Congregational Life

Opinion: How are Christians accountable to each other?

Nashville megachurch fails to oust dissident members

Tiny New York church does outsized ministry

Tiptoe through the TULIP: Must the new Baptist Calvinism divide churches, denominations?

‘God is still in control’ despite tornado, Tennessee pastor says

Opinion: Discipleship and the ‘outside world’

Texas church, mired in controversy over gays in directory, loses pastor

Churches often borrow from business world

Best church, business leaders have some similar qualities

Historic Wisconsin church destroyed in gas explosion

Opinion: On homosexuality, can we at least talk about it?

Churches, with gas ‘buy-downs,’ ease neighbors’ pain at pumps

Opinion: Are we there yet?

Prominent music minister faces molestation charges

Follow the money: Church budgets reveal priorities, but which ones?

Follow the money: Cash receipts present challenges for churches

Fort Worth congregation subject of latest Internet-fueled struggle

Texas’ Church Under the Tree reaches disenfranchised youth

The security of the believer: Protecting churches from attack

Church security: What to do when under attack at church

Church security demands all hands on deck -- with firearms included?

Baptists Mike Huckabee, Rick Warren to speak at preaching conference

‘Satanists’ arrested on suspicion of arson in Ala. church burnings

Gilyard, once darling of SBC elites, again forced to resign over sex

Sanctuary of Truett, Criswell may be replaced, pastor says

Investigators say arson unlikely in Jacksonville church fire

Opinion: Care about politics? Begin with the church

Time to revamp discipleship methods? Some experts say, ‘Absolutely, yes’

Raising the bar for membership creates discipleship, churches say

Hendricks Ave. Baptist sanctuary gutted by early-morning fire in Jacksonville

Leading insurer of churches won't pay for property disputes

Happy New Year? For some Christians, it has already begun

Stand and deliver: ‘Knowing the people’ is key to successful preaching

Stand and deliver: Preachers urged to avoid pulpit plagiarism

Lectionary helps some preachers ‘divide word of truth,’ avoid repeats

Christian website offers YouTube alternative for wary Baptists

Opinion: The power of choosing what we remember

Chuck Poole returns to former pulpit after 4 years among city's poorest

Hundreds of North Carolina Baptists serve in weekend missions blitz

Churches use podcasts, RSS as portable outreach tools

Church building is ‘God’s calling card;’ architecture determines the message

Spirituality in architecture gets boost from revival of arts

Stained-glass windows bathe sacred spaces in light, tell stories of faith

In single day, church plants 24,000 Purpose Driven books in S.C. prisons

Sutton, prominent Baptist pastor, safe in Nashville pulpit for now

Opinion: On the frontiers of gender and racial integration

Energy-efficient churches have more money for ministry

Opinion: On behalf of indoctrination

Opinion: Keeping complementarians true to Scripture

Hearing the Call: Clarification an important task at Baptist schools

Hearing the Call: Ministers hear call to service from different voices

Hearing the Call: Church approves 82-year-old for ‘gospel ministry’

Baptist Joint Committee director joins Baptists, others in panel on faith

Pastors say worship makes difference in multiethnic congregations

Opportunities, challenges confront increasingly multiethnic congregation

Opinion: Living in sight of a coffin

Illinois church knowingly placed convicted sex offender in pulpit

Succession sometimes sticky when beloved pastor leaves

How long before the new pastor really feels part of a church?

Another prominent SBC church beset by controversy over pastor's leadership

Church corruption, questionable gifts live on, long after Bakker scandal

Affluent pastors use wealth differently: Some give back; others buy yachts

Congregational-health expert Odom to head Duke leadership initiative

The Great Commission: Churches increasingly become mission-senders

CBF’s Hester to retire after seven years of new church starts

Opinion: Are local Baptist churches wholly autonomous?

Betrayed trust: The recycle of abuse continues at Baptist churches

Betrayed trust: Sexual predators fly under the radar at church

Betrayed trust: Churches work to escape trap of recycling abusers

Betrayed trust: What to do if a minister is accused of sexual misconduct

Betrayed trust: Should straying clergy be restored to ministry?

Betrayed trust: Sex-abuse victims speak to help others & find healing themselves

Service-weary pastors stave off stress by scheduling 'personal Sabbaths'

Pastors challenged to link faith, society in ‘celebration of preaching’

Festival of homiletics links spoken word and suffering world

Opinion: The duty to subordinate that which divides us?

Immigration ethics: The system impacts whom churches can hire

Opinion: Communities don’t prevent violence, but they help us cope

Immigration ethics: Can churches legally help illegal immigrants?

Opinion: Practice resurrection throughout entire Easter season

Opinion: Formation and malformation in the body of Christ

The Well Community singular in goal to work with mentally disabled

Disbanding church sells property, endows CBF of Florida with gift

Citing health reasons, author Lucado steps down from San Antonio pulpit

Another Baptist minister arrested, charged with child sex exploitation

Opinion: The freedom of fasting

California pastor challenges colleagues to move beyond 'church' to unbelievers

N.C. pastor returns to Vietnam to evangelize his homeland

Opinion: Are acceptance and rejection the only choices?

Local missions gain prominence as Baptist churches join blitz

Study says teen faith shaped more by hands-on ministry than worship

Gay-friendly NC church invites investigation; ouster now likely

Pain of Florida tornado intense for rural Florida church, 2 families

Palestinian police seize church in gunfight with rival party

Effective prayer: Variety, small groups, spiritual practices make prayer count

Bellevue report: Assistant pastor guilty of sex abuse against son

Controversy dooms another SBC megachurch pastor

Mediation needed when focus turns from problems to personalities

Opinion: A new alliance for creation

Authorities investigating fires at North Carolina churches

Cowboy church appeal spreading thanks to laid-back approach

Survey: People in house churches more satisfied than conventional counterparts

Baptist men's group to climb Africa's highest peak for charity

Prominent Missouri church reaches settlement in sexual assault suit

Embattled Bellevue Baptist faces new conflict: 'moral failure' allegations

No 'Hog' hereafter: Ga. church votes to purge piggy name

Seasonal meals for homeless bring lovebirds together

Determination of wife, congregation helps pastor fight off cancer

Dallas church provides teaching ground for young ministers learning the ropes

Divorce a tragedy, time with loved ones important, Albom tells Dallas church

Special-needs ministry helps churches understand, utilize select members

Churches -- the 'true first responders' -- share lessons learned from Katrina

Boston congregation working to be ‘earth-friendly’ model for Baptists

Fresh Start program provides support for single mothers

OPINION: 'Baptism by fire' truck

Members of burned churches forge ahead with building plans, hope, forgiveness

Pastors: Leaders of the flock but alone in the crowd

Victims of Baptist clergy abuse urge SBC leaders to take action

Church fights turn high-tech: Web is new weapon of choice

Making a difference: Churches mentor via Big Brothers Big Sisters program

Churches using golf tourneys to reach fathers on their turf

Baptist youth, 17, dies in fall during retreat in North Carolina

No post-Sept. 11 revival, but attacks changed churches, some say

West Palm megachurch pastor resigns amid debt, résumé exposé

Knoxville church partners with Baptists in Croatia to train pastors, laity

Clarification

Pastoral perks can be unethical, even illegal, Texas church finds

Church pays staff member to work full time in N.O.

Winkler's case shows pastors’ wives often fight unknown pressures

Churches transformed by Katrina help rebuild New Orleans -- house by house

Baptist pastor heals in Kenya with help of sabbatical grant

Cowboy churches offer familiar faces, familiar culture for lovers of the west

California church involved in NAMB controversy calls pastor after suit

Baptism meanings and methods spark debate among some Baptists

Church founded by Lottie Moon leaves small temple for new building

Exercise gives seniors independence, provides community, experts say

Suspect arrested after fire destroys church buildings in rural Kentucky

Pastoral counseling a vital part of wedding plans, pastors say

Couples married for 50-plus years offer advice in church celebration

Memories of SBC boycott fade as Disney lake hosts baptisms

Memphis-area megachurch defeats elder-led governance proposal

Ecumenical and evangelical groups tentatively join in day of prayer

Missouri police investigate molestation by minister in Baptist church

Elder rule increasing in Baptist life, and so is controversy over role

Even among elder-led churches, the buck stops in different places

'Jericho' walks help church planters begin indigenous church planting

Southside-YMCA partnership 'win-win' deal for both groups

Survey results: Church not important for spiritual growth, Americans say

New Orleans-area CBF church emerges in Katrina’s aftermath

As social norms for clothing change, so do definitions of 'Sunday best'

New Christian ecumenical group off the ground with 34 members

Pastor on 1,000-mile trek to closer walk with God

Former SBC president Graham plans 2nd campus for Prestonwood Church

Longtime Illinois columnist Tom Adams, 75, dies

Gulfport church says goodbye to buildings gutted by Katrina

Tennessee couple encourages others while battling cancer

More Baptist churches looking to Lent for community, confession, cadence

Three students arrested, charged with nine Alabama church fires

As arson investigation continues, Alabama church 'bounces back'

Investigators find missing vehicle linked to Alabama church fires

Alabama church finds movie theater spurs growth in student ministry

Shiloh Network to help churches become more 'reproductive'

Pastoral misconduct about power, ethics panelists say

10th Alabama Baptist church burns as authorities speculate

Churches that fail to manage risks fail in stewardship, says consultant

Giving to Protestant churches drops to 2.6% of income, study finds

Wildfire destroys Texas church; Baptists deliver aid to victims

Dallas church gets funding renewed for residency program for pastors

American Baptist congregation witnesses rejoicing, sorrow during mine tragedy

No matter the size, churches can point visitors to Christ at Christmas

Whether on Advent or Hallmark calendar, churches sing carols to celebrate season

'Angel Breakfast' unique opportunity for children, grandparents at Christmas

While megachurches cancel worship, others adjust Christmas schedules

Churches incorporate Narnia theme into Advent celebrations, outreach

Illinois pastor heads to Iraq but leaves church in good hands

Experts warn electrocution dangers lurk around church baptistries

Methodist woman finds ministry home as associate pastor in Baptist church

Birth control, not liberalism, explains mainline decline, researchers say

Hispanic churches facing challenge of bilingual culture, leaders say

Christian hunting groups target men for discipleship, fellowship

High demands, easy access tempt pastors to plagiarize sermons

Speakers predict sermons will change in next wave of postmodern worship

Americans United asks IRS to investigate Miami church

Most Christians ill prepared for end-of-life care decisions

Louisiana church donates mattresses for Florida hurricane victims

Giving beyond local congregations lower than 1968, study says

President Carter's pastor announces plans to retire from Plains church

Former Alabama drug dealer trades crime for pastorate

Prominent North Carolina church leaves Southern Baptist Convention

Georgia church with female co-pastor leaves association over BF&M adoption

'Aiding Spaces' proves reality TV can inspire churches to ministry

UPDATE: Adrian Rogers to retire but remain at Bellevue

40 years later, church recalls ordination of first female Southern Baptist pastor

San Antonio church collects, fills backpacks for 525 schoolchildren

Fellowship adds associate for congregational life

Cowboy churches reach out to underrepresented group

Church strategy plans reveal what’s working & what’s not

Presbyterians decide narrowly to keep bar on gay ordination

Congregational identity rests in community, professor says

Leaving the SBC behind proves hard for some churches

Tornado damages South Texas church

Pastor says God delivered hope following 1999 church shooting

Friendship, passion drive ministries to special-needs individuals

Tennessee church learns from day of joint service

Houston megachurch elects pastor after 3-year search

Churches trying to avoid impending financial crisis, duties, speakers say

Churches weigh dangers of 15-passenger vans

Guidelines suggested for congregations using bus companies, church vehicles

To help children, churches should focus on relationships, not programs, researcher says

Younger pastors ask: Is preaching out of touch?

Small Texas church loses tax exemption for buildings

Defining identity, purpose helped congregation work through conflict

Carolina church develops integrated e-ministry

Should a recruiter help you find your next pastor?

Asheville church sings, builds houses with Habitat for Humanity in Bolivia

Fort Worth church remembers, recovers from deadly 1999 attack

Church re-start in Greenville spearheads future work with rural poor