Blog
- February 25, 2011
After the presbytery meeting where you have raised the issue of the emotional drain in the ministry, your communication with…
, , - February 24, 2011
In preparation for the next presbytery meeting, you need to prepare a graph for all the commissioners. The graph looks…
, , - February 23, 2011
During this first quarter, the COM should also have some communication with the pastor of the participating congregation about caring…
, , - February 22, 2011
Once you have raised the awareness of the challenge of ministry and its demands through a presbytery event, then you…
, , - February 21, 2011
Most congregations don't deliberately set out to be unsupportive of a pastor. When it is raised to their consciousness, they…
, , , - February 18, 2011
HEALTHY CLERGY MAKE HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS. That is the message I would like see infuse our congregations across our denomination. It…
, , - February 17, 2011
At the end of WWII, congregations joined with the changing culture of society to institutionalize and professionalize ministry. Our denominations…
- February 15, 2011
Yesterday I shared the ideas from Laurence Schmidt newsletter that emphasized the value of some simple breathing exercises. In that…
, - February 14, 2011
The following is taken from the excellent newsletter put out by the Laurence Schmidt Center www.veralloyd.org which is worth subscribing…
, - February 10, 2011
I've been out a few days recovering from a small operation and this week will be erratic at best. However,…
- February 1, 2011
Consider what it might mean if the following assumptions are true. God is real. God does care about what is…
, - January 31, 2011
As I was beginning to type this, my laptop ran out of power and shut down. Fortunately my computer is…
- January 28, 2011
We often speak of God's call as a reference to an individual. Would their be value in discussing what God's…
- January 27, 2011
Too often we don't take the time to share our appreciation of each other in the family. We all need…
- January 26, 2011
We all know that we should spend more time with our families. We may feel guilty that the demands of…
- January 25, 2011
Taken from the ECLA Board of Pensions' website which has excellent suggestions in a variety of ways to nurture your…
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YOU PASTOR AN ANXIOUS CONGREGATION
August 20, 2014
(CONTINUING TO LOOK AT VULNERABILITY AND ANXIETY FROM TED TALK BY BRENE’ BROWN as applied to the pastorate.) HIDING FROM…
BEGINNING A PASTOR/PARISH RELATIONSHIP IN AN ANXIOUS AGE
August 18, 2014
BEFORE THE BEGINNING Consider what has happened before the new pastor arrives at a congregation. Let me describe some of…
HOW TO PASTOR IN AN ANXIOUS CONGREGATION
August 15, 2014
DO YOU LIVE IN AN ANXIOUS SOCIETY? (I am continuing to draw upon Brene’ Brown’s work on vulnerability and applying…
GOD’S CALL
August 13, 2014
I’m not so sure That God called me I am a pastor The Spirit is gone The elders are boss…
HEALTHY CLERGY MAKE HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS
August 11, 2014
CLERGY DON’T HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER Clergy, like all humans, come to their work with all the wounds, hungers, insecurities,…
Unhealthy Vrs. Healthy Churches
August 8, 2014
(Thoughts derived from reflecting on 2 TED talks by Brene’ Brown www.ted.com/talks/brene’_brown) as applied to churches .) This is the…
PROTECTING AND CONNECTING WITH OTHER CLERGY
August 6, 2014
THE SHAME OF IT ALL (A continuation of reflections on Brene’ Brown’s TED talks on Vulnerability and Shame.) Brown suggests…
Why Clergy Are Cautious Around Other Clergy
August 4, 2014
CAN OTHER CLERGY BE MY FRIEND? In my work on the issue of loneliness and isolation among clergy, I have…
GOD SWIMS AGAINST THE TIDE
August 1, 2014
CONSIDER WHAT WAS ON GOD’S MIND God said: “I’ll create humans with free will.” Satan sneered: “I’ll defeat you…