Feed Editor 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT The NACBA Weekly Update provides industry-specific news and information to leaders in the church administration professional. Delivered weekly, the publication keeps professionals abreast of topics that impact the daily operation of their churches. http://www.multibriefs.com/briefs/nacba/nacbaupdate.xml en Americans' self-reported church attendance has continued to inch up in 2010, with 43.1 percent of Americans reporting weekly or almost weekly attendance. This is up slightly from 42.8 percent in 2009 and 42.1 percent in 2008. The increase comes as Americans' economic confidence has also risen, suggesting that, instead of church attendance rising when economic times get bad, as some theorize, the opposite pattern may be occurring. 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca03e010bd 1 Churches risk losing out on large amounts of donations because pastors and church leaders are too timid when it comes to preaching about financial needs and the importance of giving, according to a new report out this week. The report, 'Why Christians Give,' found that tithing was not being actively taught and that in two out of ten congregations, there was a lack of teaching about stewardship. "Although some church leaders are emphasizing proportional giving in reality we do not know whether they are saying to their congregations 'give what you can afford' or challenging their members to give sacrificially," it states. 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca0b74859d 2 As the economy continues to stretch budgets, more churches are turning to bivocational pastors--those who hold a second job in addition to ministering--to meet their needs. According to Ray Gilder, national coordinator for the Southern Baptist Bivocational and Small Church Leadership Network, bivocational pastors play a crucial role in the church by ministering to churches that can’t afford full-time pastors, and their numbers are growing. 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca0d7561d2 3 When Bobby Sykes heard about a year ago that a federal ban on 700-megahertz frequency microphones could be coming down the pike soon, the creative arts director of Crossroads Church in Lithopolis decided he'd better prepare for the inevitable. At the time, Crossroads, like many other churches in the area, was using those microphones for its church services and productions. But, "when we did a complete system upgrade last year, we planned an upgrade that didn't include (that type of wireless microphone)," Sykes said. The planning worked, and now Crossroads doesn't have to worry about replacing its microphones as a result of the ban, which went into effect June 12. 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca0f489dcf 4 A Phoenix church has tapped into a higher power – the sun. Last weekend, Creative Living Fellowship installed the largest solar electric system for any non-profit in Arizona. 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca13d3deff 5 As the oil continues to spill in the Gulf of Mexico, what to do about off-shore drilling and the regulation of the oil industry is cause for debate in Congress and among coastal residents. Now add to this another dimension: religion. The Southern Baptist Convention has used notably strong language to call on the government -- and its own congregation -- to work to prevent such a crisis again. In a resolution, the Convention called on the government "to act determinatively and with undeterred resolve to end this crisis...to ensure full corporate accountability for damages, clean-up and restoration... and to ensure that government and private industry are not again caught without planning for such possibilities." 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca16c5ae11 6 Among the healthy and growing churches in America today, they have already gone multi-site, are planning on going multi-site or are thinking about it, said a church strategist. "Today, the multi-site model has become a viable instrument in the toolbox of the church," said Jim Tomberlin, founder of MultiSite Solutions. Veteran "multisiters" with at least 10 years of experience in the "one church, multiple locations" approach came together last week to offer those exploring the model some advice. 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca18849f03 7 Performance evaluations are commonplace in most companies. Employees are normally reviewed on an annual basis and a critique is done of their productivity, attitude and overall performance. It is very hard, if not impossible, to evaluate yourself and receive an honest appraisal. No matter the size, worship style, age, or location of the church, they tend to have one thing in common: They all believe they are friendly churches. Some believe they are the friendliest church in town. However, if they could see themselves through the eyes of a visitor, they may find that they are not perceived that way at all. 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca1a762fe7 8 With the increase in megachurches, the prominence of “parachurch” leaders and organizations, and the presence of hundreds of thousands of Americans who serve as clergy and church staff, one often overlooked group is the laity – or the unpaid, unheralded people who comprise the Christian community in America. A new study explores the profile of Americans who actively participate in faith. The study examined various expressions of “group” faith, such as: church attendance, small groups, adult Sunday school programs, church volunteering, and house churches. 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca1ccdea63 9 Ministry leaders strive to set an example through their actions at every opportunity. Obeying copyright law should not be the exception. Music ministries and church websites are just a few of the areas where you are at risk for violations. It will be to your church’s advantage to understand copyright law and obey it. 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca1edbb094 10 More and more people struggling to make ends meet during the economic downturn are turning to churches for help. Yet as calls for assistance come in at record levels, some churches in Virginia say the offering plates passed up the aisles each Sunday morning are being returned with smaller collections than in the past. "Times are tight and some people haven't been able to give as much as they wanted," said the Rev. Peggy Buelow, pastor of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Hampton, Va. "I think there is some anxiety among people concerned about their jobs." 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca21d45ed6 11 When Jarod O'Flaherty saw the 2008 movie Fireproof and learned a Baptist church in Georgia produced it, he left inspired to do something similar with his Burleson, Texas, church. He and his church, Retta Baptist in Burleson, created two music videos--"The Resist Project" and "Run to You"--and posted them on networking sites like Facebook and YouTube. O'Flaherty's church has embraced this ministry as a response to the rise of technology-driven culture. Not only do these videos reach those who may not be open to attending church, but they also are cost-efficient ministry tools. 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca250bc479 12 The seven Legacy Senior Living Communities in Rochester, N.Y., are known for their airy modern apartments, eye-pleasing grounds, great food and a wide range of activities. Residents don't have to maintain their homes, cut the grass, shovel the sidewalks or pay property taxes. "But older people are looking for substance, not just 'activities,'" said Rabbi Laurence Kotok of Brighton's Temple B'rith Kodesh. Kotok was the kick-off speaker for a convocation on spirituality in aging, sponsored by the Legacy communities and held at the Legacy at the Fairways in Victor earlier this month. The gathering brought together clergy, residents, medical personnel and social workers to begin to explore spiritual needs and contributions of seniors and to look at how community intersects with spirituality. 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca26dd324d 13 A Baptist church in northern Haiti has made an unprecedented gift of 20,000 gourdes ($506) to aid in the recovery from the Jan. 12 earthquake. The gift, though small by some standards, is the equivalent of about two years' wages in the Haitian economy. "Too often we look at the size of the gift, not the size of the sacrifice," said Dennis Wilbanks, Florida Baptists' associate director of partnership missions. "I was so moved that I could not believe this was actually happening." 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca288cce12 14 Around one in nine listed places of worship in England is in a poor or very bad condition, according to a survey published today. Research by English Heritage has shown that 11 percent of places of worship including churches and synagogues are potentially at risk because of their poor or very bad physical condition - but 89 percent are in good or "fair" condition. 1 Jul 2010 15:12:29 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2ca2a683d70 15