1,000 FANS CAN’T BE WRONG
Well, they could be, and you might even debate whether becoming a friend on Facebook makes you one of my fans. However, because you agreed to befriend me on Facebook, makes me think that you share some interest in what I am doing to contribute to nurturing a healthy spirituality in our fractured world. You might even dare to think that the church can, by God’s grace, and despite its many weaknesses, become part of God’s healing presence. God takes delight in doing what humans often think is impossible.
I think the church, especially the mainline churches of our society, are experiencing a major transformation, and clergy who are seeking to offer leadership in this era are facing excessive stress.
Like many of you, I love the church and want to assist the faith community as it evolves in the midst of our fractured society. I believe that the healthier our clergy leadership are, the more likely we will create healthy congregations amid this confusing society.
Does this describe some of the major challenges that our current spiritual leaders confront?
- People who want direct and simple answers in a
complex and confusing world.
- People who insist that the church and clergy meet their perceived needs rather than challenge them with a Gospel that invites them to faithful servanthood.
- People who measure success in material gain and emotional preferences and fear the mystery and hospitality for strangers.
- People who avoid commitment to any community or institution beyond their immediate control.
This at a time when the denominational structures are weakening in all denominations.
- They are affected by institutional distrust throughout
society.
- They and their denomination face a shrinkage of finances.
- Their faith is a faith based on feelings and has avoided in depth theological thought.
Any of you who are willing to risk about ten minutes of time (and no money) to test out my thesis that HEALTHY CLERGY MAKE HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS are invited to receive one of my booklets, Being a Pastor in an Anxious Congregations by clicking on this link
The risk is that you will at least temporarily be put on my email list that will be used to share other materials on the same subject. (I say temporarily because you can always opt out later and keep the booklet.)
I also hope you will pass the link on to your favorite pastor and let them test out the idea as well.
Or you can click on the link just because you want to do me a favor and see if this process works.
THANKS FOR RISKING TEN MINUTES TO DO ME A FAVOR.
