Center for Congregations

Praying with Purpose: Connecting Your Faith to the Wider World

jane — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:04:00 GMT

with Claire Wolfteich is Monday, November 3, Evansville. This workshop will engage participants with stories of faith communities and their leaders that used prayer in addressing the difficult social issues of their own contexts. The stories offer concrete examples of prayer practices that address social crisis...(read more)

Better Preaching & Better Listening

jane — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:58:00 GMT

Congregations are invited to apply for the long-term learning event, Better Listening & Better Preaching. The groups will meet four times from September 2008-May 2009 to look at preaching and congregational listening...(read more)

Analog Thinking in a Digital World

Aaron Spiegel — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:13:00 GMT

For the past six years, the Center for the Digital Future, housed at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communications, has conducted a longitudinal study on the impact of computers, the Internet, and related technologies on families and society....(read more)

Center Director Begins New Evaluation Job

jane — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:57:00 GMT

Susan Weber is moving from her position as Director of Evaluation and Learning at the Center for Congregations to a new position at the Center as Evaluation Project Coordinator for the Religion Division of Lilly Endowment Inc. ...(read more)

Creating a 501(c)(3)

jane — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:53:00 GMT

Is your congregation thinking of starting a family life center, preschool, food pantry, or other ministry or community assistance program? ...(read more)

Praying in Color

jane — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:33:00 GMT

Praying in Color with Sybil MacBeth is Friday, September 5 in New Albany and Saturday September 6 in Indianapolis. When family and friends were diagnosed with a multitude of illnesses, Sybil MacBeth could find no words for her prayers. Sitting on her porch, she picked up pen and colored markers and began to draw shapes. ...(read more)

Church Basement Road Show Coming Soon

jane — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:20:00 GMT

The Church Basement Roadshow: A Rollin' Gospel Revival is coming to Lockerbie Central United Methodist Church on Monday, August 4. Beginning at 7 p.m., the roadshow is a summer book tour featuring emergent church leaders ...(read more)

GoodWords Summer Reading Picks

jane — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:48:00 GMT

Looking for a good book to read on vacation? Although GoodWords is on hiatus during the summer months, Brent and Nancy have recommended some of their favorite new titles. Check them out! ...(read more)

GoodWords Takes Summer Off

jane — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:00:00 GMT

GoodWords Reading Club does not meet June through August, but will resume on Tuesday, September 23. ...(read more)

Summer Centerpiece Hits the "News Stands"

jane — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:09:00 GMT

Find out about the new Southwest Director Wendy McCormick, Flourishing Congregations, education event forums...(read more)

Fall Education Events Announced

jane — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:49:00 GMT

It's not too early to start thinking about those autumn education events. The Center for Congregations is putting together its fall line-up of events, introducing congregations ...(read more)

At the Center

jane — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:07:00 GMT

See what is happening in June at the Center for Congregations....(read more)

Web-Empower Your Church

Aaron Spiegel — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:14:00 GMT

Web- Empower Your Church: Unleashing the Power of Internet Ministry is written by Mark M. Stephenson,the "Church Cyberguy" at Ginghamsburg Church just outside of Dayton, Ohio...(read more)

Sustainable Youth Ministry

jane — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:27:00 GMT

Youth leaders will not want to miss Mark DeVries’ four-part workshop on youth ministry. Covering the topics of “The Anatomy of ‘Stuckness,’” “The 411 on Sustainable Youth Ministry,” ...(read more)

Small Church Spirituality

jane — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:14:00 GMT

Small congregations hold a prominent place in America’s religious landscape. Minister and author Anthony Pappas discusses the richness of these small and powerful churches ...(read more)

Technology and Its Possibilities

jane — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:59:00 GMT

During this half-day event, the technology incorporated at Grace Community Church's worship, ministry, and administration will be showcased. ...(read more)

Explore Strategic Planning

jane — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:15:00 GMT

This new Using Resources piece takes a look at strategic planning in congregations...(read more)

Congregations are...

jane — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:51:00 GMT

“On fire!” “Generous!” “Active!” “Joyful!” “Diverse!” These are just a few of the responses from participants at the latest Flourishing Congregations Summit in Fort Wayne. ...(read more)

Flourishing Congregations

jane — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:13:00 GMT

Congregations are invited to experience the power of positive change at Flourishing Congregations in Evansville ...(read more)

Offices Closed

jane — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:50:00 GMT

The Indianapolis and Northeast Center for Congregations offices are closed Tuesday and Wednesday, April 29 and 30, as our staff hosts the Flourishing Congregations Summit ...(read more)

Religious teaching straight to your iPod

Aaron Spiegel — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:30:00 GMT

...more people used the Internet to look for religious and spiritual information than to download music, participate in online auctions or visit adult websites...(read more)

Best Resources for Real Kids, Real Faith

jane — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:50:00 GMT

Check out these recommended resources from the workshop Real Kids, Real Faith...(read more)

2008 Education Events

jane — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:38:00 GMT

Re-Imagining the Church with Doug Pagitt
Spiritual Strategic Journey with George Bullard
TechTalk with Nancy Armstrong and Aaron Spiegel
Praying with Purpose with Claire Wolfteich
Real Kids, Real Faith with Karen Marie Yust
Flourishing Congregations Summit

New Children's Space Inspired by Sharing Ideas

jane — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:56:00 GMT

Recently I visited First Baptist Church of Greenwood. While I was there I was immediately captivated by their children’s and youth space...(read more)

10 Easy Ways to Keep Me from Visiting Your Church Because I Visited Your Website

Aaron Spiegel — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:00:00 GMT

I love it when someone else confirms something I've said!...(read more)

Congregations explore Praying with Purpose

jane — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:55:00 GMT

Check out these recommended resources from the workshop, Praying with Purpose...(read more)

A look at technology and congregations

jane — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:33:00 GMT

Nearly 50 clergy and laity gathered for day-long TechTalk educational events held in Evansville and Scottsburg ...(read more)

Tech News

Aaron Spiegel — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:57:00 GMT

"Refresh Your Image 2008," ChurchMedia.net's 4th annual conference...(read more)

Real Kids, Real Faith

jane — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:38:00 GMT

with Karen Marie Yust is Thursday, April 3 in Greenwood and Friday, April 4 in Fort Wayne. Today’s kids know more about the complexities and fears of the real world than we might wish...(read more)

Cyberculture

Aaron Spiegel — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:30:00 GMT

This is a word that I throw around casually. But if viewed critically, it's almost an oxymoron...(read more)

Megachurches: What Can My Church Learn from These Giants?

jane — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:08:00 GMT

Megachurches with Scott Thumma was Friday, May 30, 2008, in Indianapolis. ...(read more)

Conflict in Congregations

jane — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:33:00 GMT

Conflict in congregations is inevitable. All too often it is destructive; but it doesn’t have to be....(read more)

Tech News

Aaron Spiegel — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:19:00 GMT

New national conference dedicated to church information technology...(read more)

Resources for Your Spiritual Strategic Journey

jane — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:32:00 GMT

George Bullard recommends resources for a Spiritual Strategic Journey. Bullard facilitated this February 2008 workshop ...(read more)

95 Melheimian Theses of Church Technology

Aaron Spiegel — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:41:00 GMT

The January 2008 edition of Clergy Journal includes a fabulous article by Rich Melheim....(read more)

TechTalk: Using Technology in Your Congregation

jane — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:14:00 GMT

TechTalk with Nancy Armstrong and Aaron Spiegel is Wednesday, March 5, in Evansville and Thursday, March 6, in Scottsburg. As society becomes more and more technologically savvy, ...(read more)

Praying with Purpose: Connecting Your Faith to the Wider World

jane — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:42:00 GMT

Praying with Purpose: Connecting Your Faith to the Wider World with Claire Wolfteich is Thursday, March 6, in Indianapolis and Friday, March 7, in Fort Wayne. This workshop will engage participants with stories of faith communities ...(read more)

Buildings and Congregations

jane — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:33:00 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)

Podcast for Re-imagining the Church

jane — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:34:00 GMT

Click here for the podcast of Doug Pagitt's Re-imagining the Church workshop presentation. The workshop took place January 24 in Fishers and January 25 in Jeffersonville. ...(read more)

Best Resources from Re-imagining the Church

jane — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:34:00 GMT

Check out the resource guide from the January 2008 workshop, Re-imagining the Church. Workshop leader Doug Pagitt recommends these resources ...(read more)

Re-imagining the Church

jane — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Re-imagining the Church with Doug Pagitt was January 24 & 25, 2007. Doug Pagitt discussed living in harmony with God...(read more)

Worship Facilities and Conference Expo in Indianapolis

Aaron Spiegel — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:15:00 GMT

Indianapolis will host the Midwest version of WFX, April 29 to May 1 ...(read more)

Holy Places Open House

jane — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:16:00 GMT

You are invited to help celebrate the release of Holy Places: Matching Sacred Space with Mission and Message...(read more)

Soul Food: A Hoosier Literary Luncheon Series

jane — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:00:00 GMT

You can enjoy lunch and literature at the Center for Congregations...(read more)

Holy Places

jane — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:45:00 GMT

The new book Holy Places: Matching Sacred Space with Mission and Message is here! Written by Center for Congregations staffers ...(read more)

Sacred Space DVD

jane — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:50:00 GMT

The Sacred Space instructional DVD and study guide are available...(read more)

Religious Literacy

jane — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:40:00 GMT

GoodWords Reading Club discusses Stephen Prothero's book Religious Literacy at its March 25 gathering....(read more)

The Golden Compass

jane — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:28:00 GMT

On Tuesday, February 26, GoodWords Reading Club discusses The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman....(read more)

RSS Feeds Available

Aaron Spiegel — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:51:00 GMT

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Feeds are now available on several of our pages....(read more)

This House We Build

jane — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:51:00 GMT

with Terry Bookman and William Kahn, was October 18, 2007 in Indianapolis. Congregations can become and remain healthy places without sacrificing the good in pursuit of the perfect. ...(read more)