April 2025 Issue
Designed for mission: Seventh-day Adventist Church structure and operating procedures
Lowell C. Cooper
The New Testament uses several metaphors1 to describe the nature of the church, its internal relationships, and its purpose in the mission of God. The apostle Paul, writing to the Ephesians, summarizes God’s plan for the church: “that the multifaceted wisdom of God…
Who’s the boss—the pastor, congregation, or conference?
Nikolaus Satelmajer
Relationships, whether between two individuals or two organizations, can be very complicated. But what about between three parties—for example, the pastor, the congregation, and the conference? Can such a relationship work well in fulfilling the mission of the church,…
Pastor, are you on board? Ethical and legal responsibilities of board members
Karnik Doukmetzian
Many of us, as pastors or administrators, belong to a variety of institutional boards. Therefore it is vital we understand the important roles and functions we serve on them, including our fiduciary responsibilities. Some of us have not been adequately informed about…
A bird’s-eye view of comparing styles of leadership
Craig Carr, S. Joseph Kidder
Thousands of books on leadership cover many subjects, such as styles, approaches, systems, and theories. Though most pastors want to be successful, the greater need is to bring meaningful change to their church. They want to be transformational leaders. In this article…
A leader’s role in funding large-scale projects: Visiting three biblical examples
Aniel Barbe
After the publication of a Dynamic Steward magazine issue on systematic giving,1 a local church pastor pointed out the need to train church leaders on how to finance their large projects.2 Systematic giving might not cover local projects requiring substantial resources. Does…