Canterbury House

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 …

Should Your Church Live Stream?

Chances are, your church has either started live streaming recently or has considered it at some point. With equipment improvements, lower entry costs, and availability through the web and social media, live streaming is becoming more common in the church. If you are considering adding a streamed service or posting videos for replay viewing to …

Five Questions for Christians Who Believe the Bible Supports Gay Marriage

You've studied the issue, read some books, looked at the relevant Bible passages and concluded that Scripture does not prohibit same-sex intercourse so long as it takes place in the context of a loving, monogamous, lifelong covenanted relationship.

Scientists ponder how to talk to the faithful about climate change

(RNS) 'My entreaty for scientists is to be able to speak publicly about why you care,' said the Rev. Fletcher Harper, executive director of GreenFaith.

Why I’m Coming Out as a Christian

I’m not scared that non-believers will make me feel like an outcast. I’m scared that Christians will.

Church Decline: What if Your Church Disappeared?

The community grows, but your church declines. Does anybody know what you offer? If you church was forced to close its doors, would anyone notice?

4 Ways to Balance Leading the Church and Loving the Community

How do we both lead our church and love our community well? And how does this calling inform a church leader's priorities and daily schedule?

ID Card Benefits for Religious Organizations

Find out how religious organizations and church groups are using ID card technology to help identify church members and keep them more secure.

Religious Freedom as Freedom to Discriminate?

Removing religious exemptions will not promote tolerance or inclusiveness. It will forcibly strip religious organizations of their ability to operate as religious organizations.

Do Megachurches Provide a Better Religious Experience than Smaller Churches?

Leadership Network’s work with innovative pastors regularly pairs us with megachurches. Indeed, in recent years no one has done more megachurch research than us.Thought leader @lensweet recently tweeted “No one knows more about...

Keep growing and eventually you'll find light.

Building Churches and Religious Facilities

The Bobbitt design & construction portfolio includes religious facilities of all types & sizes. See how design build could work for your specific needs.

10 Tips for Creating Inclusive Religious Organizations

We are a stronger country when religious organizations of all faiths live up to our values -- when we are welcoming, diverse, moral, and respect one anot...

WATCH NOW: Rented goats become new groundskeepers at Trinity Episcopal Church

“It’s not true that goats will eat anything. They are picky. They like trees, bark, brush and shrubs, and they get rid of noxious, invasive weeds. They’ll eat grass, but

How Secular is “Religious”?

We don’t know how the ready access to information will ultimately change the human condition, but religions are already feeling the heat. A person today can, with a few keystrokes, discover facts about religions that, when I was young, were assiduously and successfully suppressed—particularly in those traditions common among disadvantaged people such as I was. …

U.S. Religious Knowledge Quiz

How much do you know about religion? And how do you compare with the average American? Here’s your chance to find out.

When Is a Church Not a Church?

The tax code allows for some strange political shenanigans.

Why Religious Cops Live Longer Than Non-Religious Cops

Most of us serving as police officers have considered our mortality, especially in light of the dangers we face every day. No one is guaranteed a long life, but everyone strives to lengthen the days and years we get to spend with family and friends. All of us are interested in living longer. Recent studies […]

How Religious Are You?

Pew Research has developed a typology of religion based on "how religious" a person is, along with the nature of that religious belief.

Remember that Religious Freedom Law?

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act continues to prove itself adept at flattening government obstacles to religious practice.