Orchard View Congregational Church

Why we will no longer be a welcoming church

We’ve decided to quit being a welcoming church. No kidding. We’re giving it up. Like so many congregations, we’ve sunk an amazing amount of time and energy into becoming a welcoming church. We changed worship styles, trained greeters and ushers, wore name tags, brewed coffee, went to workshops on hospitality and put our friendliest people …

What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality

There is a lot of unnecessary confusion about what the Bible is really saying about homosexuality. Dr. Michael Brown offers five key scriptural truths that dismantle the modern-day argument that God's Word condones the homosexual ...

Why Homosexuality Is Not Like Other Sins

Homosexuality is not the only sin prohibited in the Bible, but it is different from all the rest, at least right now. And we have really good news for homosexuals.

Why the Church isn’t Reaching my Unchurched Friends

Millenials want customized, personal experiences at their church. The one size fits all Sunday sermon doesn't connect with them<br>As a 25 yr old, I agree. Many of my own friends don't attend mass. They're not leaving the church, they just don't want to get up and go on Sunday. I feel it's not so much about people being "fake", but that their church experience isn't being customized. I think the only way forward to capture young people's interest is to make that…

10 Reflections of a Healthy Church Member

Good Afternoon Church, What a great weekend it was celebrating with many of you God’s underserved grace lavished upon our lives in Christ. We have so much to be thankful for at BBC that God’s prais…

I went to church with Bruce Jenner. Here’s what Caitlyn Jenner taught me about Jesus.

Caitlyn knows who Jesus is, and Jesus knows her by name.

Stamford’s First Congregational Church was sold to provide housing. What will it take to make...

The city’s Planning Board has approved a plan to save the historic church and put...

Are religious fundamentalists missing the point of religion?

Don't take the Bible so seriously, says religious scholar and fully interesting guy Rob Bell.

I'm not a fundamentalist. Are you?

5 Guidelines for Preparing Congregational Prayer

Effective public prayer must be well-prepared prayer. This is the engine that will move all the other principles.

3 Ideas to Involve Church Members in Congregational Care

We're in a season when connectedness is a necessary thing to continue the mission of your church. Your congregation can play a vital role.

Am I Relevant? — Congregational Consulting Group

“My worry is that I am not relevant.” I asked fifty denominational leaders to share their deepest worries, and only one brave soul had raised his hand. “No matter what I do,” he said, “the church is likely to continue its decline. My deepest worry is that I have chosen to invest my life in …

5 completely insane things Christian fundamentalists are teaching their kids

Who’s Really a “Fundamentalist?” Again—the American Media Gets Religion Wrong

Who’s Really a “Fundamentalist?” Again—the American Media Gets Religion Wrong One of my main complaints about the American media—both “news” and “entertainment” (and the line between the two is increasingly blurred)—is their tendency to get religion wrong. Often these are journalists who have easy access to religion

A Fundamentalist’s Guide to Praying the Rosary

So, you’re a fundamentalist, or an ex-fundamentalist, thinking about experimenting with a rosary. You really like to live on the edge there, don't ya? At first, you’ll probably be all, “I’m not Catholic, so I’m pretty sure I’m not allowed to pray the rosary,” but you’re wrong.

Christian fundamentalists gathering in Moldova want you to know they’re not extremists

"We're often shown as a strange people, like we're homophobic fascists or something."

Blain: "Deeply Concerned" ESG Has Become "Fundamentalist Quasi-Market Religion"

There is a significant risk ESG fundamentalism trips up efforts to reach carbon neutrality...

What are the basic functions of a congregational educator?

Congregational Christian education directors may end up doing a lot of things that come with the job (like supervising building and grounds issues!).

Want Less Conflict? Look Out the Window! — Congregational Consulting Group

Congregations that started a “new community outreach” in the previous five years were much less likely to report a significant conflict than similar congregations that did not. Related PERSPECTIVES