Leadership Institute
About the Leadership Institute
Organizational Leadership
The Church & Society
Educational Leadership: The Bishop as Teacher
Spirituality & Personal Growth
Organizational Leadership
The College for Bishops Leadership Institute was established to provide educational resources for new bishops as well as trending information resources for all bishops. Organizational Leadership focuses on specific resources related to essential leadership skills:
New items of interest are added on a monthly basis. To comment or offer suggestions for additional content, please use the feedback form at the bottom of this page.
Stewardship & Sustainability
Money, Mission & Meeting in Person
A recent survey of 555 faith communities conducted by the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving offers cause for optimism as well as a path forward for congregations wrestling with uncertainty. While not a representative sampling, the July 2020 survey provides a snapshot of how congregations are managing their finances, engaging with members and planning for the future.
Where is the church on Tuesday afternoon?
God is up to something and if Christians pay attention to what’s happening in their neighborhoods, they might figure out what it is. The big vision: that the church will shift its focus from organizing and gathering in Sunday worship, programs and events to becoming a global network of small teams working in their own neighborhoods to discern God’s dream and help make it happen
Faithful Planning: Tips for Churches in Liminal Times
This recent webinar from VTS shares tips and tricks for short and long-term planning in ministry, even when it's difficult to plan or when plans change.
How Do You Fundraise and Ask for Major Gifts? Don’t Pitch. Nurture Relationships Instead.
Fundraising is about forming relationships that nurture faithful discernment, sharing the mission of your organization, and inviting others to participate in that mission. It’s never too late to frame your appeal to donors in relationship, and the changed circumstances of our current crisis can create an opening for that connection to deepen or develop anew. Consider these ways of practicing relationship-focused fundraising.
7 Ways to Keep Revenue and Donations Flowing during the Covid-19 Crisis
Congregations may have curtailed in-person services and activities because of the coronavirus, but there’s no stopping payroll, mortgage, and other financial obligations. And because so many congregants give only when they show up for worship, canceling services can present real financial challenges. Wise church leaders will want to be proactive and do all they can to help their congregants stay connected to church, get through this emergency, and be invited to maintain financial support. Here are some ideas.
ways your building can generate income and bless your community
It’s no secret. Throughout the United States church buildings, parking lots, and real estate sit idle from Sunday to Sunday. The increased costs to maintain these spaces, coupled with shrinking attendance and a subsequent decline in giving, have left many church leaders opting to close the doors or merge with other congregations. Churches should leverage their buildings and real estate not just to survive, but to thrive
are aging churches a bad thing?
For many rural communities, retirees are proving to be a huge boon to the local economies, so much so that some rural community development experts are emphasizing the importance of supporting senior-citizen entrepreneurs. Recent retirees have the insight and knowledge of an entire career that can lend itself to the community and the church.
When Does a Grant Help an Institution?
When an institution is operating in a scarcity mindset, it is logical to think that a windfall of money will bring immediate health, creating the conditions for growth and sustainability. But Robert C. Saler, the executive director of the Center for Pastoral Excellence at Christian Theological Seminary, notes the importance of giving “the right grant to the right institution at the right time.” These three markers are helpful in determining when and whether the conditions are present for a grant to promote health within an institution.