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Psalms, Elders and Pastoral Care

Posted on January 30, 2012, 2:27 pm | 3 comments

It occurred to me that perhaps one way of training elders (and pastors) in the work of pastoral care is to encourage the memorizations of the psalms. And then I wondered: if we had a program of training for elders, which psalms should be memorized? Read more »

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	A Covenant Engagement Posted on January 3, 2012, 12:49 am \| 1 comment Family and friendship ties may help us keep somewhat informed about life in other congregations, but these informal relationships are inadequate. The quality and depth of the relationships require deeper conversation and shared life. This happens by taking seriously the Read more »
	Elders and Accountability Posted on December 5, 2011, 11:09 pm 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 »
	Christmas, Occupy Wall Street, and Christian Formation Posted on November 22, 2011, 12:43 am \| 3 comments Spiritual formation never happens in a vacuum. It always happens when the call of the gospel challenges our habits of thinking and our way of living. Tension alerts us and invites us to pay attention. Amid the tension we can speak words that encourage new faithfulness. Read more »
	Who Do You Say That I Am? Posted on November 8, 2011, 9:35 am If a person is trustworthy, we give trust easily. If a person is unreliable, we learn not to count on that person. If a person is vindictive, we become wary. So it ought not be a surprise that our understanding of God – the attributes and images we carry around in our head – make a difference in ... Read more »
	Grace Among the Weeds Posted on October 31, 2011, 11:39 am It is hard to imagine that weeds are a sign of grace, yet that’s what the Parable of the Weeds and Wheat is suggesting (Matthew 13). Everyday I drive by fields (now harvested) of various grains. The farmers I know prefer fields without weeds. Jesus words are striking... Read more »
	Getting Rid of a Minister Posted on October 19, 2011, 3:57 pm \| 5 comments The title may seem a bit crass -- and actually it is -- but that is precisely the question that I am asked most often as a stated clerk by elders: "How do we get rid of our minister?" I vividly recall the conversation from the chair of council who actually began our phone conversation with that question. I quickly learned that he was the one having difficulty with his pastor and he simply wanted him 'gone'. Read more »
	Gratitude and Christian Formation Posted on October 17, 2011, 9:28 pm \| 1 comment Every Thanksgiving Day – Canadian thanksgiving just passed - becomes on occasion for a preacher to reflect deeply on the very act of gratitude. This year was no different. If we want to help people grow in the life with God, practices of gratitude are a... Read more »
	Elders - Agents of Kingdom Transformation Posted on October 5, 2011, 12:20 pm Each of the responsibilities of elders is important for transformation, but I have become convinced that one of the most important signs of kingdom transformation is increased unity. Our worship, our fellowship, and our witness are damaged when Christians are at odds with each other. Disunity is unattractive and even repugnant... Read more »
	Do Elders Need to be Members of the Congregation? Posted on September 26, 2011, 11:45 pm In our time there are many who participate in the life of the congregation but do not become members. Part of the ministry of the leadership needs to address the importance of membership covenants and relationships. This is about our life together in Christ. Read more »
	Leading in Learning Posted on September 5, 2011, 9:15 pm \| 3 comments According to David Lyle Jeffrey (Books & Culture - A Critique of All Religions), in the church in China “one may expect to find much higher levels of biblical literacy and theological clarity by three to five years post-conversion than amongst American counterparts after two or three decades in the church.” This got me thinking... Read more »
	The Ministry of Healing and the Work of Elder Posted on August 24, 2011, 12:07 am \| 3 comments Confession of sin is part of the healing process. It's important to note that this does not mean that a particular sin was the cause of sickness. It does mean that when we come before the Lord with a request on our lips we also prepare to enter into the presence of God. Coming before the Lord is not a “right,” but a gift of the Lord. Read more »
	The Elder, Worship and the Church Order Posted on August 15, 2011, 1:02 pm \| 3 comments 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. Read more »
	The Praying Elder Posted on August 1, 2011, 4:58 pm \| 1 comment But what good is it to say (paraphrasing James 2:16) “I will pray for you” when we do not provide the support which is within our means. Sometimes we are the answer to the prayer. Read more »
	Pastoral Care, Homosexuality and the Elder Posted on June 27, 2011, 2:35 pm \| 7 comments The elders care within the congregation is first and foremost the practice of being the presence of Christ. As representatives of Christ every strategy begins with an attitude that says “I am with you and for you.” This attitude is present long before any conversation takes place. There are at least two elements: unconditional love and Read more »
	Fearing Rightly Posted on June 27, 2011, 2:12 pm \| 1 comment Fear needs to be rightly trained. Fear needs to be disciplined by the guidance of the triune God and experience of deep love. Much of what we fear displays a mistrust of God’s guidance and direction. Much of what we fear reveals the inadequacy of the love in community. This past synod (June 2011) reveals many conversations we need to have. Read more »

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	A Covenant Engagement Posted on January 3, 2012, 12:49 am \| 1 comment Family and friendship ties may help us keep somewhat informed about life in other congregations, but these informal relationships are inadequate. The quality and depth of the relationships require deeper conversation and shared life. This happens by taking seriously the Read more »
	Elders and Accountability Posted on December 5, 2011, 11:09 pm 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 »
	Christmas, Occupy Wall Street, and Christian Formation Posted on November 22, 2011, 12:43 am \| 3 comments Spiritual formation never happens in a vacuum. It always happens when the call of the gospel challenges our habits of thinking and our way of living. Tension alerts us and invites us to pay attention. Amid the tension we can speak words that encourage new faithfulness. Read more »
	Who Do You Say That I Am? Posted on November 8, 2011, 9:35 am If a person is trustworthy, we give trust easily. If a person is unreliable, we learn not to count on that person. If a person is vindictive, we become wary. So it ought not be a surprise that our understanding of God – the attributes and images we carry around in our head – make a difference in ... Read more »
	Grace Among the Weeds Posted on October 31, 2011, 11:39 am It is hard to imagine that weeds are a sign of grace, yet that’s what the Parable of the Weeds and Wheat is suggesting (Matthew 13). Everyday I drive by fields (now harvested) of various grains. The farmers I know prefer fields without weeds. Jesus words are striking... Read more »
	Getting Rid of a Minister Posted on October 19, 2011, 3:57 pm \| 5 comments The title may seem a bit crass -- and actually it is -- but that is precisely the question that I am asked most often as a stated clerk by elders: "How do we get rid of our minister?" I vividly recall the conversation from the chair of council who actually began our phone conversation with that question. I quickly learned that he was the one having difficulty with his pastor and he simply wanted him 'gone'. Read more »
	Gratitude and Christian Formation Posted on October 17, 2011, 9:28 pm \| 1 comment Every Thanksgiving Day – Canadian thanksgiving just passed - becomes on occasion for a preacher to reflect deeply on the very act of gratitude. This year was no different. If we want to help people grow in the life with God, practices of gratitude are a... Read more »
	Elders - Agents of Kingdom Transformation Posted on October 5, 2011, 12:20 pm Each of the responsibilities of elders is important for transformation, but I have become convinced that one of the most important signs of kingdom transformation is increased unity. Our worship, our fellowship, and our witness are damaged when Christians are at odds with each other. Disunity is unattractive and even repugnant... Read more »
	Do Elders Need to be Members of the Congregation? Posted on September 26, 2011, 11:45 pm In our time there are many who participate in the life of the congregation but do not become members. Part of the ministry of the leadership needs to address the importance of membership covenants and relationships. This is about our life together in Christ. Read more »
	Leading in Learning Posted on September 5, 2011, 9:15 pm \| 3 comments According to David Lyle Jeffrey (Books & Culture - A Critique of All Religions), in the church in China “one may expect to find much higher levels of biblical literacy and theological clarity by three to five years post-conversion than amongst American counterparts after two or three decades in the church.” This got me thinking... Read more »
	The Ministry of Healing and the Work of Elder Posted on August 24, 2011, 12:07 am \| 3 comments Confession of sin is part of the healing process. It's important to note that this does not mean that a particular sin was the cause of sickness. It does mean that when we come before the Lord with a request on our lips we also prepare to enter into the presence of God. Coming before the Lord is not a “right,” but a gift of the Lord. Read more »
	The Elder, Worship and the Church Order Posted on August 15, 2011, 1:02 pm \| 3 comments 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. Read more »
	The Praying Elder Posted on August 1, 2011, 4:58 pm \| 1 comment But what good is it to say (paraphrasing James 2:16) “I will pray for you” when we do not provide the support which is within our means. Sometimes we are the answer to the prayer. Read more »
	Pastoral Care, Homosexuality and the Elder Posted on June 27, 2011, 2:35 pm \| 7 comments The elders care within the congregation is first and foremost the practice of being the presence of Christ. As representatives of Christ every strategy begins with an attitude that says “I am with you and for you.” This attitude is present long before any conversation takes place. There are at least two elements: unconditional love and Read more »
	Fearing Rightly Posted on June 27, 2011, 2:12 pm \| 1 comment Fear needs to be rightly trained. Fear needs to be disciplined by the guidance of the triune God and experience of deep love. Much of what we fear displays a mistrust of God’s guidance and direction. Much of what we fear reveals the inadequacy of the love in community. This past synod (June 2011) reveals many conversations we need to have. Read more »