CONTINUING TO REFLECT ON THE FUTURE OF DENOMINATIONS. One Future for Denominations In reading Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat…

i posted this in 2006 but some of the same questions are part of our current context. Posted on September 16,…

I’m in New York City this week at Union Theological Seminary. I have returned to celebrate with my classmates the…

OWNING YOUR GRIEF AS A PASTOR As you stand before your congregation on a Sunday morning, how frequently do you…

YOU ARE NOT IN THIS ALONE Because we are the spiritual leaders of a faith that emphasizes relationships above all…

A SLIGHTLY SATIRICAL PARABLE   She walked into the bar where she saw Carl, her daughter’s boyfriend, drinking with his buddies.…

GOD’S CALL YOUR CARE If you are clergy, be a good steward of the body God gave you. If you…

What is the Impact All professions have their impact on the families of the person in that profession. You could…

Evaluation of your Emotional Health   Ministry is stressful, with lots of ups and downs. Paying attention to your emotional…

THE EMOTIONAL LIFE OF A PASTOR The very nature of ministry engages one in the emotional roller coaster of engaging…

BREAKING THROUGH MY SHELL iF +/?% would stop messing with me and my ministry, I think I could be lovable.…

SEXUAL SCANDAL PLAGUES THE CHURCH It happened again. A descent pastor with multiple gifts destroys his promising ministry by having…

Grace Redeeming Betrayal   I am not suggesting that we should “sin boldly so that grace might abound” but that…

When Congregations Experience Betrayal I led a presbytery retreat on how to guide a congregation when they have experienced betrayal…

WITH THE REPORT OF CHURCH SCANDALS IN MIND, LET US MOVE BEYOND THE SCANDAL AND EXPLORE REDEMPTIVE POSSIBILITIES. Redemptive Possibilities…

The Betrayal of a Pastor The news of the scandal in the Catholic church seems to bring glee to the…

INVITING REFLECTION As the spiritual leader of a people, you preach, teach, counsel, and pray with your people. What do…

THIS IS OUR PRESBYTERY Take a presbytery directory that includes ordained pastors, commissioned ruling elders, specialized ministries, and retired pastors,…

STIMULATE THE IMAGINATION Even though our judicatories (in my case a presbytery) meet together occasionally, we often are so busy…

Excerpt from my new book CLERGY PHYSICAL HEALTH  about the Presbyterian health plan for clergy. Other denominations have similar programs. …