I'm spending some time today reflecting on my experiences over the last year. As part of that exercise, I've selected ten photos to share. I took each of these photos in either Dallas or Fort Worth using my phone. I invite you to take a few minutes to really look at both groups of photos. The first group offers a mix of city views alongside natural and cultural images. The second group presents two photos from within the walls of local congregations followed by two taken Read More …
PC(USA) Membership Declines by “Only 50K” (#1872)
The Office of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) recently published denominational statistics for 2019. I first learned of this new data by reading an article titled "PC(USA) Statistics Show a Leveling Off in Membership Decline." Recent Decline While the denomination has been in decline since its formation, this article seeks to tell the more positive micro story within that ongoing macro story. It seeks to achieve this by focusing on recent positive trends, Read More …
Choosing a “Good” Religion (#1871)
How does one choose a "good" religion? Over the years I've heard many detailed explanations for why one should choose a specific religion, but far fewer attempts to provide a framework for choosing a religion. In Tough Questions, Honest Answers: Faith and Religion for 21st Century Explorers (Fortress Press, 2020), Cameron Harder devotes a chapter to the question "How do we choose a "good" religion." After sharing about his research and noting his personal bias that "the community be Read More …
Great New Books – June 2020 (#1870)
The the ten best new books (published in 2020) I read over the last month are (5+) Rethinking Success: Eight Essential Practices for Finding Meaning in Work and Life by J. Douglas Holladay (HarperOne, 2020) (5.0) Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World by Kathy Escobar (Westminster John Knox Press, 2020) (4.5) None of the Above: Nonreligious Identity in the US and Canada by Joel Thiessen and Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme (New York University Press, 2020) (4.5) Using Read More …
Blogging in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic (#1869)
After blogging for 10+ years and publishing nearly 1,900 posts here at So What Faith, writing content about matters of faith that matter has become part of my identity. COVID-19 COVID-19 has disrupted all areas of life, and impacted how people experience community, including communities of faith. In recognition of this, I shifted from wide ranging content to focus on a series of posts about differing aspects of what is happening in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic alongside a continuation Read More …
Prayer in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic (#1868)
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, I'm more aware of the importance of prayer and I'm spending more time praying. Prayer in Corporate Worship As I've participated in worship in congregations I know well and in those I am less familiar with, I've noted changes in prayer. The changes are varied and include who prays (limited by technology or use of a single sacred space with concern for others being physically present) what is included in the prayers (a blend of new concerns Read More …
The Coming Wave of Permanent Church Closures (#1867)
Last September I debunked the popular notion that 10,000 congregations close each year in America. Based on the best information available, the number of congregations closing each year in recent years has likely been between 3,850 to 7,700. These numbers reflect a closure rate of 1% to 2% a year. COVID-19 Alters Projections A recent Faith and Leadership article, "Will the church financially survive the COVID-19 pandemic," featured the wisdom of twelve diverse leaders. Bill Read More …
Great New Books – May 2020 (#1866)
Over the last month, I've read a number of great new books. The ten best volumes follow. (5+) Part-Time is Plenty: Thriving Without Full-Time Clergy by G. Jeffrey MacDonald (Westminister John Knox Press, 2020) (4.5) Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife by Bart D. Ehrman (Simon & Schuster, 2020) (4.5) Touched: For Survivors of Sexual Assault Like Me Who Have Been Hurt by Church Folk and Those Who Care by Shanell T. Smith (Fortress Press, Read More …
Church Identity in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic (#1865)
This morning one of the memories Facebook thought I'd like to see was a picture of Fort Myers Congregational United Church of Christ's monument sign from five years ago. I took the photo while serving as this congregation's Interim/Transitional Pastor. Identity It is important that congregations have a well defined identity. When congregations know who they are and who God is calling them to become they can thrive in normal times and can adapt faithfully during atypical Read More …
40 New Online Worship Experiences (#1864)
Online worship is what many are calling the new normal. Earlier today I asked my Facebook friends to share links to the online services they planned to participate in today. I was overwhelmed by the response! The following list is comprised of the first forty replies I received that included online English language services available on Facebook, YouTube, or the congregation's website. While I recognize that many congregations provide worship on multiple platforms, Read More …