I am away this week at the annual conference of the Presbytery Pastoral Care Network that is meeting prior to the Presbyterian Big Tent. One of the things that we continue to discuss is how we can develop stronger support for clergy. I am wondering what you think is the biggest challenge for pastors these days. Below is a brief survey that I would be delighted to have you respond to.
So that it might be part of a conversation, use the response/comment area below and let’s see what responses we can gather.
A: List the 5 biggest challenges to a pastor’s sanity.
- Excessive need to please
- Inability to handle conflict
- Takes criticism too personally
- Not skilled in managing one’s time
- Failure to keep strong spiritual discipline.
- Buy in to society[s definition of success
- Too dependent on other people’s op-inions
- Lack of training in management skills
- Lone ranger concept of ministry
- Stress of family relationships.
- Other __________________________________
List top four resources that would best assist judicatories and churches in caring for Clergy
- Good policies on Boundaries
- Access to skilled consultants on church managements
- Good plan on how to keep in contact with clergy
- Ways to educate congregation on clergy care
- Ideas on how to strengthen colleague-ship among clergy
- Plans to nurture clergy spirituality
- Building more joy into presbytery gatherings
- How to respond to disillusioned clergy
- Ways to confront clergy abuse
- Other __________________________________________
Name two important questions that no one seems to be asking about church and ministry these days but should be.
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In addition, I hope you are keeping up with my series on the fictional but true lives of clergy. amzn.to/13VO446 As always, it will be a great help if you will write a review for Amazon.
