Articles for tag: church leadership

Culture & Public Square Politics & Government

Care & Counseling

INTERVIEW: Two Ministers Discuss How COVID-19 Diagnoses Have Affected Their Ministries

By Jim Nieman The coronavirus has proven to be a complex issue for churches and church leaders. And it can be further complicated—and even turn emotional—when there are COVID-19 diagnoses in leadership. Johnson University professor Jody Owens recently interviewed two senior ministers, Matthew Sink and Greg Taylor, who have been personally affected by COVID-19 diagnoses. Sink, senior minister with Pinedale Christian Church, Winston-Salem, N.C., is doing well after he and his three children, along with his parents—who live next door—contracted the disease. He has completed a two-week quarantine. Taylor, lead minister with Second Church of Christ in Danville, Ill., didn’t

June 14, 2020

Michael C. Mack

The Church and Politics: Why?

By Michael C. Mack I’m guessing some of you are wondering why Christian Standard would devote almost an entire issue to politics . . . especially this year. I know—you know, we all know—what a divisive topic this can be. I know our readership, like many of our churches, consists of people across the political spectrum. Some of you may believe we shouldn’t talk about politics at all. We are, in fact, the Christian Standard, with a heavy emphasis on Christian. Some may assert we should stay in our lane and keep our focus on Christian church leadership issues. After

May 1, 2020

David Roadcup

Church & Ministry Church Leadership Eldership

Enough with the Four-Hour Elders Meetings!

The Key Elements to Making Your Time Together More Effective By David Roadcup Effective elders’ meetings are an important part of a healthy leadership culture. Our meetings should be organized times of fellowship, powerful prayer, communication, and decision-making. The focus of elders’ meetings should be on the shepherding of staff and the business matters of the congregation. Elders’ meetings can be extremely fruitful and enjoyable, or they can be hours of torment and wandering in the wilderness. It all depends on planning and on the leader of the meeting (the elder chairman) and lead minister working together for the best

March 31, 2020

Shawn McMullen

McMullen Named VP of Partner Relations with CCL Foundation

Shawn McMullen, who has concluded his service as editor of The Lookout magazine, will begin work Wednesday as vice president of partner relations with the Christian Church Leadership Foundation. McMullen’s responsibilities will include working with Cincinnati area ministers, churches, and mission teams to present the work of the CCL Network and the Russell School of Ministry. He will identify partners to support student scholarships, library services, and network memberships. He also will closely work with representatives from the Cincinnati Christian University Alumni Association to help maintain communication and connection with the CCU community within the CCL Foundation. “I’m grateful for

January 22, 2020

David Roadcup

What Does God Want from Elders of His Church?

By David Roadcup My 23 years of coaching and consulting with churches and their leaders has led me to conclude, As go the leaders, so goes the church. Leaders set the example, tone, faith, and practice for believers in the church they serve. So we, as leaders, need to ask ourselves, What does our Father want from us, and how do we accomplish his ultimate task? Using Scripture as our guideline, here is an overview of what the Lord wants from the primary leaders in his church. 1. A Healthy and Growing Spiritual Life God wants all church leadership

January 2, 2020

Addiction Ethics & Moral Issues

One of 'Those People': A Generation Becoming Fully Devoted to Christ

“I was sick and you looked after me.” _ _ _ By Nate Graybill “I’m one of ‘those people.’ Hypocrite. Liar. Addict.” This admission was a moment of rigorous honesty that changed my life. It came after hours of bingeing on my drug of choice. More afraid of where my habit was leading me than of being exposed, I woke up my wife and said, “Honey, I need to tell you something. I’m addicted to porn. I need help.” I finally accepted the fact that I was not powerful enough to control my sin. Broken and afraid of losing my

December 31, 2019

Jerry Harris

Stewardship & Generosity

The Rules Have Changed

By Jerry Harris The January issue of Christian Standard focuses on the business side of church. Leaders make decisions every day about spending, staff, volunteers, fundraising, organizational structure, leader development, staff and volunteer education, debt, facility management, marketing, media, and online presence. Yet, despite all of that, it is rather amazing how little most church leaders know about business, finance, real estate, administration, or management. Many mainly rural and small churches are closing daily because they can no longer manage their own existence. Attendance and giving might be dwindling; the churches may no longer be able to pay for a

December 4, 2019

Three Stories of Hope: The Legacy of Cincinnati Ministry Education

By David Fincher (This article is adapted from comments delivered at the Cincinnati Christian University alumni homecoming on November 9 and at the International Conference on Missions on November 15.) As a graduate of Central Christian College of the Bible, Moberly, Mo., I have long known the influence of Cincinnati upon our Christian churches and colleges. In 1989, I began as a freshman at CCCB. My teachers were primarily graduates of Cincinnati Bible Seminary who quoted their teachers and shared memories of their school. Before I ever visited the Cincinnati campus, I was already grateful for the work of CBS.

November 16, 2019

CCCB’s Plans in Cincinnati Include Maintaining 3 Ministry Assets

Central Christian College of the Bible, Moberly, Mo., which is working toward opening an extension campus in Cincinnati next spring, has announced plans to maintain “three key ministry support services” that have been a part of the soon-to-close Cincinnati Christian University. According to its website, CCCB plans to provide ministry education through the Russell School of Ministry, continue development of a national network of churches through the Center for Church Leadership, and provide library services through the George Mark Elliott Library. The Missouri college is asking for “the [financial] support of Cincinnati constituent friends and church families” to help make

October 30, 2019

Anxiety & Depression Care & Counseling

HIU’s Alexander Teaching Church Leaders about Depression and Ministry

By Chris Moon When a prominent pastor committed suicide last year in Southern California, Paul Alexander couldn’t help but take notice. A lot of people he knew had a connection with the young pastor—Andrew Stoecklein—and they were deeply moved by the news. Alexander, a licensed marriage and family therapist who assumed the presidency of Hope International University in August, has spent years studying and teaching about depression and ministry. It only made sense to help. Depression is something many ministers struggle with—even though, Alexander said, it is “not comfortable or common to talk about it.” Alexander contacted Gene Appel of

October 17, 2019

Jerry Harris

Conferences & Gatherings Organizations & Events

Inaugural Spire Conference Marks New Beginning for Leaders

By Jerry Harris Leaders from all over the country descended on the Marriott World Center in Orlando, Florida, for the first-ever Spire Conference from October 8 to 10. More than 1,500 leaders from churches of all sizes gathered with their staffs to learn, network, and collaborate to inspire a movement of healthy, growing churches. One hundred three churches with weekly average attendances of more than 1,000 were represented. This gathering highlighted the Spire platform, a 24/7 tool to facilitate year-round encouragement, tools, best practices, and relationships inside the Restoration Movement. The platform also serves as an invitation into relationship for

October 9, 2019

Colleges & Seminaries Organizations & Events

GLCC Plans 70th Anniversary Celebration (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon Great Lakes Christian College in Lansing, Mich., will celebrate its 70th anniversary Oct. 18 and 19. A Restoration Appreciation Week Chapel will be at 11 a.m. Friday with Keith Keeran speaking. The 70th Celebration Service will be at 6:30 that night at the Doty Center. A reception for GLCC alumni and friends will follow at 8. An alumni brunch/reunion is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, with “family fun” and lunch from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Weekend anniversary events conclude with a soccer game at 1 p.m. Weekend festivities will also honor Larry Carter

August 22, 2019

THE BIG CHALLENGE FACING SMALL CHURCHES (6): Elders Wanted

By Matt Johnson If many people with leadership gifts and experience attend your church, then your pool of potential leaders is deep. If your church is comprised of people who have little leadership experience or skill, you’re facing a completely different situation. You may have great workers with great hearts, but you may not have competent leaders. It is possible this dynamic contributes to the size of the church. How can the small church cope with a dearth of potential leaders? My response is mostly anecdotal. The church I served until recently, Levittown Christian Church, is in a lower-middle-class, blue-collar

August 22, 2019

THE BIG CHALLENGE FACING SMALL CHURCHES (5): Hope from History

By Jerran Jackson Down through the ages, Jesus has used crises and challenges to renew his church. When Christians by the thousands were leaving their churches to pray alone in the desert, Basil of Caesarea redefined devotion to God by gathering Christians in cities and organizing them both for prayer and for service to their neighbors. When the church became corrupt and Christianity became a superstition, Martin Luther reemphasized the guidance of God’s Word. When dry formalism replaced living faith, Philipp Jakob Spener introduced home Bible studies. Jesus can renew the American church today in similar ways. Before there were

August 22, 2019

THE BIG CHALLENGE FACING SMALL CHURCHES (1): Small Churches

Why do many small and rural churches struggle to find and retain leaders and even to survive? More importantly, what are some solutions? Christian Standard asked Jerran Jackson to lead and manage a project to study these issues. He teamed with four other seasoned leaders who have expertise in the small church to develop this topic. _ _ _ By Jerran Jackson and Barney Wells Many rural and small-town churches are struggling. LifeWay Research found that 60 percent of Protestant churches are plateaued or declining in attendance. And 46 percent say their giving decreased or stayed the same from 2017

August 22, 2019

Michael C. Mack

The Challenges and Hope of Small Rural Churches

By Michael C. Mack It’s no secret that many small churches, especially small rural churches, face numerous challenges. How will the church respond? I asked Jerran Jackson—who for 40 years has served Clarksburg (Indiana) Christian Church, a small, rural congregation—to lead a team of writers to provide analysis, stories, and recommendations. As Jerran and I planned the package of articles, “The Challenges Facing Small Churches,” we discussed a list of issues leaders in struggling churches may be facing. You might use the following questions based on those issues as discussion starters with your team; each is addressed in the articles:

July 24, 2019

Care & Counseling Grief & Suffering

Antioch Christian Continues to Cope with Death of Pastor

By Chris Moon Antioch Christian Church in Marion, Iowa, has spent the past month doing what few churches ever have had to do—grieve the sudden death of its longtime pastor. John Seitz Sr. had served at Antioch for nearly two decades when he began to suffer from poor health following an overseas trip in January 2018. Seitz had been battling an infection, and doctors were looking for a cause. The pastor had not preached a lot this year after his church elders granted him an extended break to rest and heal. But his health continued to deteriorate. He passed away

June 27, 2019