Blog
- May 23, 2014
THE AWEFUL CALL It is awful to be called by God in the original sense of the word. Consider the…
, - May 21, 2014
SEXUAL SCANDAL PLAGUES THE CHURCH It happened again. A descent pastor with multiple gifts destroys his promising ministry by having…
, - May 19, 2014
I'm developing a series called "Healthy Clergy Make Healthy Congregations." (HCMHC). All of it is in preparation for the fall…
, , - May 16, 2014
OK, SO YOU HAVE RETIRED I retired in June of 2006. The first thing I wanted to do was find…
, , - May 14, 2014
I'VE RUN THE RACE A few years before I retired, the Presbyterian Church debated whether Honorably Retired should be the…
, , - May 12, 2014
This is a litany making use of Psalm 111. Draw upon what you have heard about the gifts and contributions…
- May 9, 2014
CONGREGATIONAL INITIATIVE The celebration of the ministry of a church's staff needs to be initiated by the congregational leadership. This…
, , - May 7, 2014
HALF PASTORS OR WHOLE PASTORS If we tend to neglect appreciating the work of pastors, we double that neglect when…
, - May 5, 2014
By J Harold Ellens, 2 May, 2014 A Star and A Tear, Stephen McCutchan, 2013, Pp 386, Self Published. Reviewed…
- May 2, 2014
AFFIRMING STAFF MINISTRY A council that cares about those who are exercising ministry on their behalf should take time occasionally…
, - April 30, 2014
A TIME TO LISTEN At least every couple of years, and in times of extreme stress more often, you should…
, - April 28, 2014
WORSHIP Denominational staff members who work for the larger church need to deliberately identify ways that they take care of…
, - April 25, 2014
THE MINISTRY OF DENOMINATIONAL STAFF Denominational staff are a specialized or extra-congregational ministry that needs to be addressed. As we…
- April 23, 2014
RECOGNITION OF MINISTRY In any given presbytery or regional gathering of the church, there are several who exercise their call…
, , - April 21, 2014
CONNECTING WITH THE BODY Most people who are involved in specialized ministry also are associated with a congregation. Sometimes…
, - April 18, 2014
BUILDING SUPPORT A first step is to clearly identify those within your judicatory who have been ordained but are not…
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HAVING ONE WORD WITH GOD
April 4, 2018
HAVING A WORD WITH GOD. START WITH THREE FRIENDS For this experience, I would invite you to choose three clergy…
IN CELEBRATION OF THE COURAGE OF ALL CLERGY
March 28, 2018
Audacious Faith in a Persistent God The audacious affirmation That Christ is born, That all eternity finds expression In…
HOW PRESBYTERIES CAN GRIEVE HEALTHILY
March 23, 2018
As you approach Palm/Passion Sunday, consider the journey of the Body of Christ as reflected in Jesus journey. THE BODY…
9 STEPS TO SPIRITUAL HEALTH—IF YOU DO THEM.
March 21, 2018
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT We are nearing the end of Lent. Have you been so busy with church events…
The Death of Nations
March 16, 2018
Try to imagine the Christian church where denominations have disappeared
Oh What Stories Clergy Could Tell
March 14, 2018
YOU CAN WRITE A STORY I want to invite you to explore various aspects of ministry and your spiritual life…
BREAKING THROUGH IDEOLOGICAL FRACTURES
March 9, 2018
I’m at a AWP writer’s conference this week in Tampa Florida. Being around so many writers reminds me of the…
GOSPEL FIRST, OPINIONS SECOND
March 7, 2018
STANDING IN THE BREACH I think one of the challenges of being a pastor is that you are called to…
Presbyteries and Financial Literacy
March 2, 2018
FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR CLERGY Recently I have heard about a course that is making the rounds of churches that focuses…
NEW RESOURCES TO SUPPORT HEALTHY CLERGY
February 28, 2018
COMING IN 2018 In 2018, I will augment the Healthy Clergy Make Healthy Congregation s, (HCMHC) ToolBox with six volumes…