September 03, 2010
Are you interested in strong leadership for the church? Do you want the church to thrive and be relevant in the world? If so, what are the keys to renewal and vitality?
According to a recent United Methodist Church study, the four key factors are: “small groups and programs; worship services that mix traditional and contemporary styles with an emphasis on relevant sermons; pastors who work hard on mentorship and cultivation of the laity; and an emphasis on effective lay leadership.” These four factors depend on the church giving more attention to the continuous work of cultivating quality leaders who attend to them. And because the average age of both clergy and parishioners are rising-- and because church is becoming less relevant to young people (according to the study), cultivating quality leaders should be a church mandate!
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August 20, 2010
Driving through downtown Decatur, GA last week, I passed the sign in front of First Baptist Church at least a dozen times. It announced the title of the coming Sunday’s sermon: "What If I Can’t Forgive?" That’s a pretty gutsy sermon title.
Just asking the question lays certain claims, namely that (a) forgiving is a good, something I should do; (b) forgiving is hard and sometimes I can’t do it; and (c) something happens if I can’t forgive. If we could get CNN to conduct a poll, I doubt a majority of Americans would agree with these as blanket claims, true no matter what it is that needs forgiveness or whether the offender apologizes. This question goes against the grain; it calls us to how we should live. "What If I Can’t Forgive?" is a prophetic question.
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August 09, 2010
Here we are again. It’s the month of August—that transition month.
By this point in the year, those summer plans have given way to summer
vacation memories of adventure trips and special times with family.
At FTE, making space for conversations and convening is part of our
DNA. As you approach this season of transitions and new beginnings, we
invite you to join us in planting seeds for a new future in theological
education.
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Posted in FTE "On Call" Blog
This post has multiple authors, please see post content for details...
June 07, 2010
Dr. Alice W. Hunt, President, Chicago Theological Seminary,
Dr. Sharon Watson Fluker, FTE Vice President for Doctoral Programs and Administration
Here in Chicago and throughout the United States, men and women scholars of color hunger to make a difference in the lives of our young people, our neighborhoods and our schools...
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May 20, 2010
On May 22, 2010, I will be in the Princeton University Chapel,
adorned in my commencement regalia, eagerly anticipating the moment when
my name will be called and I am welcomed into the company of scholars.
As hard as I will try to maintain my cool...
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April 30, 2010
Hundreds of black clergy and students gathered in Florida, heaving
around books and bags, to hear and share stories and challenges of
justice and inclusion in the church. And from the looks and sounds of
things, the Black Church is far from dead.
The 2010 Samuel Dewitt
Proctor Conference convened, calling ministers, seminarians, and lay
leaders from around the country to come and hear, to be awaken and
aroused, to be prophetic and persistent, and to respond.
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April 15, 2010
The more I reflect on the state of the the church in our world today,
the more I believe we are in a period that historians of the future will
define as the second great reformation.
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