Helping Clergy Enjoy

Dealing with Boundary Issues

 KEEPING HEALTHY BOUNDARIES

As a presbytery exec or general presbyter, you have the responsibility to offer training for the clergy around boundary issues. You offer workshops and hope they have some value. Nevertheless, you continue to worry about the pastors within your care. How do you help your colleagues in the ministry have a deeper discussion about a volatile issue that is shattering the trust between clergy and congregations?

A CORROSIVE EFFECT OF SCANDALS

After 45 years as an ordained Presbyterian clergy, including a brief stint as a General Presbyter in Salem Presbytery, I worry about the corrosive effect that the media’s fascination with sex scandals in the church is having on those who continue to serve faithfully in the ministry. At the same time, we dare not deny that clergy are sexual beings and the ministry presents more than the usual amount of temptations for inappropriate intimacy. So how do we assist clergy confront that reality in a safe and supportive manner.

ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE

SERIOUS PURPOSE

Several presbytery executives have shared with me the importance of building colleague support groups. Consider the effect of such a group enjoying reading a book together that included a guide to discussing the issue of boundaries for clergy? I have recently written a mystery book, A Star and a Tear that has gotten good reviews as a mystery but also as a basis for clergy discussing the issue of boundaries among themselves.

COMMENTS FROM REVIEWS

 Susan Andrews, Former moderator of the General Assembly and General Presbyter of the Presbytery of Hudson River writes, “McCutchan deals with the tension between sexuality and spirituality in a very creative way – making clear that misconduct is not appropriate, but clearly affirming the role of sexuality in a whole pastoral life.”

J Barrie Shepherd, Presbyterian poet and novelist writes, “McCutchan certainly knows how to tell a tale, and his action filled plot and intriguing characters command the reader’s interest all the way to the gripping climactic scenes.The topic is interesting and timely as well. I appreciated some of the good insights about pastoral relationships, boundaries, and sexuality that emerged as characters had conversations with each other and as we overheard their thoughts.”

Bill Leonard, Professor of Church History at Wake Forest University writes, “Like peeling a sanctified onion, Stephen McCutchan removes layers of identity and action in American church life.”

Jill Crainshaw, Associate Dean for Academics, Wake Forest Divinity School writes, “McCutchan invites readers to consider pressing contemporary issues that revolve around pastoral relationships, boundaries, and sexuality. Novels whose stories and characters entertain as well as stretch readers’ minds are a gift. A Star and a Tear is such a gift.”

DISCUSS THIS BOOK & HELP YOUR CLERGY

There are three ways that you or a person responsible for clergy care can check out whether this book might benefit your clergy discussing it among themselves.

One, you can use Amazon’s Look Inside or free sample feature and test it out.

Two, I’ve deliberately kept the digital price of this book low. Click on amzn.to/1aTDdgs and you can get this book for $3.99. Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can download a free Ap to read the book on your notebook, iPhone, etc.

Three, if you contact me, steve@smccutchan.com, I can send you a PDF copy of the manuscript that can be read on your computer.

SPECIAL PRICING FOR GROUP READS

 If, having read the book and deciding that you would like one or more groups to read it together, I can offer you a discount for bulk purchases of print copies. If you contact me, steve@smccutchan.com, I can provide you with a discount code for a bulk purchase of the book on Amazon. With this code, once you have told Amazon how many books you want, you go to check out and following the total of your purchase, there will be a box where you place this discount code.

Having been in the pastorate for over 45 years, served briefly as an interim General Presbyter, and composed the newsletter for the Presbytery Pastoral Care Network for several years, I am very aware of the stress that clergy endure. If this mystery novel can help you help them, I will be pleased.

If you have questions, please contact me.

 Thank you for the work you do on behalf of the whole church.

Stephen McCutchan