Columbia Connections

When asked what the number one issue is that causes clergy-congregation conflict (often leading to a forced termination) one can guess several: money, theology, or leadership style for example. Those are good guesses, but they may not be the most...

At the February Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, we received a new minister member.

The practice in our presbytery is for the minister to introduce themselves, say a little bit about their call, and then to be...

Leading is a challenge even in the most tranquil of circumstances within congregations today. When you add the layer of introducing or working toward change on top of the myriad of things already required, “challenging” may feel too soft a...

When I came to the US from Guatemala, I experienced racial discrimination from those I would describe as privileged. But this wasn’t exclusive to my new surroundings, it happened from my own culture too. 

Eventually, I became a leader in my denomination but continued...

Fortunate is the church that can afford to call a paid church educator. More fortunate still is the church that finds an effective educator. That one person will make all the difference in helping a church have a stellar Christian...

Have you seen The Good Place?

The show is as funny as it is incisive. It revolves around four characters who have died and are told they have accumulated enough points on earth to enter...

One metaphor for wisdom is the key. Keys unlock what is closed, throw open the doors to what is hidden, and reveal secrets locked away. Keys are also a metaphor for access, and therefore, of power (remember the character nicknamed...