role/roles
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Posted on March 18, 2013, 5:36 pm | 3 comments
Topics: Administration
Do we really assign Deacons, Elders, and Pastors their Biblical roles? How well do our members know what the function of each office really is?
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Posted on January 28, 2013, 5:10 pm | 6 comments
Topics: Denomination
The Diakonia Remixed report goes to Synod in a few months - have you read it? Been talking about it at your council or classis meetings? It's a good time to start preparing so that when it's time for the discussion!
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Posted on July 12, 2012, 11:56 am | 17 comments
Topics: Leadership
One striking difference between pastoring and social work is the function and role of supervision. Professional supervision consists of a candid review and empowering of both the social worker’s practice and personhood in order to practice ethically and therapeutically and “do no harm” to the clients. I believe that pastors need a similar kind of supervision.
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Posted on June 21, 2012, 10:22 am
Topics: Leadership
Imagine being part of a church that grew from 120 to over 3000 people in a few weeks? It sounds thrilling and exciting until you begin to realize you now have a lot of discipleship, care, baptizing, and teaching to do. The question for us today is, if something like this were to happen in our churches, would we be ready?
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Posted on May 24, 2012, 10:29 am | 7 comments
Topics: Leadership
I am a pastor. According to statistics I am a sad breed. Pastors are the most depressed, lonely, burnt out, over worked, underpaid, fat, and unhealthy people on the planet. Our families are a mess. Our finances are a mess. It is hard to have friends. Our work is unseen and is seen as unnecessary to some.
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Posted on May 22, 2012, 12:02 am | 3 comments
Topics: Denomination
The Office of the Deacon Task Force, Diakonia Remixed, is back again with their preliminary report! They are looking for feedback before June 30th. Check out the work they have been doing and share your thoughts about the changes they are recommending. Are you curious about what it says?
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Posted on May 10, 2012, 10:45 am
Topics: Books and Book Reviews, Leadership
Jack Hayford writes about leadership from the biblical perspective of a shepherd and sheep. He affirms that pastors must lead like a shepherd. What does this mean? A shepherd feeds, protects, and cares for his sheep. If he does not do these basic tasks, he is a bad shepherd, a mere hired hand...
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Posted on March 27, 2012, 3:16 am | 9 comments
Topics: Congregation, Denomination
The role of the deacon is best utilized to prepare people to become elders. Useful as a "training ground" for future elders, the office of the deacon is the perfect place to introduce folks to council without having too much responsibility! NEWSFLASH: This isn't the truth!
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Posted on February 23, 2012, 10:41 am
Topics: Congregational Life, Leadership
He asked them the simple question, “What are your expectations for your next pastor?” Someone immediately chimed in, “We want a heroic leader who will fill our pews.” A statement like this sounds ridiculous and yet it sheds light on some of the unhealthy, unrealistic, and unbiblical expectations that churches and pastors come to expect from the role of pastor.
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Posted on February 7, 2012, 8:56 am | 1 comment
Topics: Roles
Getting the roles of governance and ministry mixed up is the crippling confusion in many councils. For deacons, the role confusion can be even more painful and debilitating. Are deacons primarily decision makers? Or are they ministers of benevolence and mercy? Are they sometimes both?
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Posted on October 25, 2011, 8:31 am | 1 comment
Topics: Community
What should the church be doing, then, if government effort seems to have little effect, except maybe for providing ongoing relief? How should the church shape its own response? Can the church actually REDUCE poverty and dependence on programs that help? Even just in our neighborhood? Seems like that’s the ideal...
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Posted on October 11, 2011, 10:59 am | 1 comment
Topics: Community, Congregation
As we head into the holiday season, we need to be aware that need doesn't stop. It also doesn't increase exponentially. How can we inspire our congregations to engage with those in need in a meaningful way? And why has Stephen Colbert called Christians out on this?
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Posted on September 13, 2011, 2:27 am
Topics: Getting Started
As deacons we can often find ourselves in situations that are unfamiliar or uncomfortable to us. As easy as it is to try to ignore or avoid these scenarios, we know that at some point, we need to venture out into that unknown. Are you ready to risk it?
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Posted on August 16, 2011, 8:19 am | 10 comments
Topics: Denomination, Getting Started
When I became a deacon I got a giant binder of information. I loved it! The year after me someone got that same binder and was totally overwhelmed. I wonder if a gradual training program would be a better way of introducing new deacons to their role? The Office of Deacon Task Force is currently exploring this idea, and looking for your input!
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Posted on August 15, 2011, 1:02 pm | 3 comments
Topics: Leadership
The question has been raised about the elder’s role in the governance of worship... It is important for council to establish some guidelines in the area of worship if they are delegating responsibly. In my experience, very little of this is written down in a policy manual. The guidance happens through conversation and, at times, complaint.
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