July 2008 Newsletter

The Need to Support Young Clergy

In this excerpt from their new book, The Crisis of Younger Clergy, Lovett H. Weems, Jr. and Ann A. Michel address how congregations and denominations can help young pastors.

“Community Catalysts” Go Far to Learn About Community

Rather than turning to the “experts” to learn how to connect their small congregations with the surrounding communities, an SPE peer group in San Antonio looked elsewhere for answers. Scattering around the world, they visited small churches that had created successful community ministry programs.

Reflections on Community Ministry

And here’s what they learned: Lessons on community ministry, from the “Community Catalysts” peer group.

Young and Older Clergy: They Need Each Other

A combined retirement/commissioning service helps Bishop Kenneth L. Carder see anew that young and old clergy are gifts to one another.

Only 1 Percent of Congregations Close Each Year, Study Finds

It’s one of the lowest closure rates ever observed for any kind of organization. But that’s not necessarily good news.