This is a litany making use of Psalm 111. Draw upon what you have heard about the gifts and contributions…

CONGREGATIONAL INITIATIVE The celebration of the ministry of a church’s staff needs to be initiated by the congregational leadership. This…

HALF PASTORS OR WHOLE PASTORS If we tend to neglect appreciating the work of pastors, we double that neglect when…

By J Harold Ellens, 2 May, 2014 A Star and A Tear, Stephen McCutchan, 2013, Pp 386, Self Published. Reviewed…

AFFIRMING STAFF MINISTRY A council that cares about those who are exercising ministry on their behalf should take time occasionally…

A TIME TO LISTEN At least every couple of years, and in times of extreme stress more often, you should…

WORSHIP Denominational staff members who work for the larger church need to deliberately identify ways that they take care of…

THE MINISTRY OF DENOMINATIONAL STAFF Denominational staff are a specialized or extra-congregational ministry that needs to be addressed. As we…

RECOGNITION OF MINISTRY In any given presbytery or regional gathering of the church, there are several who exercise their call…

   CONNECTING WITH THE BODY Most people who are involved in specialized ministry also are associated with a congregation. Sometimes…

BUILDING SUPPORT A first step is to clearly identify those within your judicatory who have been ordained but are not…

A VARIETY OF SERVICES BUT THE SAME LORD  Paul speaks of the variety of ministries that are part of the…

IT’S WEIRD BEING A PASTOR It wouldn’t be so difficult being a pastor if Jesus hadn’t messed it up. WHO…

IT BEGAN WITH A JOURNEY Our faith began with a journey. “Go from your country and your kindred and your…

A NEW BEGINNING OK, we are now living in Westminster Shores, St. Petersburg, FL. The furniture has arrived and is…

MOVING ON OK, I’m writing this ahead of time but if all has gone well, we are now living in…

Consider using this as a litany in one of your church services. What do you think would be the response?…

Over the next month I will be packing, selling my house, and moving from North Carolina to Westminster Shores in…

If clergy speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but congregations do not have love, clergy are noisy…

YOU ARE A PERSON WHO CARES ABOUT CLERGY You care about clergy because: You believe that God calls clergy to…