I like your idea, Keith! As you might gather from the article itself, I want to see every Christian 'grow up'. Your idea might be one way to open up the conversation between pastors and their congregations. I love to see 'lay persons' eagerly seeking growth and transformation - for their pastor, their fellow parishioners and for themselves. I want to discourage any trend of merely downloading onto 'the church' the responsibility for 'growing up' and encourage each of us (pastor, elder, member, guest) in the church to advocate and act for our own learning and growth. I think pastors can be healthy examples of this: If pastors have a humble, earnest, Christ-imitating approach to 'Continuing Education and Sabbatical Leave' and the congregation properly owns their role in their own growth and facilitating the growth of the pastor, then I'm convinced both personal and corporate benefits will follow.
Posted in: Growing Up: Continuing Education and Sabbatical Leave
I like your idea, Keith! As you might gather from the article itself, I want to see every Christian 'grow up'. Your idea might be one way to open up the conversation between pastors and their congregations. I love to see 'lay persons' eagerly seeking growth and transformation - for their pastor, their fellow parishioners and for themselves. I want to discourage any trend of merely downloading onto 'the church' the responsibility for 'growing up' and encourage each of us (pastor, elder, member, guest) in the church to advocate and act for our own learning and growth. I think pastors can be healthy examples of this: If pastors have a humble, earnest, Christ-imitating approach to 'Continuing Education and Sabbatical Leave' and the congregation properly owns their role in their own growth and facilitating the growth of the pastor, then I'm convinced both personal and corporate benefits will follow.