When a pastor is fired, it is the shattering of a dream that was present at the calling. In some…

I think that we need to draw upon the liturgical roots of our faith when we are responding to the…

One of the more difficult aspects that a COM needs to pay attention to when a pastor is fired is…

It would be helpful if the Committee on Ministry or its equivalent would do some prior work before they have…

A critical component that COMs should attend to when a pastor is fired, is the family of that pastor. The…

I once suggested that someone needs to create a padded, soundproof room where pastors could go from time to time…

Recently I have talked to a couple of pastors who experienced the termination of their position and have read several…

Take a sheet of paper and quickly jot down several major turning points in your life and your ministry. Don’t…

Consider how some central doctrines of the Christian faith provide handles on how to respond to certain challenges of life.…

Doctrines are attempts to articulate central tenets of the faith. Our faith becomes the framework through which we interpret and…

“We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine . .…

Here is an exercise that I would wager would not only be fun but could generate some good material for…

Yesterday we looked at questions around the theme of worship. Today let’s look at the theme of the mission of…

OK, now for the fun of the types of questions you might ask in your congregational poll. In the end…

We are still building on the ideas developed on Monday and Tuesday’s blogs. We will explore possible subject matter soon…

Building on yesterday’s preparation for your congregational poll, there are still a couple of preparation steps that you need to…

Let me propose a simple way to work with some trusted colleagues and get a measure of your congregations that…

It is not unusual for a pastor and a pastor’s family to experience what I can best describe as a…

Sabbaticals are a vital part of a clergy’s journey in the ministry. It provides a chance to step back and…

Not infrequently as I advocate for a sabbatical in a congregation, someone will say that no one ever offered him…