Molding Your Creative Efforts

To what extent is creativity part of effective religious ministry and leadership? In many ways, it is a crucial piece of the puzzle. Being able to help a congregation find new directions, renew or strengthen what they already do, and forge new connections with the community—this is some of the high-level work of creativity in ministry that joins the more routine creativity of crafting compelling sermons and worship.

Yet exercising creativity in a church or other religious organization is itself an art. Congregations as a whole can remain firmly attached to past practices, music, and traditions, even when their relevance and spiritual impact have faded for many members. New clergy, fresh out of seminary and full of inspiration, often have to learn to step back from their big ideas and instead look for common ground, where they and the community can discern together how God may be calling them to something new.

This section explores the creativity of clergy and how they use it most effectively in their ministry and leadership. Often what brings new life to a congregation is not just the creativity behind a new idea, but also the creative methods that clergy use to bring people together in new ways, to build consensus and respect in spite of divisive issues, and to solve the mundane, practical problems that arise for churches on a regular basis.

StoriesView All

Creativity and Change Management in the Church—One Pastor’s Approach

The Rev. Chris McKinney knows that sometimes you have to be creative to get your congregation’s attention. Like setting snack chips on fire during your sermon.

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Ready or Not: A Senior Pastor Pushes for Innovation in Worship and Music

To attract new members, the Rev. Charles Turner decided his new church needed to change from organ music to jazz and piano. But getting the United Methodist congregation to change was a challenge.

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ResearchView All

Stronger on Ideas than Implementation?

People are creative in different ways. The Clergy Into Action Study used the Cree Questionnaire to explore the creative strengths and weaknesses of recently ordained priests and pastors.

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Are Clergy Creative?

Creativity is one of the great gifts that pastors and priests can bring to congregations and other organizations. So how creative are recently ordained clergy, compared to other professionals?

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