Anglican Compass is proud to publish the Rev. Canon David Roseberry’s new book, The Rector, the Vestry, and the Bishop. It is already getting widespread acclaim from rectors, vestry members, and bishops throughout the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Below is the forward to the book by none other than the founding Archbishop and…
Praise for The Rector, the Vestry, and the Bishop
Anglican Compass is excited to announce our publication of The Rector, the Vestry, and the Bishop by the Rev. Canon David Roseberry, now available in paperback and on Kindle. It is a second, significantly expanded edition of his book The Rector and the Vestry. The first edition has been used for teaching, training, and orientation…
How Goes It With Your Texting?
After five years of pastoring, I’ve reached a paradox. Texting is good: it helped me shepherd at least two people well. Texting is bad: it hurt my ability to minister to the congregation I served. The Good: Consistent Connection On the one hand, I texted to connect with two men struggling to follow Christ. Phone…
What is Apostolic Succession, Anyway?
What does it mean be in a church that had an unbroken line of succession to the first Apostles, namely to Peter and finally, to Jesus Christ?
Pastors and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Nonviolence
Pastors often struggle to discern how to advocate for social change when public advocacy is so fraught with the possibilities of violence, division, and partisan power. Pastor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, led a movement for social change in racial inequality and oppression, poverty injustice, and unjust warfare. He did so as a pastor and…
Can Habits Make us Holy?Â
Does changing your habits change your life? Can you become healthier, happier, or holier if you incorporate new, small daily habits into your life? I decided to start this year off with a new habit. I have to work out regularly because I have arthritis. If I don’t work out, I feel terrible all day….
Pastor, Do You Need a Coach? Consider Missional Formation Coaching
The Pandemic Pastor Ministry life can be overwhelming at any time, but with a pandemic, the pressure is even greater. I’ve been working with pastors as a canon for the past eight years, but this past year has been the most stressful for pastors I’ve ever seen. When I experienced burnout ten years ago, I…
12 Challenges of the Christmas Eve Service
Even if your shopping is complete and the gifts are wrapped, the pastor knows that there is one more thing to do before Christmas morning. Hold Christmas Eve Services. Whether you are preaching, celebrating the Eucharist, leading the prayers, singing the carols, handing out bulletins, or greeting people at the door, it is a big…
Contemplative Leadership in an Age of Uncertainty
We are living in some of the most challenging times the church has faced in recent decades. If truth be told, many leaders find themselves at a loss in times of crisis. One thing is for sure; we live in a different world than we did a few months ago, and things probably will never…
4 Essential Elements of Missional Leadership
Leading a church through the changes required for missional living is seriously complex work. Many people, understandably, are fearful of the disruption taking place in our culture. With political and racial tensions reaching new heights in our communities, neighbors now see one another as enemies. Having any sort of conversation, let alone a faith conversation,…
How to Lead in Uncharted Territory: A Review of “Canoeing the Mountains” by Tod Bolsinger
Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory by Tod Bolsinger came highly recommended. Last year, I received a copy of the book from Archbishop Foley Beach. He had read it and found it so helpful that he sent each rector in our Diocese (ADOTS) a copy of the book. The premise of the book…
A Vision for 2020 (Our Anglican Future, Pt. 1)
Over the last few decades, everyone has been aiming at 2020. So many churches and organizations looking to clarify their goals and objectives set a 2020 (20/20) Vision. Organizations set goals to plant a certain number of churches by 2020 or raise up a certain number of leaders. Individual churches looked ahead to 2020 as…
