leadership Archives

Don’t just inform . . . Form

Posted September 19th, 2019

“Yes! This is what’s missing in the church. This is what I’ve been seeking.”

Eunice Poethig, a champion for women

Posted May 16th, 2019

The next U.S. presidential primary election will feature at least three viable women candidates — a development that would have no doubt thrilled Presbyterian minister and leader Eunice Poethig. The Presbyterian Historical Society recently completed the processing of Poethig’s papers, and they illuminate her advocacy work in expanding the numbers of women and people from other marginalized communities serving as leaders in ministry and civic life.

Raising a healthy church family

Posted April 17th, 2019

Since my kids are out of the house, I figured I could finally donate the parenting books I’d gathered over the years. So many of the titles offered a nugget that helped me feel like I was not the only one navigating the complexity of parenthood. Into the box went some of my favorites — How to Behave So Your Children Will, Too and The Blessing of a Skinned Knee. As I packed, I realized that much of the parenting advice applies to leadership in small churches.

Raising a healthy church family

Posted March 6th, 2019

Since my kids are out of the house, I figured I could finally donate the parenting books I’d gathered over the years. So many of the titles offered a nugget that helped me feel like I was not the only one navigating the complexity of parenthood. Into the box went some of my favorites — How to Behave So Your Children Will, Too and The Blessing of a Skinned Knee. As I packed, I realized that much of the parenting advice applies to leadership in small churches.

University of Dubuque Theological Seminary receives nearly $1 million grant

Posted October 17th, 2018

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (UDTS) has received a $936,102 grant to help support the Clergy Coaching in Community and Context initiative. The grant is part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Thriving in Ministry, an initiative that supports a variety of religious organizations across the nation as they create or strengthen programs that help pastors build relationships with experienced clergy who can serve as mentors and guide them through key leadership challenges in congregational ministry.

Potential 1001 New Worshiping Community leaders identify gifts, potential blind spots

Posted October 3rd, 2018

When the Rev. Sarah Lee attended a recent Discerning Missional Leadership (DML) assessment here, she believed she was answering God’s call.

Celebrating women in the Middle East

Posted August 29th, 2018

In each of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s partner relationships in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, women in leadership roles lead with grace, strength, vision, collaboration and energy, despite immense challenges and pressures. The guests of honor of the General Assembly of the National Evangelical (Presbyterian) Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL)

La IP (EE. UU.) necesita equidad de género

Posted May 25th, 2018

La campaña electoral presidencial del 2016 planteo cuestiones que perturbaban a muchas mujeres. Los criterios de aptitud de una mujer candidata para el cargo de presidente, como comentarios sobre la ropa que llevaba, por ejemplo, eran normas aparentemente no impuestas a los candidatos masculinos en la contienda. Los comentarios que rodean los cuerpos de las mujeres también eran alarmantes. Estas conversaciones llevaron hasta una especie de trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) para algunas mujeres, ya que ellas mismas han experimentado acoso sexual y discriminación.

The PC(USA) needs gender equity

Posted May 25th, 2018

The 2016 presidential electoral campaign brought up issues that were disturbing to many women. The criteria for fitness of the woman candidate for the office of president, such as comments about the clothes she wore, for example, were standards seemingly not imposed on male candidates in the race. The comments surrounding women’s bodies were also alarming. These conversations brought up a sort of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for some women, as they themselves have experienced sexual harassment and discrimination.

Applications now being accepted for Church Financial Leadership grants

Posted May 15th, 2018

Applications are now being accepted for the Presbyterian Foundation’s Church Financial Leadership Grant program. Applicants must be a pastor, commissioned ruling elder, (CRE), or leader of a 1001 New Worshiping Community within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).