The Columbia Partnership

Avoiding Ministry Mismataches

A Travel Free Learning Article

By Dick Hamm, Ministry Partner with The Columbia Partnership  

Voice: 317.490.1968, E-mail: DHamm@TheColumiaPartnership.org

Web Site: www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org

Download Hamm, Avoiding Ministry Mismatches

As a former denominational executive and now a coach/consultant, I see an increasing number of mismatches between ministers and congregations. That is, the characteristics of congregations and the situation in which it currently exists do not match the characteristics of the ministers who are being called to serve these congregations.

Whether we are talking about congregational polity, in which the call is largely a matter of negotiation between the congregation’s search committee and an individual minister, or a connectional system in which a bishop or other middle judicatory official is responsible for the matchmaking, it seems that an increasing number of pastors are surprised by the realities of their new charge. The result is often a couple of years of struggle and stress followed by an unhappy parting of the ways.

Boats, Bureaucracy and Innovation

A Travel Free Learning Article

By Bud Wrenn, Ministry Associate with The Columbia Partnership  

Voice: 336.214.6255, E-mail: BWrenn@TheColumbiaPartnership.org

Web Sites: www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org

Download Wrenn, Innovation vs Bureaucracy

This article is adapted from the author’s book titled Innovative Planning: Your Church in 4-D.

In many seminars, l start off with this statement: “Research shows that churches are just about the worst run organizations in America” One of the big reasons for that is that most churches operate as bureaucracies. So, what is a bureaucracy?

Growing Generosity While Practicing Stewardship

A Travel Free Learning Article

By Ruben Swint,  Ministry Partner with The Columbia Partnership 

Voice: 404.314.7273, E-mail: RSwint@TheColumbiaPartnership.org, Web Site: www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org

Download Swint, Growing Generosity While Practicing Stewardship

Generosity is a companion word to stewardship. Stewardship has long been the Biblical principle employed to encourage faithful giving of time, talent, treasure and indeed our total selves in order to resource the church’s mission for the kingdom of God to be a reality on earth. In the last 10 years, generosity has emerged as a word in especially younger congregations to talk about giving in all its expressions. Age and life experience of the members, age of the congregation and age of the pastor and ministers strongly influence which word or concept will be used or emphasized.

This article seeks to create a conversation around generosity as a companion word for stewardship.