He grew up in the pews of his denomination, now Pastor Quinn Caldwell is taking the helm at Plymouth Congregational Church in Syracuse, NY and is ready to make some noise. Caldwell says many mainline denominations suffer from a sense of complacency, as if the highest calling of the Christian was quiet dignity. He is [...]

Church planting in Silicon Valley… it’s about encountering an incredibly gifted and brilliant community… that can be disinterested or even antagonistic toward the Gospel. But that’s not stopping Nicole Lamarche from her work planting Silicon Valley United Church of Christ. She’s moving forward on the Spirit’s prodding that there’s plenty of room for a progressive [...]

Ask anyone at Pastor Martin Copenhaver’s Wellesley Congregational Church what their community’s purpose is and you’ll get, ‘Growing in faith.” That’s behind an increased emphasis on adult faith formation at Wellesley – it’s inspired an increasingly popular program called GIFT (Growing In Faith Together). In this interview, Martin, a noted author, speaker, and U.C.C. minister [...]

Which is rubbing off more: the Church on the Marketplace, or the Marketplace on the Church? Journalist, author, and UCC minister G. Jeffrey MacDonald is convinced that North America’s consumer mentality is shaping the Church in some worrisome ways – that we’re becoming more interested in value, convenience, and comfort vs more biblical values of [...]

Enough with the ‘Jesus-Flavored Group Therapy’ – says minister, student, and podcaster Tripp Fuller – it’s the prophetic work of justice that defined Jesus and needs to define the Church. Tripp is on the ministry staff at a United Church of Christ church in Southern California where his experiences with families trying to fit into [...]

We’re all familiar with the numbers – there are fewer and fewer people in traditional church pews – yet how did it happen – and what can we do from here? Dr. Greg Smith is a popular blogger and teacher who says church decline is nothing new and there’s plenty that traditional churches have to [...]

It’s been said that a church can’t grow unless the people inside the church are growing. Fuller Seminary’s Professor of Evangelism and Spiritual Formation Richard Peace has known that for some time – hence his unique title. Richard’s new book, Noticing God, invites people into a deeper relationship with Jesus, which is at the core [...]

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, [...]

Every denomination has one – and UCC Minister Lillian Daniel says our particular faith traditions are the gold mines we need to invigorate our churches. I first heard about Lillian when her book on reclaiming the practice of Testimony came out, called  Tell It Like It Is.  In this interview Lillian talks about her work [...]

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 [...]

Progressive Eric Elnes, who splashed onto the national scene with a walk across America and the popular Phoenix Affirmations, is keeping a step ahead with a new ministry in his church called Darkwood Brew. It’s an online TV show that’s got music, interviews, and Bible talk to help others in their walk with Jesus. Eric [...]

Few things can handicap a church like a directionless, overstaffed, and disengaged church board. Alban Institute senior consultant Dan Hotchkiss, who’s consulted with 27 different denominations (and counting…) says ineffective church boards are too common, but the good news is that many of them can be fixed. I first heard about Dan’s work when someone [...]

“Where do you sense God’s presence in the church?” “Where do you sense God calling us to go in the future?” These are the two vital questions renowned author and consultant Anthony B. Robinson asks church members to ask themselves as he helps them turn things around.  They key is listening far and wide for [...]