Alban at Duke Divinity School

What unexamined assumptions do our congregations hold?

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Understanding mental models Khyati Trehan for Google DeepMind / Unsplash How do congregations work? What factors influence the way a congregation solves problems? The answers to these questions are rooted in the concept of mental models. Mental models are assumptions or deeply held beliefs that influence how we think and perce...

Seminaries don’t teach you how to plan meetings, but how you run them matters.

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Make meetings matter Mapbox / Unsplash As church leaders, we convene a lot of meetings. Unfortunately, however, most of us are not trained in how to organize and manage meetings so that they keep everyone engaged and purposefully move the church’s mission forward. Seminaries do not typically offer courses in how to pl...

Congregations are never conflict-free, so it's essential for leaders to learn how to respond well

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Choose the right response to conflict Arisa Chattasa / Unsplash People often seem surprised by congregational conflict. But when was the last time you read the New Testament?  Take 1 Corinthians. The Corinthian community was divided over its loyalties to different leaders. Members disagreed about the authenticity of Paul’s apostleshi...

“Generosity” shouldn’t be limited to meeting the church’s operational budget.

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Why generosity matters G + L / Unsplash As congregational leaders, we often think about giving and generosity — or at least, we should. Congregations have mortgage payments to make and payrolls to meet, and we need money to fulfill these obligations. We need people to give generously. For some pastors, however, talking ...

Leaders are at risk of confusing commitment with over-functioning. https://alban.org/2026/08/24/the-danger-of-heroic-leadership/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alban_facebook

Good stories are the lifeblood of great leadership.

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Tell great stories Joyce Hankins / Unsplash This summer, families will gather in groups large and small for reunions and vacations. Eventually, after a satisfying meal, someone will say, “Do you all remember when…?” That’s the beginning of a story everyone probably knows — yet it will be retold, and people w...

Delegation requires both humility and discernment

Alban at Duke Divinity School » What’s your theology of delegation? Rodeo Project Management Software / Unsplash Good leaders are often rewarded for their efforts with the opportunity to take on more responsibility. When they learn to excel at those additional responsibilities, they receive more opportunities to do more good work. This positive feedback loop generat...

Am I laboring at something permanent and enduring? https://alban.org/2026/07/20/graveyard-wisdom/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alban_facebook

Get more practical wisdom on how to lead congregations today when you subscribe to Alban Weekly: https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/2011774/1922102/

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Graveyard wisdom Image from A. Trevor Sutton Prince is away this week, but will be back in your inbox next Monday, July 27. This week’s guest contributor is the Rev. Dr. A. Trevor Sutton, who serves as the senior pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Lansing, Michigan. His newest book is “Between Hurry and Heave...

Understanding how to use good friction to your advantage can help you lead. https://alban.org/2026/07/13/good-friction-bad-friction/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alban_facebook

Get more practical wisdom on how to lead congregations today when you subscribe to Alban Weekly: https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/2011774/1922102/

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Good friction, bad friction Sandeep Singh / Unsplash When you were a kid, did you ever rub two objects together to create static electricity? Did you rub your hair against a balloon to watch your hair cling to it? If you touch a metal doorknob after walking across a carpet, you might feel a small zap in your finger. Science te...

Leaders must sit with failure long enough to see what it has to teach us.

Alban at Duke Divinity School » The right kind of wrong Luis Quintero / Unsplash In case you haven’t noticed, World Cup euphoria is everywhere. Devoted fans are brimming with pride. You can’t miss the colorful flags painted on their faces, the pure joy in their voices as they sing their national anthem and the exuberant roar when the ball hits the ba...