Boundary Leadership: a Video-Based Small Group Curriculum
BOUNDARY LEADERSHIP AT EMORY The past three years of course work and research in the Emory University community have deeply shaped my view of how community is formed and how Continue Reading
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Eat the Livestream: Hybrid Communion in a Digital Era of Worship
“Eat the livestream, all of you.” In the 15th and 16th centuries, two reformers, Jan Hus and Martin Luther, set out to remedy a problem: the laity were not receiving Continue Reading
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Developing Virtual Ministry Models for Small Churches
An Unforgettable Day I’ll never forget Sunday, March 15, 2020. On this day, Cascade United Methodist Church, where I serve as the technology director, suspended its in-person services and weekly Continue Reading
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Between Sword and Surrender: Finding New Narratives for Christian Belonging
Campus ministry ought to create a welcome, safe space for first-year students to begin their college journey, to celebrate their faith and their gifts, and to be and become their Continue Reading
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Worship and Proclamation Post-Disaster and Pre-Recovery
When the storm has passed and the roads are tamed and we are the survivors of a collective shipwreck. ~Alexis Valdes BEFORE… A typical day contained scheduled appointments with people Continue Reading
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SOIL
What is the condition of your soul? For far too many Christians in America, the condition of the soul is in a state of decay and despondency, only exacerbated by Continue Reading
The Importance of Story in Uncovering Values for Congregational Leadership
Introduction Throughout my career, I have attended countless continuing education events and read a dozen books on church leadership all with the same theme: congregations need a clear mission and Continue Reading
Give Sorrow Words: Sermon Form in Trauma-Aware Preaching
Say What? “I have never heard a preacher say that word before.” It was a Sunday morning years ago as parishioners were streaming out the church where I was serving Continue Reading
The Dual Frontier: Leading Church BOTH In-Person AND Online
Introduction Trinity Church is a historic United Methodist congregation located in the heart of downtown Savannah, GA. In fact, it is so historic, it is listed as one of Continue Reading
Pressing Towards The Mark: Deconstructing Racist Beliefs
Introduction America’s history demonstrates that White Supremacist thought became a racist reality. In nascent colonial America, the ideas of ethnic superiority were being developed and shared. Eventually these ideas became Continue Reading
The Bible for Progressive Christians: From Deconstruction to Reconstruction
Reading With New Eyes: The Bible As An Encounter For Progressive Christians By Rev. Barbara Lea Callaghan Faith deconstruction is a big topic for those who have become disillusioned with Continue Reading
God’s Good Food: Resisting Diet Culture in Our Churches
The Devil is Tempting Me “I was good last night and ate a salad so that I could eat this today,” says the woman who sits across from me as Continue Reading
Vital and Virtual: Reimaging Spirituality in a Pandemic Shaped Culture
PANDEMIC AND PANDEMONIUM! It was not just our imagination in March of 2020, when the world shifted as we entered a period of change that was unprecedented in our lifetimes! Continue Reading
From TED Talk to TikTok: Preaching in the Age of Social Media
My Mission Field First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky is where I have been serving for the past nine years. FCC is located in a small Continue Reading