Appreciative Itineracy
You want me to go where??? One of the distinguishing characteristics of pastoral ministry in the United Methodist Church is itineracy. Pastors within United Methodist structures are “appointed” to churches Continue Reading
Category: Church Leadership and Community Witness
The Destructive Forces of Colonization: Three Things You Need to Know About Haitian History & Why it Matters
When Haiti is mentioned, what immediately comes to mind? Despite being home to an ongoing humanitarian crisis, Haiti remains largely “out of sight, out of mind” in North America. When Haitian news Continue Reading
Imagining the Possibilities: Cultivating a Nurturing Environment for a College Ministry
Imagining the Possibilities: Cultivating a Nurturing Environment for a College Ministry The Black Church has been and continues to be a central force that undergirds the African American community. It Continue Reading
Presence and Processing: Supportive Spirituality for Nurses During a Pandemic
Explanation of the Project What began as an attempt to understand how spirituality could be an asset to healthcare staff evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic into interventions to embrace spirituality Continue Reading
Worship For The Next Generation
WORSHIP FOR THE NEXT GENERATION: FINDING COMMUNITY IN A VIRTUAL WORLD By Chad T. Martin Background Like many traditional mainline churches, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church has experienced attrition in our Continue Reading
Making Church Attractive with a “Rule of Life”
Why a “Rule of Life” In July 2020, I was appointed to The United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches (UMCPB). While this church had been formed out of a Continue Reading
Hospitality in a Culture of Othering: A Critical Exploration of Multigenerational Community-Building Dialogues in Crumly’s Chapel
A Study Across the Lines: An Exploration in Community Reconciliation in Crumly’s Chapel Serving as pastor in the outskirts of northwest Birmingham, Alabama has radically transformed my appreciation for Continue Reading
Moving Beyond the Walls of the Church: Shifting the Paradigm of Missional Engagement in Rural United Methodist Churches
A workshop leader asked the predictable question to a room full of ministers, “What is the purpose of the church?” One brave person honestly answered, “To survive.” This is Continue Reading
MILLENNIALS AND THE CHURCH: A FOCUS ON RETENTION AND ORGANIC GROWTH
THE PRESSURE TO GROW It is an intimidating time to be the pastor of a church; frightening even. Along with the spiritual responsibility of caring for the souls of Continue Reading