Church Leadership Radar - October 15, 2026

Today on Church Leadership Radar: when church employees volunteer at their own church, reducing programs and ministry calendar overload, checking AI answers about religion, and nearly 40,000 pounds of food delivered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the East Texas Food Bank. Sources Can Church Employees Volunteer at Their Own Church? — Church Law & Tax contributors explain a Department of Labor opinion letter on nonprofit employees volunteering for their employer. The key distinctions include genuinely voluntary service, different duties and the employee's exemption status. How to Eliminate Programs and Ministries — Jess and Thom discuss a process for focusing a crowded church calendar, including reducing a program's emphasis instead of always ending it. Their outline also covers ministry champions and zero-based budgeting. How Human Decisions Shape the AI Answers Your Church Reads — An opinion essay examines how human choices in AI training and alignment influence answers about religion. It raises questions about source selection, religious literacy and the role of trusted local leaders. Nearly 40,000 Pounds of Food Delivered to East Texas Neighbors — CBS19 reports that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints delivered nearly 40,000 pounds of nonperishable food to the East Texas Food Bank on Wednesday. The food bank serves a network spanning 26 counties. Church Leadership Radar newsletter | Healthy Church Staff Podcast