7 Core Areas to Assess Your Church’s Health

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...
Profiles in Goodwill: Larry McSwain

Profiles in Goodwill: Larry McSwain

Larry McSwain is retired from McAfee School of Theology, where he was professor of ministry leadership and associate dean for the doctor of ministry program. He was also honored with the Watkins Christian Foundation Endowed Chair in Ministry. He works with the Center...

How to Ensure Your Church Staff is the Right Size

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...

3 Ways Churches Can Return to Their True Mission

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...