Category: The Pastoral Adventure – Some Realities

Over the years the Pastoral Search Committees (PSC’s) of our churches have been encouraged to give very careful thought to the shaping of their pastoral profiles before undertaking interviews. The pastoral profile is a usually a comprehensive description of the qualities which the PSC is seeking in a new pastor, given the ministry task identified […]

There are few challenges greater than commencing a new ministry with a new congregation. Such a step is the culmination of much prayer, thought, conversation and heartburn (probably as much for the church as for yourself on all counts). It is helpful to keep some important issues in mind as you take up this new […]

Of all the dilemmas which confront pastors, there is only one which is more tantalising than the acceptance of a call to a new ministry. It is the timing of one’s departure from a church. Despite all the practical counsel we may offer to others in helping them understand the will of God, when it […]

Paul’s tent making business represents one of the earliest examples of bi-vocational ministry.  Churches with limited resources will continue to opt for part time ministry. There are some significant implications for pastors which need to be tabled and pondered: The Reality! A congregation of fewer than around, say, 75 committed worshippers will find it difficult […]

Multi staff church leadership teams have long been a reality across churches of all denominations.  While most of these are found in urban settings, churches in larger regional and even rural centres have found the resources to add staff to form pastoral teams. The reasons for additional pastors…. The expansion of the pastoral team is […]

For all our talk about community and openness in the life of the church, when it comes to the crunch there are several no go areas.  Like it or not there are some hot potatoes which few are game enough to address.  Churches will simply not raise them with their pastors despite there being a […]

A few years back a pastor who left his congregation under a cloud defined rather wistfully the kind of church he would like to be called to in the future: one where he would be accepted for who he was, where the leadership had great vision and where there were no critics. He is still […]

Planners and diaries, like fire and water, are wonderful servants but dreadful masters. Given that the day-to-day exercise of the pastoral ministry has such an unknown quantity about it, planning ahead may seem to be an exercise in futility. We frequently complain about shortages of time and the stresses arising from unexpected demands which can […]

If the capacity for fun is God given, one can only wonder what tickles God’s sense of humour. If mortals can see the amusing side to difficult situations, it is a safe bet that God is wonderfully able to do the same. Surely heaven must rock with the laughter of God as He ponders the […]

With thanks for responses from the BUV Ordinands’ Retreat, February 2000 Effective pastoral leadership can be demonstrated in as many ways as there are the pastors who respond to the divine call to serve a congregation.  But there is one congregational perception which is extremely hard to put to rest without a great deal of […]

Christian leadership is about: Presence not power Stature not status Character not charm An effective leader is one who is more concerned about: Relationships than outcomes Patience than progress Grace than guilt Inspiring leadership requires: Internal security A freedom from having to prove anything to anybody An active willingness to help others achieve and receive […]