Pastors

Within One, Many Many Many …

One church, one journal, innumerable parts.

Last week our church offered leader training to our volunteers. I was reminded of how many distinct parts make up one normal congregation. Children's workers, youth workers, 20-somethings, life groups, compassion and outreach ministries, support groups, senior care, greeters, security, global ministries. So many distinct interests and roles …

One church, many parts.

I recalled one pastor's wry observation: "The church, like an airplane, is several thousand parts flying in relatively close formation." As leaders, we care for the closeness of that formation because we know what happens when too many parts detach.

We've also seen that with Leadership Journal this year. One journal, many parts.

Discerning readers will notice that this edition has a new look and new arrangement. For the past 10 months, we've been recrafting the journal. This involved countless conversations with readers, consultations with innovative Atlanta design firm Metaleap Creative, and lots of interaction with editorial, design, marketing, advertising, production, and publishing team members at Christianity Today.

The result is the redesigned journal you're now holding. Let me point out just a few of the changes.

The cover, ably designed by art director Doug Fleener, makes a fresh visual statement about this issue's theme, community, the purposeful complexity of a church body. The multiple moving parts actually get us somewhere.

Being thematic, which readers tell us is our most important characteristic, allows us to take one significant topic and go into depth, reflecting multiple perspectives. While our thematic approach hasn't changed, we are now offering 12 monthly themes (in our electronic editions, available to all subscribers), in addition to our four print issues annually.

New departments highlight our three recurring topics: the soul of leadership, the practices of leadership, and the culture in which we lead. Each department features real-life stories, hard won insights, and cartoons that put a knowing smile on a leader's face.

In addition to updated graphics and design, we're also introducing some new features:

Ideas that Work: we introduce you to innovative practices from around the ministry world that have actually worked. They demonstrate that churches are fully awake and creatively responding to needs and opportunities.

Leadership Shorts: executive summaries of the latest books on leadership and ministry.

My Calling: a story from a pastor about how that calling was received or how that calling was tested. You'll be reminded of your own calling and inspired to persevere.

I'm glad you've joined us for this new incarnation of Leadership Journal. Let us know what you think. This is an ongoing conversation as we continue to identify the ways we can best serve church leaders, encouraging and equipping us all to faithfulness and effectiveness.

Copyright © 2014 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal. Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.

Also in this issue

How to keep it all rolling

Our Latest

The Bulletin

Young Republican Texts, Anglican Split, and George Santos Released

Controversial Republican texts, Anglican Communion splits, and George Santos’s sentence is commuted.

Review

Do Evangelical Political Errors Rise to the Level of Heresy?

A Lutheran pastor identifies five false teachings that threaten to corrupt the church’s public witness.

Highlights and Lowlights of 1957

In its first full year of publication, CT looked at Civil Rights, Cold War satellites, artificial insemination, and carefully planned evangelism.

News

Will There Be a Christian Super Bowl Halftime Show?

Conservatives suggest country and Christian artist alternatives for game day.

News

As Madagascar’s Government Topples, Pastors Call for Peace

Gen Z–led protests on the African island nation led to a military takeover.

News

Amid Fragile Cease-Fire, Limited Aid Reaches Gazans

Locals see the price of flour rise and fall as truce is strained and some borders remain closed.

News

Federal Job Cuts Hit Home as Virginia Picks Its Next Governor

Meanwhile, the GOP candidate draws from Trump’s playbook to focus on transgender issues in schools. 

Religious OCD and Me

Scrupulosity latches onto the thing we hold most dear—our relationship with God.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube