by Larry McSwain | Jan 27, 2016 | Opinion
January is a typical month for giving attention to one’s body after the gluttony of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The airwaves are full of advertisements for the latest nutrition, exercise or medicinal program for losing weight, regaining physical strength or...
by Larry McSwain | Jul 22, 2015 | Opinion
It was a simple question from a colleague. “Larry, do you have enough bandwidth to help me with a church staff analysis?” Initially, I had no idea what he was asking. “Bandwidth?” I replied, as I attempted to catch up with the 20-year cycle of...
by Larry McSwain | Jul 2, 2014 | Opinion
Most American congregations face a painful reality. David T. Olson has established clearly that no more than 17 percent of the population attends any church. The only congregations growing are those smaller than 49 or more than 2,000 in attendance, or those begun...
by Larry McSwain | Aug 29, 2013 | Opinion
Pastoral leaders are congregational theologians. The issue is not whether one is a theologian, but what kind of theologian. Thousands of local churches have lost their moorings in terms of their basic purpose for existence. Churches do not exist for the building of...
by Larry McSwain | Aug 22, 2013 | Opinion
Most of the pastors with whom I have conversations live with the tensions of effective financial leadership. According to the most recent studies, only about one-third of American congregations are growing in their budget income. This concern can be all consuming or...
