Alban at Duke Divinity School

How do you care for your soul while making hard decisions?

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Making hard decisions Dina Makhmutova / Unsplash If you read this newsletter, you are probably familiar with tough questions about leadership and strategy. In one form or another, we ask them in almost every administrative meeting. Should we continue to support, or should we finally eliminate, the legacy program that is....

Both work and rest shape us in meaningful ways. Is it time for you to enter a season of rest?

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Reclaim the gift of rest Marius Masalar / Unsplash The book of Ecclesiastes tells us “there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the sun.” (3:1 NRSVUE). In our fast-paced, task-oriented culture, where we dedicate so much of our lives to our work, Ecclesiastes reminds us there also is an appoint...

The Spirit equips leaders to discern God’s wisdom when we’re sitting with questions that don’t have easy answers. From this week's Alban Weekly:

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Spirit-led leaders Serge Taeymans / Unsplash If you’re like most leaders, you wrestle almost every day with fundamental questions about what your organization needs to do next. Which opportunities should you pursue? How should you approach wicked problems? When you see gaps between the resources you need and the res...

Let’s challenge our people to do more than sit back and watch.

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Courageous congregations Piotr Makowski / Unsplash By the end of “Star Wars: A New Hope,” Luke Skywalker has successfully used the Force to save the Rebel base. Princess Leia has presented medals of bravery to Luke, Han Solo and Chewbacca for their heroic role in defeating the Empire. Released three years later, “The ...

Consider virtual worshippers when preparing for the preaching moment. From this week's Alban Weekly:

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Preaching to the congregation you can’t see Phil Hearing / Unsplash The Sunday morning preacher speaks to two congregations. One fills the pews, sings the songs, and shakes hands at the door. The other watches from a kitchen table, a hospital bed or a living room three states away. For much of church history, the preacher could look out and ...

Economic development requires taking seriously the full lives of our neighbors.

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Can economic development be spiritual work? Jakub Żerdzicki / Unsplash Most congregations are deeply committed to caring for their communities. Many are also deeply unsure what to do about the economic realities of the communities we serve. We run food pantries, offer emergency assistance and pray for those struggling to make ends meet — a...

Discerning how and when to take a risk is an essential skill for congregational leaders.

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Be faithful. Take risks. Bart Kerswell / Unsplash Ministers learn the discipline of caution early. It’s understandable: Caution preserves what has been built. It keeps the peace and buys time when time is needed. But caution, left unchecked, can quietly become a cage. Let’s not forget that some of the most transformativ...

Being willing to admit you don’t know can be a gift to your congregation.

Alban at Duke Divinity School » The power of not knowing Nachristos / Unsplash The questions that come up for church leaders can stump even the most experienced. What are we going to do about the missing young adult demographic? Where do we need to allocate more resources to sustain and strengthen the ministry for the next five to seven years? People ofte...

How do we continue to engage the more senior members of our congregations?

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Honoring your elders Dannie Franco / Unsplash Most churches have faithful members like Brother Williams or Sister Jackson (the names have been changed to protect the innocent!) They sit in the same seat each Sunday. Their hair is gray and their steps are slow. On Sundays, they arrive earlier than most other people. They...

The key attributes of inspirational leadership are accessible to all of us.

Alban at Duke Divinity School » What does it mean to “inspire”? Christina @ wocintechchat.com / Unsplash Congregational leaders carry a huge burden. They’re expected to motivate others when they don’t feel motivated. They’re expected to lead the charge even when they feel uncertain. We look to our leaders for inspiration.   When someone inspires us, we c...