Sometimes Church Looks Like: Breaking Free From the Binary

Check out the whole blog post from NEXT Church coach, Shani McIlwain.

shanimcilwain.substack.com/p/sometimes-...

Breaking Free From the Binary ⛓️‍💥

Who benefits when the world is flattened into opposites? Who gets lost in the in-between? Who is rendered invisible when we are told there are only two ways to be, two ways to believe, two ways to belong?

🪴The most practical and applicable workshop of 2026.

Two weeks from today! Learn more and register today --> bit.ly/change-culture-workshop

Expand your understanding of the Enneagram at this upcoming workshop!

Register Today -->bit.ly/enneagram-at-church

Spring 2026 Update: A New Season of Possibility Apr 14, 2026 | NEXT Church Updates

Good things are happening in our neck of the woods and we remain grateful for the gift of this community. 💛

Changing the Culture of Assessment The traditional metrics of budgets, membership, and attendance are no longer adequate to evaluate success in ministry. Instead of searching for new ways of measuring, we revert to what we know,…

Don't miss out on this great workshop series starting in three weeks from today!
nextchurch.net/product/chan...

⛪️ Did you know your church has a type, too?

Don't miss out on this great workshop led by Enneagram expert, Martha Spong.

Register Today -->bit.ly/enneagram-at-church

Happy Easter! 🩵

Slow week? Need some procrastination on the 10 bulletins you have to finish?

Get yourself signed up for this incredible workshop series. --> bit.ly/change-culture-workshop

We stand with the trans community and boldly proclaim that you are a sacred Child of God! 🏳️‍⚧️

⚾️ We interrupt your Opening Day viewing to remind you to register for this home run of a workshop. Step up to the plate and get in the line up.

Batter Up --> bit.ly/change-culture-workshop

It's a beautiful day for a neighbor. ❤️

💥 Looking for a resource to ignite conversations this spring? Check out this great (and affordable!) 6-session series.

Learn more --> bit.ly/sparking-conversations

🪴The most practical and applicable workshop of 2026.

Don't miss it! Learn more and register today --> bit.ly/change-culture-workshop

The traditional models of measuring success are getting us no where. Let's change the whole culture, together.

Learn more and register today --> bit.ly/change-culture-workshop

Thanks to Presbyterian Foundation for their hard work to make this event happen! 💡✨

Grateful to be gathered with faithful church leaders at the Luminosity Conference in Orlando, FL. Our Director of Program and Operations, Jen James, led a workshop on Cultivated Ministry on Tuesday afternoon and connected with so many of you in our NEXT Church network.

Executive Director Larissa Kwong Abazia was on the ground in Richmond, VA for a meeting of the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic to offer a keynote presentation. We are grateful for their on-going financial support to sustain the work of NEXT Church.

If you are a leader who is dissatisfied with the ways churches assess their programs and ministries, this workshop series is for you.

Learn more and register today --> bit.ly/change-culture-workshop

Luminosity Conference | March 9-11, 2026 Luminosity Conference aims to connect pastors, church leaders, friends, and topical specialists to ignite your imagination.

We'll be in Orlando next week leading a workshop for the Luminosity Conference. Who will we see there?!
www.luminosityconference.org

Happy "March Forth" to all who celebrate! 👣

When the enormity of life and systems gets you stuck, just remember to take the next right step.

Learn more about NEXT Steps Coaching and how we can accompany you in those next steps. nextchurch.net/next-steps-c...

Join us tomorrow!

Register for the Zoom link --> bit.ly/roundtable-conversations

Moving with intention as we begin this season of Lent. 💜

Roundtable Conversations NEXT Church seeks to strengthen the relational fabric of the Church – connecting healthy tissue to healthy tissue.

Register for the Zoom link --> bit.ly/roundtable-conversations

Join us next Tuesday!

Have you engaged with the free resource Cultivated Ministry and are currently trying to implement the learnings? Come join other leaders who are doing the same to share learnings and support one another in implementation.

The Agents of Change cohort kicked off their journey this week with a retreat outside of Baltimore, MD. Over the next year, with the support of a coaching team, this committed group of leaders will focus on who they are as preachers and how they are agents of change from the pulpit and beyond.

Roundtable Conversations NEXT Church seeks to strengthen the relational fabric of the Church – connecting healthy tissue to healthy tissue.

Register for the Zoom link --> bit.ly/roundtable-conversations

🚨 New Roundtable Conversation added!

Have you engaged with the free resource Cultivated Ministry and are currently trying to implement the learnings? Come join other leaders who are doing the same to share learnings and support one another in implementation.

It's (well past) time to get clear.

We had a great time connecting with leaders, leading a pre-event workshop, and being challenged and inspired by great speakers at the APCE Annual Event in Pittsburgh this week. It was a good to be in the neighborhood with you. See you in Portland next year!