Well, we may be getting a bit ahead of ourselves.  But this summer, Pope Francis did publish a remarkable Letter on the Role of Literature In Formation, in which he made a provocative case (indeed, in his own words, proposed “a radical course”) for the... The post Pope Francis Signs On as a Co-Author of Digging a Deeper Well! appeared first on The Ministry Collaborative ..read more

This week’s prompt, once again, focuses on the tension most ministry contexts face as they discern what elements of ministry are fundamental, “anchoring,” and worth sustaining (at least for now!), and what elements might need to be adjusted, shifted, or even dropped. This type of... The post What Are the Anchoring Elements of Your Ministry Worth Holding on To? (Part 2) appeared first on The Ministry Collaborative ..read more

The Ministry Collaborative always seeks the perspectives, insights, and collective wisdom of ministry leaders in our network.  And we always want to share our findings with others so that we can all learn and grow as we seek to carry out our ministries fully and... The post What Might You Want to Pay More Attention to? (Part 2) appeared first on The Ministry Collaborative ..read more

Somewhere along the way, most of us have heard part of the myth of Icarus. The part we have heard usually involves the ingenious inventor Daedalus and his son Icarus, who are trapped together on the island of Crete.  Seeking a way off the island, Daedalus crafts wings... The post The Very Best Time appeared first on The Ministry Collaborative ..read more

The Ministry Collaborative has long been engaged in exploration and conversation about metrics.  Metrics of “success” are complex when it comes to church and ministry.  How do you measure the vitality of a congregation? was a question posed by staff member Ryan Bonfiglio earlier this... The post What’s Worth Measuring? appeared first on The Ministry Collaborative ..read more

  The mind fits the world and shapes it as a river fits and shapes its own banks. -Annie Dillard (Living by Fiction) I would love to live  Like a river flows,  Carried by the surprise  Of its own unfolding.  -John O’Donohue (“Fluent”) Jesus Christ... The post One Mississippi appeared first on The Ministry Collaborative ..read more

Like many others, TMC is acutely interested in how leadership models are rapidly evolving, what this requires, and what it might mean for the future of ministry more broadly. A key component in this exploration revolves around spiritual maturity, wisdom, and faithfulness. Developing leaders who... The post Four D’s – What Does Mature Ministry Leadership Look Like? appeared first on The Ministry Collaborative ..read more

This week’s prompt focuses on the tension most ministry contexts face as they discern what elements of ministry are fundamental, “anchoring,” and worth sustaining (at least for now!), and what elements might need to be adjusted, shifted, or even dropped. This type of shared discernment... The post What Are the Anchoring Elements of Your Ministry Worth Holding on To? appeared first on The Ministry Collaborative ..read more

You’ve snapped it onto a clipboard and passed it around at your church board meeting, or your youth committee meeting, or your congregational gathering, at least three times … and it’s still empty.  (Or, the few folks who signed up did so out of what... The post Why This Sign-Up Sheet is Empty (And, Relatedly, Why We Write This Blog) appeared first on The Ministry Collaborative ..read more

We asked several dozen ministry leaders from around the country to respond to some key questions TMC has been engaging with in recent months. For the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing with you their perspectives and insights. Through these responses, we hope you encounter... The post What Might You Want to Pay More Attention to? (Part 1) appeared first on The Ministry Collaborative ..read more