https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Tue, 23 Apr 2024 07:16:48 +0000 Thu, 11 Aug 2016 15:41:03 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/over-supply The other day I came across an article that spoke of fears that there was an oversupply of pastors.  Too many people were graduating from Seminary and the church did not know where to put them. While those fears sound contemporary, the article was written sixty years ago. Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/over-supply Thu, 11 Aug 2016 15:41:03 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/pastors-shop A plan for a possible renovation to our church building includes a room labeled “Pastor’s Shop.”  It is not a misprint. The designer is well aware of what happens in such a space, and chose the word for a reason. Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/pastors-shop Tue, 02 Feb 2016 14:36:07 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/who-does-classis-serve In one classis where I’d served, most of our attention and energy was focused elsewhere. This was a time of great turmoil in the Christian Reformed Church. Issues were being hotly debated and a few leading members of classis were intensely interested in the outcome of these debates.&nbs Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/who-does-classis-serve Tue, 20 Oct 2015 17:27:49 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/trusting-spirit A comment made about the process for selecting the executives of Synod 2015 stood out to me. In response to the news that choosing by lot had been part of the selection process, someone commented that it was good to see that we are learning to trust the Spirit just a little. Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/trusting-spirit Tue, 11 Aug 2015 18:34:59 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/pray-pastor I was recently asked to pray before the meal at my niece’s wedding. Afterwards one of my sons told me that I’d “prayed like a pastor.” It bugged me. Even when he explained that I’d said pastor kind of things and not things you’d expect from an uncle in that setting, it still bugged me. Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/pray-pastor Wed, 29 Jul 2015 15:01:19 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/candidacy/clogged-system In a post titled The System, Scott Hoezee becomes the latest person to suggest that the Christian Reformed Church’s system for calling pastors may no longer be serving the church well. Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/candidacy/clogged-system Mon, 13 Jul 2015 13:05:17 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/weighing-classical-exams I observed a classical exam recently. There is nothing unusual about that. Over the last ten years, classis Chatham has conducted more than fifteen exams. Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/weighing-classical-exams Tue, 30 Jun 2015 13:34:39 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/financial-shalom/caring-pastors/any-other-name My father was ordained as an evangelist. At least that is the term that was used then. If he were serving today, he would be called a commissioned pastor. A few years ago he would have been known as a ministry associate. Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/financial-shalom/caring-pastors/any-other-name Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:47:45 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/classical-appointment-endangered-species The classical appointment might be an endangered species. If you are unfamiliar with the term because this practice, also known as classical pulpit supply, has already gone extinct in your area, a classical appointment was one way churches in a region helped each other. Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/classical-appointment-endangered-species Fri, 22 May 2015 14:14:54 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/clear-decks Something I once read suggested that organizations should periodically clear the decks, disband every committee, and run lean for a season before asking what structures are really needed to carry out the mission of the organization. Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/clear-decks Wed, 29 Apr 2015 13:44:52 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/long-pastorates-old-problem “The extremely long pastorates of our day...place a great strain on many a congregation and especially upon its minister.” That comment may sound familiar, but it is not new.  I came across it while browsing through an old church order commentary (yes, I do know how that sounds). Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/long-pastorates-old-problem Tue, 14 Apr 2015 13:50:05 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/diakonia-redux-will-deacons-get-voice I am not sure I’ve ever heard a deacon speak up at classis. Though deacons have been delegated to Classis Chatham for seven years, I’d be hard pressed to identify how their presence has affected the meetings of classis. Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/diakonia-redux-will-deacons-get-voice Tue, 07 Apr 2015 14:19:54 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/break-it A number of years ago, I was a guest at a Presbytery meeting. Never having attended a meeting like this before, I was a little surprised to find that after the opening worship this presbytery broke up into committees. Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/break-it Thu, 12 Mar 2015 19:50:35 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/one-hundred Is 100 members the threshold for congregational viability?   Harry Boessenkool says as much in a response to "Does Classis Help Churches". Citing some statistics about the number of Christian Reformed Churche Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/one-hundred Thu, 19 Feb 2015 21:10:44 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/self-diagnosis-and-church-visiting “I doubt that church visiting is very effective anymore.” Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/self-diagnosis-and-church-visiting Fri, 06 Feb 2015 15:58:54 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/does-classis-help-churches I was visiting a church council as part of a classical visioning process.  Our Classis had asked each church council to participate in an appreciate inquiry about classis.  While there, it became clear that few members could remember a time when their church felt engaged and motivated b Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/does-classis-help-churches Fri, 30 Jan 2015 21:32:14 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/church-order/what-do-ministers-do In the Evolution of the Pastoral Ministry Sam Hamstra outlines how the roles and functions of the pastor have changed over the last century.  Hamstra describes a paring down of the office as some traditional functions Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/church-order/what-do-ministers-do Wed, 21 Jan 2015 20:32:43 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/me In the last couple of weeks I have seen “Like us on Facebook” on the signs of two different churches and a truck dealership. Am I just old, or is there something odd about that? Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/me Tue, 16 Dec 2014 16:48:03 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/classical-consultants Years ago I needed some advice and I called to talk to a Home Missions regional leader. Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/classical-consultants Tue, 09 Dec 2014 14:20:24 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/why-staff I once interviewed with a church search committee as part of a calling process. Norman Visser https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/why-staff Tue, 02 Dec 2014 14:10:13 +0000