Monthly Archives: February 2011

I attended a Faith and Fundraising conference led by The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. It was as helpful an event as I’ve ever attended and I’m very thankful to the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC for underwriting it. … Continue reading →

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. English speaking churches around the world will be celebrating its contribution to their faith and culture. This week at ACC’s Festival Sunday, the KJB anniversary gives us opportunity to reflect on the role of Scripture in our faith. Continue reading →

Lillian Daniel’s has a fine article in the January 25th edition of the Christian Century. She observes that people shop for churches that that will meet their desires, when they ought to be looking for a church that will shape their desires.” Too often, churches cave in to consumer desires believing it’s the best strategy for church growth. Liberal or conservative, churches are tempted to fashion themselves to meet the needs of these religious consumers…who really don’t know what they need! So our sermons become inspirational messages, songs trump our hymns, and the band nudges out the choir. Meanwhile, those ecclesiastical words like sin, repentance, discipleship are expunged from the vocabulary making the church something akin to Christianity-lite. Continue reading →