Dan Hotchkiss
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Dan Hotchkiss
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Leaders often wonder how to balance the demands of management with the responsibility to lead. Susan Beaumont suggests that leadership might be a way of showin up while you are managing.

Longing to Lead—Caught Up in Management www.congregationalconsulting.org/longing-to-l...
Longing to Lead—Caught Up in Management — Congregational Consulting Group
Leadership is ultimately not about escaping management but about engaging every moment
www.congregationalconsulting.org
November 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
John Wimberly addresses some of the persistent false beliefs that lead congregations into bad decisions.

Fighting the Myths www.congregationalconsulting.org/fighting-the...
Fighting the Myths — Congregational Consulting Group
False myths cause congregations to make bad decisions. In this short piece, I address a few.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
November 11, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Can God heal people who don't fully believe in God? If you've ever wondered about that, you won't want to miss Sarai Rice's latest essay.

Healing Is Never a Solo Performance www.congregationalconsulting.org/healing-is-n...
Healing Is Never a Solo Performance — Congregational Consulting Group
For ten years, I had been a Christian minister who mostly did not believe in God, though I had heard God’s voice or felt God’s presence at multiple times in my life, an experience that has brought, an...
www.congregationalconsulting.org
November 3, 2025 at 5:12 PM
In this era of scattered attention, church management guru Sarai Rice suggests how preaching can hep congregants to manage their attention.

Notes on Preaching www.congregationalconsulting.org/notes-on-pre...
Notes on Preaching — Congregational Consulting Group
In a culture addicted to scrolling and soundbites, preaching is a way of managing people’s attention.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
October 14, 2025 at 2:59 PM
While drafting bylaws, boards should often stop and ask, “Is this enough? Are we comfortable letting the board or staff answer questions we have left unanswered?”

What Bylaws Should and Should Not Say www.congregationalconsulting.org/what-bylaws-...
What Bylaws Should and Should Not Say — Congregational Consulting Group
Most bylaws should say less than they do.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
October 7, 2025 at 1:55 PM
When Polarization Spawns Radicalization www.congregationalconsulting.org/when-polariz...
David Brubaker proposes a role for congregational leaders in this time: "preserve community, limit damage, and bear witness to a way of life rooted in clarity, compassion, courage, and connection."
When Polarization Spawns Radicalization — Congregational Consulting Group
Over the last four decades, political polarization in the United States steadily intensified. Congregations must do what we can to mitigate this process.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
September 22, 2025 at 4:36 PM
When the New Employee Disappoints

Most employers and employees dread talking about performance issues, especially when performance falls short of expectations. Susan Beaumont provides a clear roadmap for these important conversations.

www.congregationalconsulting.org/when-the-new...
When the New Employee Disappoints — Congregational Consulting Group
A few months after hiring, it becomes clear they are not suitable for the role or organization. Before deciding on the employee's future, here are the steps to follow.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
September 8, 2025 at 7:01 PM
John Wimberly observes that congregations hire more part-time staff than they used to. (I would add: they use more volunteer staff too.) Some see this as a concession - John sees it as an opportunity.

Staffing in a Part-Time World www.congregationalconsulting.org/staffing-in-...
Staffing in a Part-Time World — Congregational Consulting Group
I see part-timers doing work in congregations previously done by full-time staff. Some regret this; I think we should embrace it.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
May 12, 2025 at 7:24 PM
David Brubaker argues that "The goal in preaching our principles is to model transparency and to begin a conversation—not to convince anyone else to believe or behave a certain way."

Preaching Our Principles—Not Our Politics www.congregationalconsulting.org/preaching-ou...
Preaching Our Principles—Not Our Politics — Congregational Consulting Group
The goal in preaching our principles is to model transparency and to begin a conversation—not to convince anyone else to believe or behave a certain way.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
April 2, 2025 at 12:42 AM
A Time of Opportunity www.congregationalconsulting.org/a-time-of-op...
Worried about Trump cuts to social services? John Wimberly does not disagree, but he suggests pitching in to do what you and your congregation can to assuage the suffering of others.
A Time of Opportunity — Congregational Consulting Group
As the US government downsizes, new opportunities will arise for ministry in healthcare, veteran care, environment-sustaining and protection work, support for the poor, and so much more.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
March 24, 2025 at 2:14 PM
I know I'm not alone in spending too much of my life waiting for something to get over with so I can get on to something else. Leadership coach Larry Peers brings some wisdom to the process of transition.

Abiding in the Middle www.congregationalconsulting.org/abiding-in-t...
Abiding in the Middle — Congregational Consulting Group
Through intentional periods of reflection and review, leaders can make time for the “inner work of discerning what we hold onto and what we release.”
www.congregationalconsulting.org
March 17, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Congregational Consultant Sarai Rice has been an interim minister this year, and has some thoughts to share about what she loves about it.

What I Love About Interim Ministry www.congregationalconsulting.org/what-i-love-...
What I Love About Interim Ministry — Congregational Consulting Group
One drawback to loving people is that in the end you have to let them go, and as an interim, my time of letting go comes soon. All that love and all that change has been a shared way of growing toward...
www.congregationalconsulting.org
March 11, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Congregations’ Stances Toward Society www.congregationalconsulting.org/congregation...
Congregations’ Stances Toward Society — Congregational Consulting Group
In a time when many people have strong feelings about changes in the wider society, they want to know and understand their congregation’s stance toward the wider culture.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
February 18, 2025 at 10:14 PM
This new post from Susan Beaumont addresses a too-common situation: when lay leaders don't believe their pastor is capable of leading the staff.

When the Pastor Isn’t Trusted to Supervise www.congregationalconsulting.org/when-the-pas...
When the Pastor Isn’t Trusted to Supervise — Congregational Consulting Group
When boards and committees lose faith in the pastor’s supervisory ability, they often intervene in unhelpful ways.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
February 10, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Clear Delegation www.congregationalconsulting.org/clear-delega...
Clear Delegation — Congregational Consulting Group
Effective delegators grant authority while also giving guidance and providing for accountability.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
February 3, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Young people have a message for the church, John Wimberly reports: "Church, get back to your core competencies, core mission, core message."
Returning to the Core www.congregationalconsulting.org/returning-to...
Returning to the Core — Congregational Consulting Group
Young people, especially, are already trying to improve the world. They need our help creating a theological and spiritual foundation for work they are already doing!
www.congregationalconsulting.org
January 27, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Expanding SWOT for the Church www.congregationalconsulting.org/expanding-sw...
Expanding SWOT for the Church — Congregational Consulting Group
SWOT needs to be expanded to direct attention to not only what is known, but what is only dimly seen through eyes of faith.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
January 15, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Should congregations aim to be like-minded or broad-minded? John Wimberly sheds light on a familiar dilemma.

The Problem with Like-Minded Congregations www.congregationalconsulting.org/the-problem-...
The Problem with Like-Minded Congregations — Congregational Consulting Group
By creating diverse congregations, we have an opportunity to lead society, rather than reflecting it ourselves.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
November 20, 2024 at 10:08 PM
Should congregations aim to be like-minded or broad-minded? John Wimberly sheds light on a familiar dilemma.

The Problem with Like-Minded Congregations www.congregationalconsulting.org/the-problem-...
The Problem with Like-Minded Congregations — Congregational Consulting Group
By creating diverse congregations, we have an opportunity to lead society, rather than reflecting it ourselves.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
November 20, 2024 at 8:52 PM
If you have talked confidentially with as many clergy as I have you will not find Sarai Rice's revelation shocking at all. Especially if you haven't, you should read what she has to say.

Is It Time to Be Honest About Belief? www.congregationalconsulting.org/is-it-time-t...
Is It Time to Be Honest About Belief? — Congregational Consulting Group
Maybe it’s time for those of us who are ordained to be more honest about our own struggles to believe.
www.congregationalconsulting.org
November 14, 2024 at 11:18 PM