Centerview

The Play’s the Thing: Congregations and Theatre

jane — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:19:00 GMT

Many congregations produce dramas for worship. Other congregations sponsor full length plays as part of a drama ministry. Sometimes it is hard for congregations to find dramas that fit their congregational culture. Or, it is a challenge for congregations to find theatre pieces that are of high quality...(read more)

Buildings, Buildings, Buildings

jane — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:33:00 GMT

Why are we so worried about building? Shouldn’t we be more focused on faith? Our building has become an idol around here! Sometimes these concerns get expressed when a congregation begins a building project...(read more)

A Bible Resource

jane — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 07:53:00 GMT

Some of the best resources take a lot of research to find. You have to dig deep. It takes time. You have to ask lots of questions and look under many figurative stacks of paper. Other resources arrive full of grace and something like ease....(read more)

Congregations Seek Info on Building Process

jane — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:41:00 GMT

The Center has noticed a slight increase in calls about building issues. Certainly, the difficult economy has made it challenging for many Indiana congregations to pursue any number of building projects. However, recently congregations have been calling about resources related to process....(read more)

Resource for Family Ministry Blues

jane — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:49:00 GMT

Red, yellow, blue... Let’s go with orange - at least if the subject is family ministries. Many congregations work really hard at finding ways to teach faith practices to children. And of course, children grow to be teens and then young adults...(read more)

Congregational Management Made Easy

jane — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:19:00 GMT

Ugh! Congregational management! Budgets, performance reviews, the nursery that has a leak in the ceiling, financial audits, use of building guidelines, acquiring and maintaining the copy machine...(read more)

Congregational Redevelopment

jane — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:44:00 GMT

We work with many congregations that have significant challenges. It is not unusual to receive a call from a congregational leader who says, “We have 20% less in worship than we did two years ago, and we can’t meet our budget. We need to try something new.”...(read more)

Practices and Your Congregation

jane — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:30:00 GMT

Every congregation participates in certain activities that are common to any number of human communities. Congregations make decisions. They help others. They sing. They tell stories. Congregations offer hospitality. They make choices about money....(read more)

Family Systems and Congregations

jane — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:33:00 GMT

A new resource about to be released provides an opportunity to further explore a way of thinking that has been helpful to many congregational leaders for (amazingly enough!) about two generations now. Bowen Family Systems Theory began...(read more)

Congregations and Military Families

jane — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Congregations all across Indiana have families whose members are serving in the military. Here in Indiana, we also have an excellent resource that conducts research about, with, and for military families. The Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University develops and delivers outreach activities for the military and civilian infrastructures supporting military families. ...(read more)

Clergy Evaluation - What to Do?

jane — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:00:00 GMT

This time of the year the Center gets calls about evaluation, staff reviews and other personnel committee type questions. As is the case with most congregational issues, there are many resources available – some are just right for your congregation and some are not....(read more)

Governing vs. Managing: Making Your Congregation Effective

jane — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:25:00 GMT

In his Centerview website column, Center for Congregations President Tim Shapiro discusses the importance of a governing board. ...(read more)

Leaders Gather for Conversation on Giving and Finances

jane — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:38:00 GMT

On Thursday, January 8, 2009, the Indianapolis Center for Congregations hosted a luncheon conversation on Congregations Giving and Finances. In light of the current economic conditions, Center staff felt this was an important opportunity for topical and relevant conversation...(read more)

Any Congregation Can

jane — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:38:00 GMT

The Center is learning that any particular congregation can transcend and overcome the challenges that they face, indeed, challenges that larger scale studies often site as indicators of decline...(read more)

Buildings and Congregations

jane — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:33:00 GMT

Buildings and congregations – the reality can be a holy blessing or a worldly irritation. Think of the new congregation making decisions about when to build ...(read more)

Finding What Best Fits Congregations

jane — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:18:00 GMT

I’ve been wondering about what kind of thinking helps congregations. Congregations truly matter. People find their homes with God ...(read more)

The Power of Forgiveness

Aaron Spiegel — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 01:39:00 GMT

We’ve discovered an important practice called theological hospitality....(read more)