Barnabas File

In an interview with Faith and Leadership, Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, the Episcopal Bishop of Texas, made this comment: “So as judicatory heads or diocesan ministers, we have to cast a vision for the things that we think are needed for the future clergy, which is a capacity to fail and pick themselves up and do the work, the ability to be adaptive in circumstances, the ability to preach, to talk to and captivate people.” He also said, “We need vision people; we need people who can communicate well; we need people who are using social media and are digital immigrants at the very least, and are digital natives at the very best.” These are interesting comments that reflect the reality of contemporary parish leadership.  I would insist, however, that these are skills not just for future clergy but for those who are presently in congregational leadership.  I believe that anyone can learn these skills. First, leaders can learn how to cast a vision based upon the ad...

I don’t preach often these days--at least, not from a pulpit!  When I was younger, I found myself on the circuit practically every weekend, often in smaller churches in the Baptist associations where I did collegiate ministry.  This was a good way to get to know people and for them to get to know me. From time to time, I would hear myself preaching and suddenly realize that I was trying to sound like Billy Graham or, later on, John Claypool.  Imagine how surprised I was one morning when I found myself channeling Bill Clinton! As ministers study and practice preaching, they often pick up not only the theology but the style of a homiletic hero.  Perhaps we think this provides a sense of authority that we don’t personally feel or we are “giving the people what they want.”  As you will agree, there is some danger in either of these approaches. Talking with a preacher friend recently, we began discussing what keeps us from using our authentic voices....

Our church participated in the Martha Stearns   Marshall   Month of Preaching this morning with Dayna Thompson Schoonmaker as our preacher.  She brought a thoughtful and challenging message on Luke 7:11-17. Dayna is the wife of our pastor, Noel, but is also a graduate of Wake Forest Divinity School who knows how to handle herself in the pulpit.  Her presence and preparation came across strongly in the message. Dayna is not the first woman to preach in our pulpit this year, but I am always happy when we have a woman preacher.  Hearing the Word from a woman’s perspective is always a bit different and, since over half of congregation is female, long overdue. At the same time, having women preach is a testimony to our children and youth, both male and female, that God’s call is not limited.  Women serve in our church as deacons, committee chairs, Sunday school director, and a number of other positions. Some of the roles filled by women are rather t...

A friend recently shared with me these words from German theologian Helmut Thielicke:   “The gospel must be preached afresh and told in new ways to every generation, since every generation has its own unique questions.    The gospel must constantly be forwarded to a new address, because the recipient is repeatedly changing his place of residence.” Please note that Thielicke does not say that the gospel message itself needs to be changed, watered down, or made more palatable for a new generation.   He is saying that if we are to communicate the gospel effectively to people of a new time and culture, then we must be willing to answer the questions generated in that environment, use the images and metaphors that are understood by the people to whom we are speaking, and speak in such a way that we can be understood.   The core message is the same, but the way it is presented varies. This is one reason that those of us who are communicators of the gosp...