by Craig Schaub For some fifty years, often my bumbled life steps have been marked by the bright keening of Van Morrison. Steps are sometimes numb, but also often taken with misty eyes, and many states in between. Always with slippery intuitions about the bonnie boat,...
Blog
Ireland: A Journey of Spirit, Story and Connection
by Tarsha Banister When I walked the rugged coastlines and stood among the ancient stones of Ireland, I could feel the weight of the past beneath my feet. From monastic ruins to famine memorials, the Irish carry their history with a deep reverence — not to be trapped...
Lessons from Northern Ireland: What a Peace Retreat Taught Me About Helping Congregations Thrive
by Michael Cheuk Last month, my wife and I, with others from the CCH, attended a retreat in Northern Ireland focused on peacemaking and reconciliation. What I didn’t expect was how much it would teach me about helping congregations navigate uncertainty and change....
A New Responsibility – Reframing the Story
by Rev. Caitie Jackson I have grown into the keeper of my family’s past—my father’s stories, his father’s before him, and the stories of my great-grandparents, who in 1923 left the Emerald Isle to begin anew in America. They are tales of strength forged in hardship,...
The Stories We Tell
It was a breezy and cool, sunny morning on our first full day in Ireland. We sat around to learn the history of Northern Ireland, and more specifically Belfast during the time of the troubles, from our leader Gareth Higgins. An outline of the history of Ireland was...
Announcement of the New Director of the Center for Congregational Health
Dear FaithHealth Division Colleagues, I am delighted to announce that Rev. Elizabeth (Beth) Kennett has been selected as the new Director of the Center for Congregational Health. Beth will officially move into her new position on July 13, 2025. Beth has been a part of...
Ready for a Personality Deep-Dive?
"Everybody has one—a personality, that is—and yours will help determine the boundaries of your success and life fulfillment. Do you recognize that your essence and personality are your most important assets? It has already helped shape your experiences and will...
Fulfilling Our Mission and Vision by Michael Cheuk
On May 5th, a gathering of diverse groups of leaders met at First Baptist on Fifth in Winston-Salem to explore new ways of connection and purpose for congregations and communities. We aimed to gain insights on how the Center for Congregational Health (CCH) can best...
My Guiding Principles – Charity Roberson
I was in a meeting with other ministers this week where I introduced myself as the senior consultant for The Center for Congregational Health, which is my full time job. But then I mentioned, since this was an ordination council for my local association, that I also...
Changing Markets for Pastoral Transition
Real estate markets fluctuate between a “sellers market” and a “buyers market.” In a sellers market, sellers may have the advantage of not staging the home, avoiding repairs, asking for more money. A few years ago, it was such a sellers market that if a buyer could...