Church Leadership Radar - Monday, July 20, 2026

Today on Church Leadership Radar, Ted Rhoades covers four stories shaping church leadership this week:LCMS Goes All Nations — The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod's 69th triennial convention in Phoenix adopted near-unanimous resolutions centered on multicultural and multi-ethnic ministry — a remarkable pivot for one of America's most historically homogeneous denominations.Compensation Reality Check — If your ministry position is sitting open with no qualified applicants, the problem might not be the job posting. A look at why $42k roles are struggling to attract talent, and practical steps churches can take.Search Warrant at South Carolina Church — A church already under scrutiny for allowing a registered sex offender in children's ministry now faces law enforcement executing a search warrant. Background checks aren't just best practice — they're a legal and moral obligation.Good News: 35 Salvations at a Food Pantry — Friendship Baptist Church in Lawton, Oklahoma has been faithfully running a monthly food distribution. Recently, 35 people accepted Christ right there in the food line. The church doing exactly what it was always meant to do.Today's Takeaway: Compensation conversations are hard in churches — but you can't always close the gap. You can stop pretending it isn't there. That honesty alone changes the conversation with candidates.📧 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast