This is a public forum to share ideas, ask questions, and reflect on being a pastor in the CRC.
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A frightfully realistic, hence necessary corollary to all axioms of leadership is this: Church leaders WILL trip, stumble and fall. Not all will do irreparable damage to themselves or others as they fall; sometimes no one but God notices. Regardless, the result is always disheartening.
The ultimate goal of CRCNA ministries is to transform lives and communities worldwide. Now that’s a goal! How do we even begin to tackle a goal as grand as this? One step at a time.
What are some healthy congregational practices that will help pastors and other leaders to flourish?
Today's churches offer more diverse programs than ever before, and church leaders must deal with increasingly complex issues. Pastors, too, are challenged by greater demands on their time and increasing stress levels.
When the Christian Reformed Church North America was awarded a Lilly Endowment grant of nearly $2 million in September 2002, the funding provided the momentum for an initiative with the potential to transform local churches and their pastors through “Sustaining Pastoral Excellence.”
The Christian Reformed Church now has a $2 million program called “Sustaining Pastoral Excellence.” Notice that it says “sustaining” pastoral excellence and not “producing” such excellence.
A pastor’s care can be costly, and the expense is not salary-related. Many pastors simply pay too high a price to practice their profession. It’s a condition common among the helping professionals—sometimes referred to as the “cost of caring.”
Ministry is one of the most demanding professions in the North American environment. It is a profoundly satisfying task because pastors daily have opportunities to impact others for all eternity. Yet, in spite of its eternal implications, it is a wrenching and draining profession as well.
For a landscaper, growing grass is proof of a job well done. But how does one define success in ministry? To sustain pastoral excellence, we need a definition of pastoral ministry success that is viable.
Much to the delight of some, renewal occurs in surprising, unintentional ways. This article explores the benefit of peer group programs for pastoral renewal.
Churches and pastors together must meet on the dance floor of change and be completely honest with each other there. The change process, big or small, in any church is a dance between the congregation and the pastor.
In the Ministry Today magazine, they recently had an article entitled 9 Reasons Christians Don't Evangelize. How can we, the church, renew our passion for sharing the Gospel?
What does it look like for a seminary to be welcoming and inclusive for people with disabilities? In what ways can we equip pastors, theologians, missionaries and psychologists to be more sensitive to the issues surrounding disabilities?
Anyone living in our culture today is vulnerable to addiction — including pastors. However, because of their position as spiritual leaders, pastors can have a hard time reaching out for help.
I know from experience how difficult it is to prepare and deliver those kinds of sermons. I’d suggest three approaches for preachers and their support communities to strengthen such intergenerational preaching.
In his challenging article "Why Expository Preaching is the Power for Pastoral Ministry" Michael Milton demonstrates from the Scripture eight benefits of constant, consistent and careful opening of God's Word.
Whatever else Easter means, it does not mean people stop dying. The Thessalonians knew what we still know: namely, the stark and stubborn fact of death in our world poses a most difficult challenge to our faith.
Should it matter to us that the people who seem to have the most to say about certain issues Christians rightly care about do not themselves have any formal biblical-theological training?
Be encouraged by the stories of three pastors' wives who share a common bond in the joys and challenges of being married to a pastor.
In this insightful article, Laurie Carnright Edwards reflects on the “unexpected blessings” of her role as a pastor’s wife — a role she once swore she’d never have.
How do we develop a pattern of lifelong learning that intentionally reflects the broadness of our calling?
I think we can all agree that focusing on wellbeing at work is of great importance, and benefit, to both the employee and the employer. Have you ever wondered how that looks for pastors?
Several years ago, I taught a course in pastoral care at Calvin Seminary. Feeling innovative, I beamed in Jaco Hamman from Vanderbilt University and asked him a simple question—at least, I thought it was a simple question.
Focusing our ministry attention on young adults has been a popular topic of conversation recently. But as someone who has been engaged in ministry with children for over 30 years, I’m concerned that we’re skipping over a generation.
Finding it challenging to come up with ways to include children? Here are some ideas to help.