What are the characteristics of churches disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church? Lovett H. Weems Jr. reports that there are more similarities than differences between the cohort of disaffiliating churches and the total pool of all United Methodist churches. But disaffiliating churches are overwhelmingly in the South with majority white memberships. They are also more likely to have a male pastor and are less likely to have an active elder as pastor. Read more now.

General | Mainline Challenges | United Methodism

Clergy Wellbeing | Discipleship | Leadership | Leadership Best Practices | Leading Voices Videos | Lessons for Leaders | Pastoral Ministry | Spirituality and Leadership

Lovett H. Weems Jr. highlights leadership lessons from the life of Frances Hesselbein and her impact on the Girl Scouts. She was a passionate servant who advocated for inclusivity and modeled shared leadership and moral leadership. Read more now.

Diversity | Leadership | Leadership Best Practices | Leadership Lived | Lessons for Leaders | Women and Leadership

Frances Hesselbein, as president of the Girl Scouts of the USA, sought to create an organization in which “every girl could see herself,” and thus the racial ethnic membership of the Girl Scouts tripled. She offers questions needed for leadership to implement the mission.

Do our leaders see themselves as the embodiment of the mission, values, and beliefs of the organization?

Are we deploying leaders, teams, and people to further the mission and achieve our goals?

Are we leading as those anticipating change rather than reacting?

Are we building today the richly diverse, inclusive, cohesive organization that our vision and mission demand?

Want more Right Questions? Read Right Questions for Church Leaders.

For many congregational leaders preserving cherished traditions while discerning God’s new thing is a challenge. Trying to innovate to address a changing context and culture can take a backseat to daily responsibilities and maintaining ongoing ministries. Join Dr. F. Douglas Powe Jr. and Dr. Lovett H. Weems Jr. for insights and practices to help leaders navigate this impasse in ways that do not become an either/or situation. Learn more and register now for this timely webinar.

How can the church confront its complicity in sexual abuse and misconduct? In this interview, Ruth Everhart, a leading voice on issues of sexual abuse in the church, says congregations must create safe spaces for victims to share their stories while committing to appropriate measures to both prevent and respond to incidents of misconduct and abuse. Read more now.

Congregational Care | General | Interview | Pastoral Ministry | Social Justice | Women and Leadership

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.” Whether online or in person, the church should demonstrate its love for children and its desire to connect with younger families through effective ministry for and with children. Check out 50 Ways to Strengthen Ministry with Children to learn how. Read now, share, and download free.

The Lewis Center’s Keeping Our Sacred Trust boundary training program offers two online courses to help prevent clergy sexual misconduct: Understanding Clergy Sexual Ethics and Maintaining Boundaries in a Digital Age. Both courses are confidential, ecumenical, and refreshed for 2023. Each course is $49 and includes .5 CEU credits. Learn more and enroll at lewisonlinelearning.org.

“In a world where no individual can possibly have all the answers, it is the inclusive organization that excels.” — Frances Hesselbein

Take an in-depth look at the book of Psalms with Journey through the Psalms, an eight-session video-based study that is ideal for your congregation's online and in-person small groups, adult Bible studies, and Sunday School classes. Through study of the Word and insights gained through the arts, Journey Through the Psalms invites us to approach God with the same honesty and intensity as the ancient Psalmists. Learn more and watch a sample video now.