Curated research, resources, and reflections for faith leaders and learners.
Hi Brian,
During this “annual meeting season” in many congregations, new Council/Vestry/Board members are soon to be commissioned, while leaders who have completed their terms are being thanked for their service and are redefining their involvement in church leadership. You might be wondering along with us: How do we bolster lay leaders’ sense of calling and empower them to imagine faithful leadership beyond committee work?
Sometimes art does work that explanation cannot, so we invite you to share this excerpt from Joe Davis’ spoken-word piece “BE the Church” from Faith+Lead’s Facebook page on your own social media, in newsletters, or as a devotion in groups. It’s an energizing challenge to feel this calling to BE the church in our bodies.
To honor leaders concluding their leadership roles, one way congregations or judicatories can show a continuing investment in their spiritual growth and value, is with an appreciation gift of a self-paced course such as Following Jesus to Purpose and Meaning where volunteer church leaders can pause to clarify how they will follow Jesus into their next chapter.
Practical, spiritual training →
Now, consider carefully what new lay leaders need to feel confident and competent in order to not just attend meetings but also spiritually guide their churches: both training and accompaniment. Faith+Lead will walk alongside you as you equip lay leaders of all kinds, with an emphasis on intertwining faith and daily life and ways to connect with others in similar positions.
These three on-demand courses are designed specifically to address what might be felt as gaps in practical training for lay people stepping into leadership, rooted in biblical reflection and spiritual practices:
All our theologically rich courses are based on a simple framework: know, be, do—to help learners not only grasp the material intellectually but put into practice what they’re learning so that they are transformed in their faith and discipleship.
Editor's Picks from the Faith+Leader Blog →
“I have found that going through and letting go of stuff … has been very energizing”
You cannot fully understand until you’re in the thick of it, but being clear on how you spend your time and energy, and releasing extraneous concerns, is key to leading well in a congregation. In her blog post Letting Go Is Key to Living Well, Pastor Joy McDonald Coltvet describes how cleaning and rest fit into healthy leadership for her.
Real Estate as Ministry?:The key to lay people seeing themselves as faith leaders is noticing and being able to name God at work in all of our vocations. For realtor Brent Johnson, his work is not an alternative to ministry but a ministry in itself. Read more in Real Estate as Ministry?, part of our blog series on Faith in Daily Life.
Keep the conversations going →
As new Bible study leaders step up, they are hungry for resources. Send them to enterthebible.org for trustworthy key word studies, background on books of the Bible from experts in the field, personal reflections on the blog and a podcast that answers learner-submitted questions in an engaging way. Learners can even take notes and save what they are learning with a free account.
To lead congregations deeper into more lay-led, clergy-supported ministry models (especially for congregations in pastoral transition) listen together with congregational leaders to Pivot podcast episode 59, Empowering Lay Leaders, where Marianne Ell shares from her extensive experience empowering lay leaders.
Dare to Lead for Faith Leaders→
Brené Brown's work can change your entire approach to empowering others. Now is your chance. Register for Dare to Lead today!
