Clergy & Laity

Exploración de una cultura del cuidado en la congregación

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:11:24 GMT

Esta guía completa para líderes contiene seis sesiones de enseñanza de 90 minutos, diseñadas para el curso de Ministerios de Líderes Laicos Exploración de una cultura del cuidado en la congregación. Basado en el libro The Caring Congregation (La congragación que cuida) de Karen Lampe, este recurso equipa a los ministros laicos con habilidades prácticas para el ministerio de cuidado pastoral. Los participantes aprenderán técnicas de escucha profunda para establecer conexiones significativas, cómo brindar cuidado durante tiempos de pérdida y crisis, cómo mantener límites saludables en las relaciones que implican el cuidado y cómo comprender las diferencias culturales en los enfoques del ministerio del cuidado.

New Tricks

Fri, 02 May 2025 16:18:16 GMT

Pets make us better people.

In the United States today, two out of every three households have at least one pet. No longer just companions, pets are a full-fledged part of the family. For some, a pet may be the only family member living in their house. What if faith communities saw this growing reality as an opportunity to create meaningful ministries of care and outreach for millions of people and the animals they love?

New Tricks is a groundbreaking guide to bringing pet ministry into your faith community, offering practical steps and inspiring ideas to serve those who have pets, promote animal well-being, and embrace the unconditional love that animals bring into our lives. Written by a popular pastor and author and a lay leader who has helped train therapy dogs for decades, both of whom are passionate about animals, New Tricks is filled with heart-warming stories of how animals of all kinds minister to us and how we, in turn, can serve them and their families.

Weaving biblical and theological insight with real stories of healing and support, the authors provide a compelling case for and reasons why a pet ministry has an important place among other transformative ministries in your community — and how it can attract people to your faith community.

Drawing from nearly twenty years of pet ministry experience, authors Betsy and Gayle outline six ways churches can introduce animal programs into their faith community:

Care & Support for Pet Parents — Emotional and spiritual support for those experiencing pet loss, illness, or transitions.
Training Therapy Animals to Prepare for Certification — Training and deploying certified therapy animals to visit people in healthcare facilities, schools and libraries, and participate in faith community activities.
Community Service Projects — Pet food drives, shelter and veterinarian partnerships, and fostering initiatives.
Pet-focused Educational Programs — How to prevent separation anxiety, addressing pet behavioral problems, and taking the perfect pet photo!
Community Events — Blessings of the Animals, World Pet Memorial Day, National Dog Day.
Animal Advocacy — Championing ethical treatment and welfare, conservation, and justice for animals in your community and beyond.

New Tricks also includes practical resources for your pet ministry including pet loss resources (grief rituals, how to write a pet obituary, and a pet remembrance service), a template for your pet/animal ministry launch, and much more.

Whether you're a pastor, lay leader, or a friend of animals big and small, New Tricks provides everything you need to integrate pet ministry into the mission of your church or faith group. Full of real-life stories, step-by-step guidance, and creative ideas, this book will inspire and equip you to make an impact with the pet people in your community and the animals they love — through hands and paws together.

READ A SAMPLE

New Tricks

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 15:51:39 GMT

Pets make us better people.

Drawing from nearly twenty years of pet ministry experience, authors Betsy and Gayle outline six ways churches can introduce animal programs into their faith community:

Care & Support for Pet Parents — Emotional and spiritual support for those experiencing pet loss, illness, or transitions.
Training Therapy Animals to Prepare for Certification — Training and deploying certified therapy animals to visit people in healthcare facilities, schools and libraries, and participate in faith community activities.
Community Service Projects — Pet food drives, shelter and veterinarian partnerships, and fostering initiatives.
Pet-focused Educational Programs — How to prevent separation anxiety, addressing pet behavioral problems, and taking the perfect pet photo!
Community Events — Blessings of the Animals, World Pet Memorial Day, National Dog Day.
Animal Advocacy — Championing ethical treatment and welfare, conservation, and justice for animals in your community and beyond.

READ A SAMPLE

The Upper Room Disciplines 2026

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 15:34:37 GMT

The bestselling 365-day devotional that follows the Revised Common Lectionary.

If you're looking to steep yourself in God's word and presence every day, The Upper Room Disciplines 2026 is your essential guide to daily spiritual renewal. Now in its 67th year, this beloved resource is more than just a devotional; it's a daily companion that helps you stay grounded in scripture, cultivate a life of prayer, and develop a deeper, more intentional relationship with God.

Each day of this year-round devotional includes a scripture reading followed by a thought-provoking meditation and prayer from one of 53 diverse Christian thought-leaders from around the country. A trusted resource by clergy and lay people alike, Disciplines follows the Revised Common Lectionary — a three-year cycle of scripture readings — ensuring that your daily reflections are rooted in the rhythm of scripture shared by churches around the world.

Combining biblical scholarship and thoughtful theology with meaningful prayers, The Upper Room Disciplines helps you stay grounded, inspired, and connected to God every day. Whether you're a pastor preparing for worship, a small group leader fostering community, or someone seeking daily spiritual nourishment, Disciplines is your essential companion for a transformative spiritual life.

Join thousands of others who rely on Disciplines as a trusted companion for a life of prayer, biblical reflection, and discerning God's call in their lives.

What makes Disciplines unique?

365-day devotional based on the Revised Common Lectionary
Daily scripture readings with insightful reflections from 53 diverse Christian leaders
Weekly themes that guide you deeper into God's Word
A Guide to Daily Prayer to enrich your spiritual practice
A Small Group Leader's Guide for shared study and discussion

Contributors for the 2026 edition include Karoline Lewis, Tex Sample, Pumla Nzimande, David Wilson, Magrey deVega, Caroline Vogel, and Bruce Reyes-Chow.

The Upper Room Disciplines 2026

Fri, 02 May 2025 16:22:09 GMT

The bestselling 365-day devotional that follows the Revised Common Lectionary.

Each day of this year-round devotional includes a scripture reading followed by a thought-provoking meditation and prayer from one of 53 diverse Christian thought-leaders from around the country. A trusted resource by clergy and lay people alike, Disciplines follows the Revised Common Lectionary — a three-year cycle of scripture readings — ensuring that your daily reflections are rooted in the rhythm of scripture shared by churches around the world.

Join thousands of others who rely on Disciplines as a trusted companion for a life of prayer, biblical reflection, and discerning God's call in their lives.

What makes Disciplines unique?

365-day devotional based on the Revised Common Lectionary
Daily scripture readings with insightful reflections from 53 diverse Christian leaders
Weekly themes that guide you deeper into God's Word
A Guide to Daily Prayer to enrich your spiritual practice
A Small Group Leader's Guide for shared study and discussion

Contributors for the 2026 edition include Karoline Lewis, Tex Sample, Pumla Nzimande, David Wilson, Magrey deVega, Caroline Vogel, and Bruce Reyes-Chow.

The Enlarged Edition with room for note-taking can be found by clicking here.

The Upper Room Disciplines 2026 Enlarged Edition

Fri, 02 May 2025 16:23:28 GMT

The bestselling 365-day devotional that follows the Revised Common Lectionary — now, with more room for notes!

Each day of this year-round devotional includes a scripture reading followed by a thought-provoking meditation and prayer from one of 53 diverse Christian thought-leaders from around the country. A trusted resource by clergy and lay people alike, Disciplines follows the Revised Common Lectionary — a three-year cycle of scripture readings — ensuring that your daily reflections are rooted in the rhythm of scripture shared by churches around the world.

Join thousands of others who rely on Disciplines as a trusted companion for a life of prayer, biblical reflection, and discerning God's call in their lives.

What makes Disciplines unique?

365-day devotional based on the Revised Common Lectionary
Daily scripture readings with insightful reflections from 53 diverse Christian leaders
Wider margins for note-taking
Weekly themes that guide you deeper into God's Word
A Guide to Daily Prayer to enrich your spiritual practice
A Small Group Leader's Guide for shared study and discussion

Contributors featured in the 2026 edition include Karoline Lewis, Tex Sample, Pumla Nzimande, David Wilson, Magrey deVega, Caroline Vogel, and Bruce Reyes-Chow.

Exploring a Culture of Care for a Caring Congregation: Leader’s Guide

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:26:48 GMT

This comprehensive leader's guide contains six 90-minute teaching sessions designed for the Lay Servant Ministries course "Exploring a Culture of Care for a Caring Congregation." Based on Karen Lampe's book The Caring Congregation, this resource equips lay servant ministers with practical skills for pastoral care ministry. Participants will learn deep listening techniques for meaningful connections, how to provide care during times of loss and crisis, how to maintain healthy boundaries in caring relationships, and how to understand cultural differences in care ministry approaches.

Micro Practices for Justice Ministry

Mon, 12 May 2025 21:40:22 GMT

Big change starts with small acts.

What if the most profound changes in justice ministry come not from grand gestures, but from the small, faithful acts we practice every day? Micro Practices for Justice Ministry is a powerful resource that challenges the idea that only big, sweeping actions lead to real change. In this inspiring book, you'll discover how small, everyday acts—done well and consistently—can transform justice ministry in profound ways. Drawing on interviews with 40 pastors from diverse ministry contexts, this book highlights how micro practices—simple, intentional actions—have the power to reshape communities and advance justice.

Rooted in scripture and theology, Micro Practices for Justice Ministry presents hundreds of actionable practices that can be easily integrated into everyday ministry. From one-on-one conversations to small group efforts, these seemingly small actions, when practiced consistently, build momentum that drives meaningful change. Each practice is shared through engaging narrative stories, bringing the experiences of real pastors to life and demonstrating the lasting impact of doing the "small stuff" with intention.

Perfect for clergy, laity, and community organizers alike, this book offers both practical tools and spiritual encouragement for those committed to justice. Whether you're leading a congregation, working in your community, or studying ministry, this book will help you see that real transformation often starts with the smallest of steps.

"Tex Sample makes a convincing case for how small acts of community building enable big-picture change. Faith leaders on the lookout for fresh ideas will be inspired." —Publishers Weekly

Micro Practices for Justice Ministry

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:37:36 GMT

Big change starts with small acts.

"Tex Sample makes a convincing case for how small acts of community building enable big-picture change. Faith leaders on the lookout for fresh ideas will be inspired." —Publishers Weekly

Sacred Tension

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:18:07 GMT

"The Bible was not written for passive readers or lazy listeners. It was written for active engagement, deliberation, dialogue, and debate, because the Bible itself is fundamentally a conversation." —Old Testament professor and scholar William P. Brown, from Sacred Tension

Embrace the complexities of the Old Testament with curiosity and courage.

As people of faith, the words of the Bible are sacred. They tell us about our spiritual heritage and convey our ever-present hope. But sometimes, if we're being honest, the Bible — especially the Old Testament — can bring more confusion than clarity. Apparent contradictions and a wide variety of different accounts about God, faith, and humanity's role can leave us perplexed with more questions than answers. How are we to read the Bible in a way that helps us understand its deepest truths?

In Sacred Tension, renowned biblical scholar and Old Testament professor William P. Brown challenges our unease by suggesting that the "problem" of dissonance within the Old Testament is in fact one of its most powerful features. To read the Bible with one uniform voice, he asserts, is to miss the richness and complexity of the canon. Instead, the Bible is "a canonical cornucopia, a 'horn of plenty' filled with diverse perspectives tied together by a common affirmation that God is God, expressed in different ways." With expert insight and passionate prose, Brown invites us to consider the Old Testament as a wide-ranging dialogue that is in conversation both with itself and with us, fostering further discussion and mutual discernment.

Each chapter of Sacred Tension addresses a key question central to the Old Testament texts like the nature of God, the purpose of the Law, and the problem of evil. By exploring these themes through the lens of diverse, and often contradictory, perspectives, you'll begin to gain a more nuanced understanding of the foundational texts that have informed Jewish and Christian beliefs for millennia.

Written for everyday people who long to better understand the Bible, Sacred Tension invites us to embrace the complexity of the Old Testament and discover the profound truths that lie within its hallowed pages. Let the conversation begin!

Key Features:

Accessible language tailored for a general audience
Thought-provoking exploration of key Old Testament themes
Discussion questions with each chapter
Suitable for both personal study, group study, and academic courses

READ A SAMPLE.

Sacred Tension

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 18:11:26 GMT

"The Bible was not written for passive readers or lazy listeners. It was written for active engagement, deliberation, dialogue, and debate, because the Bible itself is fundamentally a conversation."—Old Testament professor and scholar William P. Brown, from Sacred Tension

Embrace the complexities of the Old Testament with curiosity and courage.

Whether you know the books of the Bible by heart or are brand new to biblical study, Sacred Tension will invite you into an exciting new dialogue with these ancient scriptures. In this accessible and insightful introduction to the Old Testament, encounter the texts with curiosity and wonder and open yourself to what this inner tension has to offer those who engage with it.

Join Old Testament scholar William P. Brown in a revelatory journey through the Bible that will change the way you think about our sacred scriptures and your faith. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter will deepen the dialogue. Let the conversation begin!

Key Features:

Accessible language tailored for a general audience
Thought-provoking exploration of key Old Testament themes
Discussion questions with each chapter
Suitable for both personal study, group study, and academic courses

READ A SAMPLE.

Santuarios más seguros

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 19:14:45 GMT

Desde 1998, Santuarios seguros ha sido una fuente fiable de orientación para las iglesias y otras instituciones afiliadas en su labor de reducir el riesgo de abusos en sus comunidades mediante políticas y prácticas de eficacia probada. Sin embargo, un mundo cambiante exige una renovación constante de estas estrategias de confianza junto con enfoques nuevos y actualizados de la labor de prevención de los abusos. Santuarios más seguros: Fomentar la confianza en las comunidades religiosas se basa en los cimientos sólidos de los recursos anteriores, a la vez que inspira y prepara a las iglesias para la labor del futuro.

Santuarios más seguros reconoce los temores que giran en torno al tema de los abusos y anima a las iglesias a responder con honestidad, comunicación abierta y responsabilidad a los retos a los que se enfrentan estas comunidades. Este enfoque permite a las comunidades fomentar el florecimiento en lugar del miedo y construir comunidades acogedoras y prósperas que sean abiertas y seguras para todos.

Las siete secciones del recurso recorren los fundamentos teológicos de esta labor, la psicología de la prevención de abusos, las directrices básicas para la reducción de riesgos, orientaciones específicas para cada edad, instrucciones paso a paso sobre el diseño y la aplicación de una política a nivel de toda la iglesia, cómo responder a los abusos, y una afirmación y un estímulo para el trabajo que queda por realizar.

Santuarios más seguros es también un trabajo exhaustivo que incluye capítulos con orientaciones para trabajar con:

Niños en edad de guardería y preescolar
Niños de primaria
Jóvenes
Personas con discapacidades
Adultos mayores
Asistentes a campamentos y retiros
Estudiantes universitarios

También se proporcionan modelos de formularios para ayudar a seleccionar a los trabajadores, solicitar la comprobación de antecedentes, verificar las referencias y denunciar las sospechas de abuso.

La construcción de un santuario más seguro puede ser un ministerio que dé vida y mejore la comunidad de una congregación. Se trata de una forma gozosa de estar en comunidad que promueve la seguridad de todas las personas.

Santuarios más seguros

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 13:58:40 GMT

Santuarios más seguros es también un trabajo exhaustivo que incluye capítulos con orientaciones para trabajar con:

Niños en edad de guardería y preescolar
Niños de primaria
Jóvenes
Personas con discapacidades
Adultos mayores
Asistentes a campamentos y retiros
Estudiantes universitarios

También se proporcionan modelos de formularios para ayudar a seleccionar a los trabajadores, solicitar la comprobación de antecedentes, verificar las referencias y denunciar las sospechas de abuso.

The Sacraments

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 20:59:34 GMT

This PDF leader's guide is designed to lead the Lay Servant Ministries course covering the sacraments. This course is based on the books By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism and This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion both written by Gayle Carlton Fenton. The leader guide contains lesson plans for ten hour-long sessions to help lay servant ministers learn more about the theology of baptism and communion, how these sacraments relate to their communities, and how to help their communities more fully embrace the meaning behind these sacraments. The leader guide also contains handouts and printable resources for the Lay Servant Ministries course.

Pastoral Pause

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 15:27:03 GMT

Take a break before you shatter.

In the demanding realm of pastoral ministry, where energy fades and the threat of burnout is ever-present, pastor Greg Pimlott offers a lifeline. With disarming humor and refreshing honesty, Pimlott invites us into his own transformative journey from burnout to spiritual revitalization, providing encouragement, inspiration, and practical tools for other pastors on the brink of exhaustion and considering a renewal leave.

From his candid account of the moment he realized he needed a break, to a life-changing encounter deep in the New Mexico desert, Pimlott shares poignant glimpses of life before, during, and after his leave to inspire his fellow clergy. Along the way, he provides spiritual and practical resources such as renewal leave checklists, budget-planning tools, book lists, reflection prompts, liturgies, and devotions to equip others on their journeys.

Pastors, facing the challenges of strained relationships, waning creativity, and diminishing spiritual reserves, will find solace and guidance in this invaluable and relatable resource. Take a break before you shatter — Pastoral Pause is your indispensable companion on the journey to self-renewal.

Read a Sample.

Pastoral Pause

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 19:55:43 GMT

Take a break before you shatter.

Read a sample.

Lanzar una nueva comunidad de adoración

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 14:09:44 GMT

«En una época en la que la religión organizada se asocia a menudo con un pensamiento obsoleto, una gran parte de la población ha renunciado a la iglesia. No creen que la iglesia pueda ofrecer algo interesante y relevante para ellos», escribe Paul Nixon. «Por lo tanto, ahora es necesario un trabajo mayor para construir la comunidad de adoración y cultivar la confianza antes de que la gente se comprometa con nosotros. En el mundo actual, las comunidades de adoración nuevas e innovadoras son más necesarias que nunca».

En el libro Lanzar una nueva comunidad de adoración, los autores Paul Nixon y Craig Gilbert junto con un equipo de otros catorce expertos en plantación de iglesias, ofrecen consejos valiosos a los líderes del ministerio — tanto al clero como a los laicos — para alcanzar a nuevas personas con el evangelio.

Lanzar nueva comunidad de adoración contiene 32 capítulos cortos que profundizan en los detalles más prácticos a los que se enfrentan los equipos de lanzamiento de comunidades de adoración hoy en día.

Los temas incluyen lo siguiente:

¿Por qué iniciar una nueva reunión?
Enfocarse en un grupo particular de personas
Desarrollar una cultura de invitación
Promover la diversidad étnica
Conectar bien en un mundo digital
Reunir a su equipo de lanzamiento
Ofrecer una hospitalidad de primera clase

Lanzar una nueva comunidad de adoración

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 16:35:33 GMT

Los temas incluyen lo siguiente:

¿Por qué iniciar una nueva reunión?
Enfocarse en un grupo particular de personas
Desarrollar una cultura de invitación
Promover la diversidad étnica
Conectar bien en un mundo digital
Reunir a su equipo de lanzamiento
Ofrecer una hospitalidad de primera clase

Leadership is Discipleship 2024 (Korean)

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 13:53:59 GMT

LID 2024 리더십저널은 ‘인공지능’을 다룬다. 물론 우리가 과학자나 기술자가 아니기에 인공지능 기술이 얼마나 발전하고 어떤 방향으로 갈지는 확정할 수 없다. 그러나 현재 상황과 예측할 수 있는 현실을 직시하며 인공지능 시대에 목사와 신학자로, 기독교학자와 교수로 인공지능 영역에 관한 이해와 전망, 이슈와 문제점, 직업과 노동, 인간 이해와 관계성, 윤리와 영성, 교육과 신학 관련 질문을 하고 방향을 제시할 수 있을 것이다. 인공지능이라는 한 주제 속에서, 좀 더 세밀한 부분, 곧 윤리, 문화, 인간론, 영성, 노동, 사회, 교육, 사역 등과 연계한 글이 많으니, 인공지능과 신학의 이해 폭을 넓히고 인공지능과 기독교의 만남으로 펼쳐질 미지의 세상에 길을 트고 방향을 제시해 나가기를 바란다.

Leadership is Discipleship 2025 (Korean)

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 19:32:35 GMT

2025년 리더십저널 주제는 리셋이다. 다음 질문으로부터 리셋의 여정을 함께 시작하기를 바란다. 예수의 리더십은 우리에게 무엇을 리셋하라고 하는가? 감리교 운동이 대중들에게 흡인력을 가질 수 있었던 이유는 무엇이고, 리셋해야 할 요소는 무엇인가? 기독교의 어떤 특성이 대중에게 자신의 신학적 지향을 효과적으로 전달할 수 있었을까? 오늘의 기독교가 편협한 자기중심적 경계를 벗어날 길은 무엇인가? 믿음을 재정비하고, 식었던 선교적인 열정을 회복하고, 강한 연대와 신뢰를 회복하고 미래적인 교회를 위해서 무엇을 해야 하는가? 어떻게 창조를 이끌고, 섬김을 실천하며, 낮은 곳으로 향하는 리더십을 실천할 수 있을까? 신의 이름으로 타인을 압도하는 과오는 무엇이고 진정한 환대와 선교는 어떻게 이룰 수 있을까? 리미널리티 시대를 살고 있는 우리는 미래 교회의 모습을 어떻게 전망할 수 있을까? 어떻게 진정성, 완전성, 창의성을 들어내는가?