in Vital Posts and filtered by Clergy Transition, Buildings and Grounds, Christian Formation + 2 other(s)
By Melissa Rau
Melissa Rau writes our latest blog from the viewpoint of young parents who are interested in getting involved, but are ultimately turned off by their church. They are welcomed, but not welcome to change anything.
By Ken Quigley
Most people die without a written will. Which leaves their families at the mercy of the state, which will distribute assets after death. The state will pay the lawyers first, then any taxes or creditors and finally family. If you don’t have a will, make one.
By Jim Murphy
In this blog, Jim Murphy explores the concept of congregation as family. “When someone makes a planned gift of any kind to their parish, that person raises their congregation to the level of family in their estate plans.”
By Lisa G. Fischbeck
Lisa Fischbeck’s church acquired five acres of land that had once belonged to someone who took good care of it. On talking to people and doing research, they learned that restoring native plants restores the health and function of the local ecosystem. So they cast a vision.
By Jerry Campbell
Jerry Campbell writes about St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and how it will be able to open a new parish center. St. Mark’s story is comprised of four pieces, with the capital campaign facilitated by ECF being the final piece of the puzzle.
By Lauren Kay
Lauren Kay examines personal authenticity and the Church from a LBGTQ+ lens and finds the Church lacking in hospitality. She draws strength from the recovery community and feels that people often find more acceptance, love and welcome there than they do at Church.
By Charles Graves
Millennials have grown used to portrayals as phone-connected, disbelieving, libertine, avocado toast-eaters. Such statements are usually followed by hand-wringing pleas for more young people in the pews. As a group, we crave a church that is “Loving, Liberating and Life-Giving”. We believe in justice because we are Christians and because of our Episcopal faith. We need the Church to meet us on...
By Greg Syler
What if we, from the treasures of our Anglican theological heritage, took some of our common life out of the church buildings proper, and into the neighborhoods, homes, parks, restaurants, and coffee shops?
By Lisa G. Fischbeck
After ten years of being a nomadic church, renting space from Sunday by Sunday, we finally had land. We wanted to do something to celebrate, to claim the land, to ask God’s blessing on it, on us. So we “beat the bounds.”
By Janet Lombardo
Communities often get tied up by their buildings, unwilling to see that new life can be had when we free ourselves from their constraints.