The roots of the Wesleyan Church lie in evangelism and social justice – and that’s where their leader, The Rev. Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, is taking them. Dr. Lyon says the renewal of her 150 year old denomination is, specifically, in championing the rights of today’s ‘resident aliens’ (aka immigration reform). Hear this polished evangelical [...]

Very soon the demographics of America will see a major change: the European-American majority will become the new minority. Welcoming America’s new faces is an opportunity and challenge for U.S. churches, and one Jose Morales takes seriously. He’s an executive with the Disciples of Christ, which is committed to planting and transforming 2, 000 congregations [...]

Don’t be afraid to fail gloriously, says Episcopal Bishop Andy Doyle, of the Diocese of Texas. He’s all about planting new churches in unexpected places, and reinvigorating older congregations through diocesan-wide activities that encourage faith sharing. In this interview, Bishop Doyle talks about the skills today’s Christian leaders need to build healthy congregations, as well [...]

Why reinvent the wheel? With so many churches doing exciting and inspiring work, Nancy Davidge’s role with the Episcopal Church Foundation’s Vital Practices initiative, has her on the prowl for new and innovative success stories in local congregations. Nancy says the big theme is reaching out – and in this interview tells us about how [...]

In a post-denomination, post-Christian world churches may no longer be able to survive if arrogance and protectionism play very large roles in their communities. That’s why John Shelby Spong, who’s tenure as a liberal Episcopal bishop of Newark and subsequent career as an author and lecturer, is calling believers to act with humility and acceptance [...]

Building healthy churches begins with building healthy church members. That’s the thinking behind Forward Movement, a 1930′s initiative of The Episcopal Church, which is best known for its ‘Day by Day’ daily devotional pamphlet, but also includes tract, and book publishing. Scott Gunn is the gifted, energetic, and new face behind Forward. He’s a popular [...]

It’s the classic definition of ‘missional’: participating with God in what God is doing in the world – and it’s Steve Knight’s passion and profession. Maybe you’ve heard of Steve’s popular blog, or heard him speak (or spoken about) at emergent church gatherings. Steve currently serves the Disciples of Christ in their efforts to start [...]

It’s one of the Church’s biggest mistakes: over-reliance on one person to do the bulk of the work (planning, visioning, preaching, organizing, cleaning gutters… you name it). In this new, inventive, age, the PCUSA’s Landon Whitsitt, author of the book Open Source Church, thinks that the day of the ‘super-pastor’ is way over – and [...]

Few Christian ministers can lead and preach like the venerable Will Willimon. A United Methodist bishop, prolific author, scholar, and pastor – Bishop Willimon says leading is important because too many congregations have been trained to expect too little. And preaching is important because God has a lot to say to today’s churches. I was [...]

It’s high time established churches got over their ‘Edifice Complexes’ and returned to their first call – says ELCA bishop Mike Rinehart. He’s encouraged that his Synod has made evangelism its first priority, so this self-described bull in a china shop is charging forward. In this interview hear how the Synod’s plan to place 2 [...]

Breathing new life into a 150 year old mainline congregation takes a lot of things, and letting go is one of them. Noted blogger, writer, and associate pastor at St. John’s Presbyterian Church in San Francisco Theresa Cho says letting go is also a metaphor for what she sees on the regional and national levels [...]

Reports on the death of the Church of England are greatly exaggerated, says the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Missioner, Bishop Graham Cray. The bishop is the C of E’s head church planter – and leads a movement called Fresh Expressions, which consolidates the evangelism efforts of several UK denominations into a united front that majors on [...]

Great church leaders aren’t just born, says Barbara Blodgett, they can be made. In her new book Barbara argues that there are specific practices clergy leaders can engage in that will make them better at what they do. In this interview, learn about the four practices every minister should be engaging in to better themselves, [...]

Wal-Mart’s recent initiative to build smaller stores is just one indication of what Cameron Trimble says is a wider societal yearning for forming smaller, tight-knit communities that she is excited to influence for Christ. Cameron, who heads the United Church of Christ’s Center for Progressive Renewal, predicts smaller, more deeply connected churches are in the [...]

Studies show that churches that plant churches grow, themselves, says Philip Lotspeich, the Coordinator for the Office of Church Growth at the Presbyterian Church (USA). That’s why the Presbyterians are investing lots of time and money in church growth programs like New Beginnings and Starting New Churches. Make no bones about it, says Philip, most [...]

“It’s about mission not survival,”says Steve Pike the head of the Assemblies of God’s Church Multiplication Network that is on track to plant 365 churches in North America in 2011. Steve is an experienced church planter and dynamic leader whose hunger for starting new churches is infectious. I called Steve because Pentecostalism remains one of, [...]

I’m convinced that beneath the dusty veneer of every mainline denomination is the bud, the glint, and the breath of something new, important, and dynamic the Spirit is birthing.  Tom Brackett, an incredibly gifted blogger as well as church planting exec with the Episcopal Church, says renewal begins by reconnecting clergy and leaders with our first [...]

Invite them to serve and they will come. The United Methodists are growing their congregations (40,000+) though an innovative campaign aimed at 18-35 year olds that highlights service.  Larry Hollon is the exec in charge and he says young people are hungry to give back so many of them are turning to well-equipped United Methodist [...]