyone concerned with achieving racial equality, Tocqueville’s analysis from nearly two centuries ago is a haunting one: Perhaps racism is so ingrained in the American experiment that the two are inextricably linked. The wide and growing wealth gap in America is a striking reminder that racism persists. Learn more about this divide.
Passing the (virtual) Plate: Congregational finance in the era of COVID and digital disruption
This article looks at how the major shift of congregations to online giving during the pandemic increased donations from people not directly connected to the church. It considers what will happen to the new unaffiliated givers e.g., will they continue to give over the long run and will their commitment decrease or increase? How will…
Our Neighbors, Ourselves: From Congregational Mission to Community Transformation
This case study features Second Presbyterian Church’s congregational mission, Northside Mission Ministry (NMM). The food pantry is the church’s founding and anchor project. Each month, it serves between 400 and 500 families, distributing roughly 15 tons of food. The pantry inspired several members of the church to create and maintain a community garden on the…