Blog
- 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…
, - December 29, 2006
In reading Thomas Friedman's The World is Flat I was struck with its implications for denominationalism. One of the problems…
, - December 13, 2006
There is an interesting phenomenon among clergy. On the one extreme, there are those within the clergy whose identity is…
- November 28, 2006
The downfall of another evangelical superstar, in this case Ted Haggard, seems to bring glee to the media and occasionally…
- October 13, 2006
Consider the various signs of the blurring of national lines: Commercially: Corporations not only quickly move their operations to wherever…
, - September 16, 2006
Where are denominations headed? What will they look like in the future? As I understand it, denominations developed more in…
, - July 24, 2006
Why is it that the Pentecostal churches are exploding in growth across the world while churches with more standard theology…
- July 17, 2006
The Astraunauts who just landed were quoted as looking down on a peaceful and fragile earth and wishing that we…
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…
Clergy Drop Out (5)
February 16, 2012
Continuing our discussion about the disconnect between what you expected when you first sensed God’s call and the reality you…
Clergy Drop Out (4)
February 15, 2012
One of the incredible turning points in Israel’s journey of faith was how those unique individuals known as the prophets…
Clergy Drop Out (3)
February 14, 2012
Let’s take these causes for clergy dropping out of the ministry one at a time. First, some people experience a…
Clergy Drop Out (2)
February 13, 2012
Last Monday, before I took a break to attend a conference, I asked you to jot down a list of…
Clergy Drop Out
February 6, 2012
In a 2005 survey by the Board of Pensions, the dropout rate among clergy in the first five years has…
Vocation and the Future of the Church (5)
February 3, 2012
Another significant issue with respect to vocation and the future of the church is our response to other servants of…
Vocation and the Future of the Church (4)
February 2, 2012
We have been looking at vocation or God’s call from the perspective of the corporate body of the church. Now…
Vocation and the Future of the Church (3)
February 1, 2012
We are viewing the future of the church from the perspective of God’s call. What is the church’s vocation? Yesterday…