Presbyterian Mission Agency Congregational Vitality Archives | Page 9 of 20

Keynote speaker talks leadership development at VC annual gathering

Posted August 21st, 2020

“If you’re a leader expect sabotage, because sabotage is the experience of every leader trying to bring change. If you’re trying to lead a vital congregation and you haven’t experienced the sabotage of your own people — you will.”

A place of great danger

Posted August 20th, 2020

Describing the Israelites’ passage through the wilderness in Exodus and Numbers as a metaphor for challenges the church faces today, Dr. William P. Brownn took 160 people participating in the 2020 Vital Congregations Virtual Gathering on a journey into a place of great danger and extremes — a place where they can encounter God.

Visits that sing

Posted August 19th, 2020

On day one of the 2020 Virtual Vital Congregations Gathering on Tuesday, four panelists from Trinity Presbytery described how beginning the two-year VC initiative in January — and its Seven Marks of a Vital Congregation — helped prepare them as church leaders for the pandemic.

Is healing at the core of our congregations?

Posted August 11th, 2020

As a seminary student I heard a constant refrain from our professors: Jesus came to preach and teach. It was the pretext underlying our whole seminary education as they trained us to preach and teach.

Pew survey: Most worshipers support COVID-19 precautions churches are taking

Posted August 10th, 2020

Nearly eight in 10 Americans say houses of worship should be required to follow the same rules about social distancing and large gatherings as other organizations and businesses in their local area, a Pew Research Center released Friday states.

Finding vitality and resilience in the wilderness

Posted August 6th, 2020

The registration deadline is Monday for the 2020 Vital Congregations annual gathering, being held via Zoom August 18-20.

Does the pandemic represent an interruption or a disruption?

Posted August 6th, 2020

For congregations across the denomination, is the pandemic an interruption or a disruption?

Congregational vitality moves Georgia congregation to embody love for all

Posted August 5th, 2020

The Rev. Edwin Gonzalez-Gertz at Light of Hope Presbyterian Church in Marietta, Georgia, says the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Matthew 25 invitation has given the congregation language to articulate what they’ve been doing for a while — out of necessity.

Pastors hopeful for church’s future

Posted July 28th, 2020

After the first day of the Vital Congregations virtual facilitator training last week, the Rev. Neil Ricketts spoke with elders at the church he serves.

‘Who listens to the radio anymore anyway?’

Posted July 24th, 2020

When Stonewall Ministries decided to use money received from the Presbytery of Riverside to purchase radio ads on KGAY, the Pride of the Valley, Nathan Sobers had no idea that soon he’d have a weekly show exploring spirituality and social justice.