For years, mainline denominations have been facing declining budgets at the denominational level. The United Church of Christ has not been exempt from the trend. While the 2014 budget of $25.3 million reflects a decline of nearly 9% ($2.2 million) from 2013, it still includes a shortfall of $2.3 million. More specifically the 2014 budget dollars are allocated as follows: Wider Church Ministries: $8.6 million, Office of the General Minister and President: $7.3 million, Local Read More …
Sermon: A Concert of Prayer (#1238)
Sermon Text: Matthew 6:5-14 Sermon Excerpt Prayer becomes a part of people’s lives in many ways. What is your story? How did you come to learn of prayer? When did you begin to pray? Maybe you remember childhood prayers – your own or those of your children or grandchildren. Simple prayers like . . . Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, If I shall die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen. OR . . . Perhaps as a youngster you were taught to Read More …
Myths About Raising Interfaith Kids (#1237)
Susan Katz Miller, author of Being Both: Embracing Two Religions in One Interfaith Family (2013), recently shared myths parents of differing religions who want their children to be raised in both traditions often hear presented as facts: the kids will be confused, the kids will be stressed by choosing between parents, the child will not feel comfortable in a synagogue or church, the two religions are contradictory, Jesus is a huge dilemma for interfaith kids, both Read More …
Sabbaticals for All? (#1236)
Zack Hunt recently wrote a blog post containing a rather unusual suggestion: sabbaticals from church for all churchgoers. Rather than stating with certainty that this is the best or even right way forward, he raises the idea as a possibility. Hunt suggests that we make taking a sabbatical from church an accepted, if not encouraged, part of the Christian life for lay people. That’s right. I think it might be a good idea for all of us, from time to time or even just once in our Read More …
Churches Rely on Part-Time Clergy (#1235)
While small Evangelical churches have long relied on unpaid (or very poorly paid) pastors, the same hasn't been true for small mainline congregations. A recent article explores a trend: an increasing number of small and declining mainline congregations are opting for part-time pastoral leadership, and paying these clergy limited salaries or providing them no compensation. So What? According to Hartford Seminary's 2013 Faith Communities Today survey, mainline churches current salary Read More …
Online Communion? (#1234)
As online worship grows in popularity, churches are increasingly tasked with struggling with significant theological issues relating to this new way of being present (virtual presence) in worship. One obvious area in need of consideration is communion. More specifically, can Holy Communion / Eucharist / Lord's Supper be a part of an online worship experience? While independent congregations are free to decide the matter for themselves, most congregations who are affiliated with a Read More …
Review of Incorporation (#1233)
Meet the Author Will Willimon spent twenty years as Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University before serving as a Bishop in the United Methodist Church from 2004-2012. After completing his work as bishop, he returned to his role as Professor of Christian Ministry. Willimon is the author of over sixty books including two best sellers: Sinning Like a Christian: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins and Thank Read More …
I Am-Ness (#1232)
Ron Buford served as the lead architect of the United Church of Christ‘s (UCC) Still Speaking campaign, which began in 2002 (more here). He was the keynote speaker for the fall gathering of the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ (Nov. 9, 2013). Buford's presentation focused on the theology of the Still Speaking campaign and included multiple powerful remarks about the I Am-ness of God. The two such comments that resonated most powerfully with me are: Read More …
Sermon: The Jesus Creed (#1231)
Sermon Text - Mark 12:28-31 Sermon Excerpt Every semester I teach a survey course in world religions at Hodges University. While most students are fascinated to learn about a new religion every week, they tend to find the pace challenging. When we reach the eleventh week of the term, many breathe a sigh of relief since it is the week we consider Christianity. Many of my students, perhaps like most of you, feel confident they know Christianity better than any other Read More …
Mainline = Vintage? (#1230)
For as long as I have been in ministry, people have been talking about whether or not the historic term mainline should continue to be used. While earlier conversations about reform tended to offer options of old-line or sidelined in addition to retaining the longstanding mainline moniker, recent conversations have pushed for more updated titles with relevance to the contemporary situation. Last month I participated in Cathy Lynn Grossman's poll, which invited people to vote for a new Read More …