Thom S. Rainer

Op-ed Contributor

Latest

Mar 11, 2017
5 Social Media Reasons Pastors Are Getting Fired
So what are pastors posting on social media that is raising the ire of church members? It typically falls into one or more of these five categories:
Mar 5, 2017
When Should Elderly Pastors Retire? Ten Diagnostic Questions
There are a lot of us Baby Boomer pastors and Christian leaders around. And it's cliché, but we aren't getting any younger. It's a quiet question that many are asking, but they are asking it nonetheless: What age should I retire?
Mar 3, 2017
How the Entitlement Mentality Crept Into Our Churches
In 1974 Burger King made a bold move to take market share from McDonald's. At the time, McDonald's made burgers en masse. If you wanted a special order, you had to wait interminably while it was cooked separately.
Feb 26, 2017
6 Traits of Preacher Eater Churches
Preacher eater churches? I had never heard the term until I became a pastor.
Feb 22, 2017
10 Ways Pastors Can Be Great Bosses
Here are the most frequent comments we heard from church staff. These are ten ways pastors can be great bosses.
Feb 20, 2017
10 Ways Pastors Can Be Bad Bosses
In the course of three decades, I have seen some pastors thrive and some pastors fail. And I have seen two common reasons for pastors failing.
Feb 18, 2017
6 Steps to Resuscitate a Dying Church
How did these few churches go from near death to vibrant life? Here are their stories.
Feb 15, 2017
5 Principles to Help Pastors and Staff Know When to Compromise
Compromising. We don't like that word. But compromising is indeed a necessary trait for leaders, even leaders in the local church. Allow me then to offer five basic principles of compromising for those who serve the local church.
Feb 12, 2017
What to Do When Your Pastor Is Having an Affair
Allow me to share some of the best responses I have heard from churches that have gone through this tragic time.
Feb 5, 2017
5 Reasons 11:00 AM Worship Services Are Disappearing
I wish I knew the specific reason most churches offered an 11:00 AM service on Sunday for decades.