November 16, 2008
Should the Minister Be One of the Elders?
Darrel Rowland explores whether ministers should serve as elders, highlighting church leaders who value trust, accountability, biblical eldership, and healthy elder-minister relationships.
Church Leadership
Church Leadership equips pastors, elders, ministry staff, and volunteer leaders to lead with biblical conviction, humility, and wisdom. Explore practical, Scripture-shaped guidance on leading teams, developing leaders, casting vision, making decisions, and building a healthy ministry culture. You’ll also find help for navigating conflict, communication, accountability, and the spiritual formation of leaders—so leadership flows from character, not just competence. Whether you’re stepping into leadership for the first time or carrying long-term responsibility, these resources aim to strengthen your leadership for the good of the church and the mission of Jesus.
November 16, 2008
Two Elders Now Ministers Talk About Elder-Minister Relationships
Ernie Graf and Jim Sloderbeck reflect on elder-minister relationships from both sides of church leadership, emphasizing mutual respect, trust, communication, and unity.
November 16, 2008
What Elders Don’t Understand About Ministers
Church leaders reflect on what elders may not understand about ministers, including workload pressures, family strain, leadership empowerment, and the high personal stakes of ministry.
November 16, 2008
What Ministers Don’t Understand About Elders
Elders share what ministers may misunderstand about their role, outside pressures, meeting participation, and desire for honest partnership in church leadership.
November 9, 2008
The Local Church Needs Scholars
Fred Hansen reflects on scholarship in the church, highlighting Restoration Movement examples and urging ministers, missionaries, and educators to pursue deep learning marked by humility and service.
November 9, 2008
Scholars in the Church A Practical Response
Brian Jones reflects on an early ministry internship and explains why local church leaders need both practical effectiveness and serious theological depth.
November 9, 2008
Keys to Teamwork (Part 4): Wise Decision Making
Steve Bond shares how Summit Christian Church pursued wise decision making through elder consensus, staff-led leadership, patient timing, and a team culture that values listening.
November 2, 2008
Keys to Teamwork (Part 3): Conflict Resolution
Stephen Bond explains why healthy ministry teams must embrace honest conflict, pursue compromise, practice forgiveness, and protect organizational health through open, humble conflict resolution.
November 2, 2008
A New Leadership Model as Old as the New Testament
Scott Cromer shares how New Life Church of Christ shifted from board-style leadership to a shepherding model focused on relationships, delegation, empowered leaders, and shared life.
November 2, 2008
The Knife Wasn’t Even Sharp (A Parable for Elders)
Robert Kitchen encourages elders to focus on shepherding, mentoring, and teaching while equipping volunteers with clear expectations, useful tools, and meaningful opportunities for service.
October 26, 2008
Keys to Teamwork (Part 2): Communication
Stephen Bond shares practical lessons from Summit Christian Church on strengthening ministry teamwork through honest communication, reduced stress, personal boundaries, appreciation, and a shared language.
October 26, 2008
Sin Among the Shepherds
An anonymous church leader reflects on moral failure, full ownership, grace and truth, accountability, and how wise shepherds can help bring healing without compromising holiness.
October 22, 2008
Could We Have Been Better Prepared?
Mark A. Taylor reflects on Hurricane Ike’s power outage and urges elders to prepare for church crises with accountability, character, prayer, and wise shepherding.
October 19, 2008
Keys to Teamwork (Part 1): Chemistry
Stephen Bond reflects on how chemistry, expectations, and ministry alignment helped Summit Christian Church build healthy staff and elder teams during a season of significant growth.
October 19, 2008
It’s Harder to Do than to Talk About
Chuck Sackett reflects on returning to local church preaching and relearning how leadership, change, sermon preparation, and spiritual formation are harder to practice than to teach.
October 5, 2008
Raising Up the Next Generation of Genuine Leaders
John Derry encourages churches to develop future leaders by identifying potential, investing resources, providing hands-on experience, and inspiring young people to embrace servant-leadership.
September 28, 2008
A Man with Faithful Eyes
Chuck Sackett explores how one congregation evaluated elder candidates with past marital and sexual failures through biblical study, careful process, repentance, and demonstrated faithfulness.
September 24, 2008
A Simple Survey by, for, and About Elders
Mark A. Taylor invites readers to complete a survey about elders in their congregations ahead of his workshop at the Indianapolis Congress of Elders.
September 21, 2008
The Assassin of the Headless Sprinting Chicken
Jud Wilhite warns leaders about the danger of burnout, challenging the myth of perfect balance and calling for sustainable rhythms of rest, family priority, and long-haul leadership.
September 7, 2008
Getting There Is Worth the Cost
Gary L. Johnson outlines six practical steps for church strategic planning, showing how elders, staff, and volunteers can work together to move a congregation forward with purpose.
