Invite us into your time off as a clergy person and share this time with us in a short-form audio retreat. In this first part, our invitation to you is to disconnect... through fire. #clergy #pastor #retreat #care

Stained glass, organ music, and preaching on social justice are preferences typical of a mainline protestant member. But, they are choices the Church has made as media that defines religiosity, spirituality, and discipleship. Were the Church to start over today, what would it be like?

Today, we have many theologians. But, for tomorrow, there is an even greater need for theolog-ists. John Wesley and the story of how field preaching came to be provides us with a great example.

There is a reason why it does not say that Jesus gathered the same people, in the same way, on the same day of the week, over and over again, until it became thousands and thousands of people. It's the same reason or insight that tells is where ministry growth will come from in the digital-first era and Coronavirus Age.

Almost every clergy leadership development and continuing education program can be summarized into one principle: Do 100 things right, in the right way, at the right time, with the right people and you will succeed. And, this is an incomplete picture of what clergy need in order to succeed.

During these pandemic time, keeping these things going is important. It is what we were called, educated, and ordained to do. But, what will keep us alive is our dreams that upend our present order to bring about new realities.

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Recorded on the day a group of people forced themselves into the United States Capitol building, it seems clear that the pastor must at minimum help people have a common language to describe their life, how they feel, and what they believe, not necessarily the same life, feelings, or beliefs. #OWNYOURSHIFT

The typical pastor's bookshelf likely has few authors that are a carpenter as Jesus was. But, in 2021, will we continue to learn exclusively from a certain elite group of experts or all people? Will our ideas be so refined or can we allow them to be challenging?

Often, the problem with talented, competent people is that they stick to what they have gotten good at and so not like to expand to what is newly needed in the changing ministry environment. So, how can you grow? You have to break your own cycle of affirmation. #OWNYOURSHIFT