At Nation's Churches, Guys are Few in the Pews
from USA Today
 Churches nationwide are fretting and sweating to reel men into their sanctuaries on Sundays. Women outnumber men in attendance in every major Christian denomination, and they are 20 percent to 25 percent more likely to attend worship at least weekly. Although every soul matters, many pastors say they need to power up on reaching men if the next generation of believers, the children, will find the way to faith. So hundreds of churches are going for a "guy church" vibe, programming for a stereotypical man's man. More
Last week, NACBA held its 52nd national conference in Nashville. For the next few weeks, the NACBA Weekly Update will feature Conference Wrap-up articles. If you would like to order audio recordings from the conference, click here. To learn about future conferences, click here.
Legal and Tax Developments for Church Administrators
from the NACBA Weekly Update
 In years gone by, churches never locked their doors and few people would fathom suing a church. Those days are long gone. Lawsuits, embezzlement, and shootings inside places of worship are sweeping today’s headlines. Richard Hammar, an attorney, CPA, and best-selling author specializing in legal and tax issues for churches and clergy, told a standing-room only crowd of nearly 400 attendees at this year’s National Association of Church Business Administration’s National Conference in Nashville, Tenn., that faith alone isn’t enough to protect a congregation against the myriad risks they face. More
Uncertainties About the Role of Doubt in Religion
from The New York Times
Religious faith was once the air everyone, even the doubter, breathed. Today, religious faith, in its many forms, stands as but one possibility alongside a range of nonreligious outlooks that the honest believer cannot simply dismiss as deluded or depraved. More
Can You Hear God Now?
from the Leadership Journal
What is it that distinguishes spiritual leadership from other kinds of leadership? At the heart of spiritual leadership is discernment—the capacity to recognize and respond to the presence and activity of God both personally and in community. More
Church Loans Require Revamped Banking Relationship
from Church Solutions
It’s hard to imagine a church business affair that evokes more excitement and focus than a new sanctuary or children’s building, but what about the church loans necessary to make it all happen? In sharp contrast, few administrative topics are more mundane than cash management. In spite of its potentially significant long-term financial and operational impact, the treasury management function is rarely reviewed, competitively shopped or modernized. Without question, churches should carefully review their current banking relationship. More
Filling the Void: The Future of Sunday School
from TransWorldNews
At a time when 89 percent of churches don’t experience “healthy evangelism,” Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, said churches should be looking at the most likely place where that trend can be reversed. “Sunday school and small groups are the most likely places to be evangelized,” said Stetzer. More
Churches on the Web
from the Western Recorder
When CrossPoint Baptist Church started meeting last year, Pastor Randy McPheron wanted to spread the word about the new congregation without spending a fortune. His solution: the Internet. More
Calling on Gospel to Call Off Debt
from The Washington Post
With the country on the cusp of a recession and many people burdened by the mortgage foreclosure crisis, skyrocketing gas prices and rising grocery bills, religious leaders across the Washington region are increasingly ministering to their members about financial responsibility, encouraging them to control their spending. Churches are providing financial counseling and pointing people to local and state programs that help with finances. More
Tithing with a Click of the Mouse
from Gannett News Service via the Star Press
Online donations have become an ecumenical movement, with Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian and nondenominational congregations around the country offering the service. A growing number of churchgoers are now skipping the offering plate and donate by the click of a mouse. Some churches have embraced the practice, saying it makes giving easier, especially for younger church members. More
How to Share Your Faith Using The Dark Knight
from the Christian Post
In The Dark Knight, District Attorney Harvey Dent says, “The night is darkest just before dawn. I promise you. The dawn is coming...” How true is that in this world full of sin and hopelessness? For those who do not have the hope of eternal life and purpose, the dawn is coming. We all eventually die. We all eventually will go one of two places, Heaven or Hell.
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