If you have taken some time to reflect on the nature of your call that has led to this position…

At least every couple of years, and in times of extreme stress more often, you should deliberately pause to reflect…

It is very easy to allow the incessant meetings, inevitable crisis, and pastoral care of others to exhaust you. Even…

Let me suggest one final possibility for the congregation and pastor upon the pastor’s return from a sabbatical. Remember that…

Another possibility for the congregation and pastor upon return from Sabbatical would be to have a congregational visioning time. This…

Congregations need to be intentional about receiving a pastor back from a sabbatical. In some ways a 3-4 month sabbatical…

There is a piece of technology that I think can be very valuable in helping denominational staff nurture the value…

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

I will speak of the body that meets regularly with a staff person as a council. You can adapt that…

While it may be very frustrating and stressful to be a pastor of a congregation, at least you have a…

If you talk to many people within our denomination, one overpowering reality is that economics are necessitating cutting staff. As…

At least in the Presbyterian church, and I suspect in most other denominations as well, those involved in specialized ministry…

Most people who are involved in specialized ministry also are associated with a congregation. Sometimes their family is a part…

While public recognition and affirmation are important, the experience can soon fade if that is all that happens. How often…

OGM RECOGNITION OF OTHER GIFTS OF MINISTRY A first step might be identifying the variety of forms of ministry beyond…

It is good reformed theology to say that the call of God is extended to all members of a congregation.…

As the COM circles through these six areas of encouragement of congregations and clergy to care for the clergy, they…

In this quarter in which the emphasis is on God’s call, you can offer the clergy an opportunity to take…

This activity is designed to engage the session and the pastor in a conversation about God’s call or vocation for…

This sixth focus on health focuses on our sense of call by God to ministry. In the Presbyterian church, it…