A blog post by Terri Elton
As a continuation of yesterday’s post, here are some additional blogs to check out from our ministry leaders who offer their voices of leading from the frontlines of congregations. Enjoy!
Adam Copeland is a Presbyterian pastor who currently serves on the religion faculty at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. But don’t let either of those things confine your view of Adam. Adam offers a refreshing voice as he shares his thoughtful and critical perspective about faith, culture, education, and the 21st century church. Adam travels throughout the country, and his Twitter feed offers insights to the wide assortment of conversations taking place throughout the nation. His blogs tend to focus on religion, faith and culture, preaching, politics, the emerging church, digital religion, and sundry items that strike his fancy: http://www.adamjcopeland.com I love this post on how changes in our social patterns are impacting our view of community in congregations: http://www.adamjcopeland.com/2013/07/24/networked-individualism-and-belonging-to-god/
Ian McConnell is a youth minister in a congregation in the ELCA. He’s lived in interesting places like Minnesota and Alaska. He has a passion for fostering faith within young people, but he is also interested in bringing the church of all ages into that process. His blogs offer insights to how ministry with young people might actually help us reimagine church as a whole: http://iangmcconnell.wordpress.com Ian’s recent post around fall and loss is a good example of his ability to weave together theological thought and everyday life: http://iangmcconnell.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/falling-into-a-tranquil-joy/
Jonathan Davis uses his blog to share his weekly sermons. As an ELCA pastor of a small rural congregation, it is not uncommon for more people read his sermons online then hear it on Sunday mornings. I, for one, love “hearing” him proclaim God’s word through my computer each week: http://jdshankles.wordpress.com As is typical for Jonathan, his Rally Day sermon was challenging and personal, and worth a read: http://jdshankles.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/sunday-september-8th-2013-sermon-on-luke-1425-33/
Timothy Siburg serves at the intersection of the church and the world. With MAs in leadership/management and theology, his blog is a place to reflect on leadership, theology, the church, congregational mission, organizational theory, and the social sector: http://timothysiburg.wordpress.com Less poetic, but no less helpful, Timothy’s recent post on leadership resources is plum full of resources, ideas, and links. Check it out: http://timothysiburg.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/this-weeks-links-2/
Author Bio:
Terri is passionate about young people and their families, and loves the church. No really! She’s our Associate Professor and teaches with an eye toward developing leaders and leading change. She also serves as Director of the Center for First Third Ministry and hopes to help ministry leaders create environments that cultivate a faith that matters. Growing up in southern California, Terri discovered her love for the city, cultural diversity and the beach. You can usually find Terri running or biking the streets of Minneapolis/St. Paul, or wherever she happens to be. When not moving, she’s watching a movie with her husband or traveling with her two young adult daughters.
