After Charleston

Kelly J. Baker (June 2015). Posted in 21stCenturyMission.

By now we all know the basic details of the story: More than a week ago, Dylann Storm Roof entered Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and joined a small Bible study. He prayed with the assembled group. After an hour, he started shooting, even though he later admitted that everyone was “so nice” that he almost didn’t go through with his planned massacre.... Read more

Sustaining Ministry through Soulful Entrepreneurship: Finding New Tools for a Changing Church

Margaret Benefiel (June 2015). Posted in 21stCenturyMinistry, Bearings Review 2015, Leadership.

In the past decade, an increasing number of social entrepreneurs—individuals who feel called to make a difference in the world while earning a living doing it—have been establishing themselves. From mindful consultants to healers to savers of elephants and rainforests, these entrepreneurs find ways to live their passion and at the same time make an income. What... Read more

“Toy Story” Redux: Sparking Joy is the Church’s Sequel

Pamela Shellberg (June 2015). Posted in ChurchChange.

There’s been a resurgence of analysis of religious life in the United States appearing in waves of commentary on recent Pew study findings. In the midst of all this, an observation from United Methodist bishop Kenneth Carter, Jr. captured my attention: We should also note that the growth of unaffiliated has been shaped by the relentless critique of the church... Read more

Re-Imagining the Story: Can the Mainline Church Put Away Childish Things?

Maxwell Grant (June 2015). Posted in 21stCenturyMinistry, Bearings Review 2015.

Elizabeth Drescher’s recent piece on “Bearings” asks the question: “What if we had the next great awakening . . . and everybody slept in?” As a church pastor, I’m beginning to wonder that, myself. There are times when being a mainline church pastor feels like being Sheriff Woody from the “Toy Story” movies—adventurous in ways good and bad, called to orchestrate... Read more

Bearings: Navigating Life-as-MinistryJune 2015

Bearings: Navigating Life-as-Ministry
June 2015