elder visitation


	Elders and Accountability Posted on December 5, 2011, 11:09 pm Topics: Spiritual Formation How many visits have we made? Have we prioritized our efforts well? Are there particular issues that we need to address? What are some key issues for the spiritual formation of our members that we ought to highlight? How can we help each other fulfill our responsibilities? Read more »
	Annual Home Visits and Small Group Participation Posted on June 9, 2011, 9:16 am \| 2 comments Topics: Congregational Life In working with congregational leaders, I often point out that the ultimate goal of congregational care is discipleship – helping people mature in Christ. This too is the ultimate goal for the annual home visit, even though few churches do this well consistently. For this reason, some congregations have replaced the pastoral care activities of elders with an emphasis on small group ministry. Read more »
	Good Listening Posted on May 30, 2011, 12:30 pm Topics: Spiritual Formation Perhaps one of the hardest activities of all is listening well. Miroslav Volf in his book Allah: A Christian Response writes that in every conversation of two people there are seven present. Me and You. My image of you and your image of me. My image of myself and your image of yourself. The seventh is God. Read more »
	Why Eldership Matters? Posted on March 21, 2011, 9:39 pm \| 1 comment Topics: Spiritual Formation In speaking about the Japanese struggle with its nuclear reactors, Peter Goodspeed wrote “But the nuclear danger may also be a direct result of human hubris.” ( National Post · Mar. 15, 2011) I suppose at least part of the reason I paid attention to this comment is because of other reading I was doing. The book is named This Time is Different... Read more »
	Privacy or Protection? Posted on February 9, 2011, 3:03 pm \| 3 comments Topics: Safe Church, Safe Church Team Life is full of choices. Sometimes we have the pleasure of choosing between two delicious looking desserts and casting aside any concern for the caloric content. And sometimes....well you know where I'm going. You're looking at two options and neither one leaves you feeling excited. We have those experiences in the life of the church... Read more »
	Why be an Elder? In Response to Wendy Posted on February 7, 2011, 9:30 pm \| 6 comments Topics: Leadership Why is it that members of the congregation are not clamoring to serve in the office of elder? If everyone said this was a fulfilling and rewarding ministry, would we not have at least a few more people ready to embrace the work? Read more »
	The Home Visit: Preparation & Guidelines Posted on January 5, 2011, 10:18 pm Topics: Spiritual Formation Home visitation is a traditional strategy for ministry. At its best, it is a tool that allows the office bearer to encourage spiritual development among members of the congregation. I prepared the following materials for the elders of my previous congregation to use as a guideline in making home visits. Read more »
	Listening Posted on December 14, 2010, 3:29 pm \| 1 comment Topics: Leadership Thinking before you speak is harder than it appears. Conversation is by nature reflexive: you speak and I reply. It is dialogue. But how is it possible that as soon as you finish speaking, I can begin replying... Read more »
	Encouraging Faith Nurture in Our Homes Posted on September 7, 2010, 3:24 pm \| 2 comments Topics: Spiritual Formation Families are God’s idea. We see this as He created Adam, Eve and children. Later He told the children to leave and cleave and form a new close unit. It is within the bonds and commitment of marriage where we grow in intimacy with each other that we learn to bring each other, our thoughts and needs before our heavenly Father, seek His way for our lives and live as He directs. This living in community requires ... Read more »
	When Jesus Guides: Conforming Posted on May 12, 2010, 11:05 pm Topics: Spiritual Formation Conformity is not a popular word or image. In our imagination, conformity means to be shaped by what is socially and acceptable and expected of the group to which we belong. It is a loss of individuality. Becoming ourselves means finding our own identity and way in the world. So to speak about conformity will never be particularly engaging. Yet the Christian life is an invitation to conform. Read more »
	Elder Visitation Record Posted on January 26, 2010, 4:40 am Topics: Administration Sample form for record keeping of elder's visits to church members. This is designed ot be used as the first page of an elder's visitation log of visits to a church member. For subsequent pages, use the Elder Visitation Record page 2. Use with appropriate caution and discernment regarding confidentiality and privacy laws. Read more »
	Hints for Visiting Posted on January 13, 2010, 5:55 pm Topics: Congregational Life OK, you're going to do those visits, because that's what you are called to do. But you are uneasy, scared. This brief guide is intended to be an introductory checklist for pastors, pastoral care workers, elders or deacons when you visit families or individuals. Maybe you want to consider this an "owner's manual." Not that we own the church or its members; only God does. But we are working for the Owner and are in charge of maintenance. Read more »