Tag: pastors

Ministry Nuts and Bolts: What does the pastor need to know

I’ve recently wrote about things that church leaders need to know about and be trained in beyond the narrower limits of theological and even pastoral care education and training. I followed this up with a specific article about finances.  This prompted some feedback asking for further articles looking at practical aspects of leadership from safeguarding… Continue reading Ministry Nuts and Bolts: What does the pastor need to know

Boris and a question of character

As I write, Boris Johnson is still clinging on to power. That could change quickly.  Prime Ministers are remembered as much by how the leave office as anything.  Gordon Brown will be remembered for eventually leaving with his two sons and a level of dignity left, David Cameron for humming a care free tune as… Continue reading Boris and a question of character

What is the Biblical basis for financially supporting pastors?

Having spent ten years as a paid pastor in a church, I’ve spent the past year and a bit in a slightly different position.  I’m currently self-supported which means I’m responsible for raising my own support.  There are a lot of positives and benefits to this.  One reason I was keen to spend some time… Continue reading What is the Biblical basis for financially supporting pastors?

Approval

A little while back I wrote a little on the way that we can be tempted by three types of idol: approval, comfort and security.  Now one of the things about idols is that they tend to be parasitical on things that are genuine needs and in and of themselves, in context, within boundaries are… Continue reading Approval

Pastors and PTSD

From time to time I write specifically about the impact of mental health issues on pastors and church leaders. I’ve recently returned to the subject again writing about depression here and here.  I wanted to follow up these articles by writing a little about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is described on the MIND… Continue reading Pastors and PTSD

Why do we struggle to talk about pastors and depression?

A few years back I was asked to cover a couple of sessions for a ministry training course. One of the sessions was on “failure.” The request came with a couple of those expected awkward jokes along the lines of “we aren’t picking you for any specific reason.” Indeed, at the time, arguably I’d not… Continue reading Why do we struggle to talk about pastors and depression?

Discerning a calling (2) Why we need to look backwards

Some of the questions you will want to ask when helping someone to discern a calling focus on what has happened in the past?  Can’t we just forget the past and look forward to the future? Well, there’s certainly a risk that we can refuse to consider people for ministry now because of what has… Continue reading Discerning a calling (2) Why we need to look backwards

Discerning a calling (1) A process for the local church

The place where potential pastors, youth and children’s leaders and women’s workers are likely to be identified is in the local church and that’s exactly where it should be.  A healthy church wants to encourage members of the church family to use their gifts to serve the Gospel.  In some cases, this will mean considering… Continue reading Discerning a calling (1) A process for the local church

Your pastor has considered giving up

That’s perhaps not the headline you wanted to read is it? However, this is the challenging reality. At some point your pastor/vicar/elders have thought  “I could just walk out the building after the service finishes, in fact, I could do it right now. I could shut the Bible, walk out and never come back here.”… Continue reading Your pastor has considered giving up