Born and raised in the CRC -- and shocked to discover that doors that I didn't even know were shut flew open when I got married and took on a Dutch surname! 19 years as faculty at Bethel University in Minnesota, 9 years sharing the CRC Chaplaincy at the University of Northern BC with my dear husband Neil. Currently we are taking on short term projects (2-9 months) for churches and ministries in the midst of challenges and bumpy transitions.
Posted in: Safe Church Policy Provision for Youth Mentoring Program?
Thank you. That's very helpful.
Posted in: Do Training Materials Exist for Potential Deacons or Elders?
The comments below suggest that there is a wealth of good training material available for deacons -- but it looks thin when it comes to elders. Do people have any good resources to suggest for training elders?
Posted in: Do Training Materials Exist for Potential Deacons or Elders?
I've used "The Elders Handbook" in other years, but it felt like it best served the people who had already served as an elder for a year or more -- which in some years includes all the new elders, so that was good.
Posted in: Do Training Materials Exist for Potential Deacons or Elders?
Thanks for the thought about the recorded webinars. I've helped with orientation for elders for decades now... starting in years when I could not be an elder myself. Now I'm looking for ideas to help a younger generation consider the role and and responsibilities...
The materials we have seem to present the role of elder as a pastor sees that role, rather than as elders actually experience it. I'm particularly interested in how good training for council members could help create an environment in which Pastor/Council tensions are resolved without major trauma. We are in conversation with the Pastor/Church relations folks, too.
Posted in: Does Anyone Partner With Another Church to Have a Combined Youth Group?
This was a good question -- asked several years ago. I'm wondering if any of the participants in this original discussion could tell us what happened. How did things work out? Advice for others considering join youth groups with other churches?
Posted in: Where Did You Worship This Past Sunday?
Telkwa Community CRC -- Telkwa BC. Via Zoom with those in the snowy north.
Posted in: What Is the Church?
It looks like some words got accidentally cut out in the paragraph beginning "Through these dinners, we've....'
Posted in: What Is the Unofficial Dress Code at Your Church? Does it Matter?
25 years ago we were part of a church in which one of the deacons made a point of wearing his suit and tie once a month, scruffy clothes once a month, and kahki's and a polo shirt twice a month. His response to the church folks who complained (of the scruffy or the white-shirt days) was that he was consciously working to make the church comfortable for whoever dropped in. I was impressed. On a practical level, I appreciate it when churches tell you on their website what their dominant "dress code" is. When we travel and visit churches, I always look for this. One feels pretty weird showing up in a strange church if you are the only one in a dress or the only one in blue jeans!
Posted in: Books for a Campus Backpack?
I like every one of these books you suggest, Mark. But we've got to keep our eyes open for a female's perspective on these things. Don't any Christian women write books and blogs about faith and life at the university?
Posted in: Your Feedback = Chance to Win
You've done a nice job updating the site. Have I missed an easy way to see what is "trending" on it?
Posted in: Preventive Maintenance against Sermon Stealing
Both as a university chaplain and as a prof, I often found that students were troubled about the way they saw their pastors and youth group leaders using sources. They often looked at it as a personal issue: "how come he can paraphrase big hunks of Tim Keller without saying so, but I get nailed if I do that in a paper!?" Rarely did they want to admit that their pastor was being unethical. In the academic world plagiarism is a HUGE sin. In the church world it seems to be a minor one. To me this is a shameful dilemma.
The solution that I have advocated for pastors and youth group leaders is that they borrow freely -- and give the citations and credit freely. I like it very much when a pastor says something like "portions of this mesage have been gleaned from...(a variety of sources... three particular authors... whatever...) and you are welcome to check them out if you are interested. The details are posted (in the bulletin... in the hall outside my office... wherever)." This keeps the sermon free of distracting creditings, makes it clear that the preacher does not claim total originality and wants to give the sources their due, and lets geeks like me track down sources and ideas that interest me.
Posted in: The Houses That Build Us: My (Slightly Dramatic) Network Farewell
Thanks for your good work!