Being a seminary-trained preacher and pastor IN THE PEW for the past 12 years has been an eye-opening experience.  The View from the Pew is different in so many ways.
From time to time I would share my insights with a pastor where I was worshipping. Often I was greeted with a quizzical smile and silence. Sometimes I […]

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This post discusses “Team Huddles” and what I’ve learned from the 6 church staffs I’ve worked with. It concludes with some good books to read.
I enthusiastically recommend that church leaders make it a habit to read books and magazines from the business world… articles about business, management, marketing, and leading an organization. There’s a trememdous wealth of experience, ideas, strategies […]

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This post shares a few insights I’ve collected from various business sources, and encourages church leaders to learn from the vast amount of leadership and organizational literature that’s out there.
I’ve always been something of a eclectic reader. And especially in my days as a parish minister, I consider it one of my failings that I read […]

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Meetings are boon and bane in the church. How you lead a meeting, and how you train your chairpeople to lead meetings, can make the difference between success and failure.

Better meetings are more productive.
Better meetings are a way to care for and keep your volunteers.
Better meetings leave time for you to do other important things.

Proudfoot […]

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I am NOT a Germ-a-phobe or hypochondriac. I just have serious concerns about an age-old practice that creates problems in this day and age: the extent to which we pass BUGS around on Sunday morning.
I’m particularly concerned about pastors: they shake EVERYBODY’S hands at the end of worship. How do they stay healthy?  Many don’t. A pastor I […]

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Meetings are often dreaded by staff and members alike. But I’ll bet we’d all agree that some of the BEST church meetings are those held in member homes rather than at the church:
= The more personal setting encourages bonding and fellowship between members. The church is not a business. People volunteer in part because they want spiritual […]

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Most church staff members I’ve met are faithful people, creative people, and decent leaders, but they are poor managers.  …of time, of people, of talent.
Few pastors receive management training in seminary. Nobody shows a pastor how to organize their week, let alone their day. Most come into the ministry with little or no experience managing people and […]

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