Blog
- January 29, 2008
The nature of the church is being challenged by the culture of consumerism in which it exists. The consumer mentality…
- January 28, 2008
Beginning with Augustine but continuing with Luther, Calvin, The Scots Confession, and the Second Helvietic Confession, the church, both Protestant…
- January 26, 2008
As denominations attempt to change to meet the changing conditions of our society, a clear trend is to decentralize. In…
- January 24, 2008
Philip Jenkins in his book, The Next Christendom describes how the population center of Christianity is moving to the Southern…
- January 23, 2008
Bill Hybel, the senior pastor of Willow Creek, has done a remarkable thing. Willow Creek is known as the megachurch…
- January 21, 2008
When you read the various arguments that are being spoken and published with respect to the hot issues that are…
- January 18, 2008
Jesus has been traveling across Galilee proclaiming the good news of God and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the…
- January 17, 2008
How do we approach the question of what the church has to offer those who are part of it. One…
- January 16, 2008
Recently I was talking to a retired pastor about what advice he would give to a person considering a call…
- January 14, 2008
As you travel almost anywhere in the country, one is struck with the multitude of churches that dot our landscape.…
- January 11, 2008
Another seismic change has occurred in the way we experience the church. At one time we debated whether the church's…
- January 10, 2008
Most churches would agree that they value a pastor who can listen with sensitivity to people who come to them.…
- January 8, 2008
Salem Presbytery covers 19 counties in North Carolina. You could drive 150 miles from east to west or 120 miles…
- January 5, 2008
I have just finished a term as an interim General Presbyter at Salem Presbytery. It has given me a fresh…
- February 20, 2007
The Pastor's Spouse When we think about caring for clergy, we need to include in that care a concern for…
- January 6, 2007
Some Christian communities and many members of the Christian church ignore the Hebrew Scriptures or what is often referred to…
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Clergy Drop Out (14) Loneliness
February 29, 2012
Once we have acknowledged the challenge of loneliness in the pastorate, we need to identify some additional steps in coping…
Clergy Drop Out (13) Loneliness
February 28, 2012
As a basis for this reflection, let me tie together two separate passages. The first is from Genesis 2:18, “Then…
Clergy Drop Out 12 -Lonliness
February 27, 2012
What most members and society do not recognize with respect to the role of clergy is the sheer loneliness that…
Clergy Drop Out – Expectations (11)
February 24, 2012
Another category of expectations that is often overlooked is that of the public’s expectation for congregations. While many in our…
Clergy Drop Out -Expectations (10)
February 23, 2012
If you want to identify some of the key factors in clergy dropping out, there are probably few areas that…
Clergy Drop Out – Expectations (9)
February 22, 2012
Whether with your email colleagues or with some group within the church, it is worthwhile to use the same categories…
Clergy Drop Out – Expectations (8)
February 21, 2012
I want to suggest that you try an experiment in testing out the pressure of expectations in your profession. Choose…
Clergy Drop Out (7) Expectations
February 20, 2012
There is a certain tyranny as well as a blessing to the expectations, internal and external, with regards to being…
Clergy Drop Out (6)
February 17, 2012
The second area that I suggested may be a factor in clergy dropping out of the profession is the sheer…