On Thursday the Church saw the passing of one of her greatest sons, William Cardinal Keeler, Archbishop Emeritus of Baltimore. Pope Francis called him a “wise and gentle pastor.” I had the honor of serving as the Cardinal’s first Priest-Secretary in the 1990’s before he appointed me as Pastor of the Church of the Nativity. […]
Category: Leadership
Early spring is always a season when most churches begin to actively consider staffing issues, especially recruiting new staff. No matter how strong your team is, regardless of how cohesive your ministry, staffing is going to be an annual project because people come and people go. If you want to build and maintain a great […]
As consultant and author (and my friend) Patrick Lencioni says, when it comes to succeeding, it’s not finances, strategy, or technology, but teamwork that is the ultimate advantage. You can invest a huge amount of time and energy into getting these other things just right, but without a good team, your vision cannot get off […]
Storms in life will happen. It’s not a matter of if but when. We don’t pray for them to come, and yes, they can be disruptive and even destructive. But through our storms, we can learn and grow and be better prepared to face them with greater wisdom and faith the next time they come […]
At any church or organization that experiences long-term growth and health, you’ll usually find at least one thing in common: Great leadership at every level. Leadership doesn’t just happen at the top- it reaches down through the ranks. Every member or minister contributes something valuable. What characterizes these leaders and how can you begin to […]
Blessed John Henry Newman once wrote, “In a higher world it is otherwise, but here below to live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.” Down below, where churches have ministries to run, people to manage, and buildings to operate, one of the most difficult, yet transformative, parts of life […]
You can’t build a healthy church without a healthy staff culture. And it starts in the office. Unfortunately, this is one of the most overlooked aspects of parish life, and, as a result, a lot of church staffs pick up toxic habits that can lead the church down very unhealthy paths. Here are nine signs […]
Casting an inspiring and faithful vision is an essential part of living out your church’s mission. Every church leader has a vision planted in them by God for their ministry, but fewer stick around to see their vision become a reality. That doesn’t have to be. Here are some common pitfalls to be avoided as […]
If you’re a part of a church staff or other ministry and don’t live under a rock, you’ve likely come face-to-face with having to answer tough questions on morals and doctrine. Answering tough and touchy questions is just part of working for a counter-cultural Church. After decades, even centuries of debate on certain issues, you […]
Politics and the pulpit. For some church leaders they are oil and water- always separate. For others, it’s fire and gasoline- always setting off some conflagration. Whatever you say, some of your congregation will want you to be more political, others less. The Catholic Church officially never endorses politicians or parties, nor should it (though […]
