Amid the widespread discussion about 'the future of the church,' an important point is sometimes overlooked: tomorrow's church will depend to a great extent on the new pastors of today who will serve and guide our churches in the years ahead. George Mason's “Preparing the Pastors We Need: Reclaiming the Congregation's Role in Training Clergy” makes a timely intervention, asking us to redefine pastoral leadership by analyzing how, in fact, pastors...

Thousands of ministers burn out every year; others fall prey to sexual temptation. With piercing honesty, Leaders that Last dismantles stale stereotypes about pastors and offers hope for handling their recurring, daily struggles. Co-authored by a minister who admits to struggling with periodic bouts of depression, this practical resource offers a hopeful message for pastors of every denomination. Serving a church is a lonely business no matter how...

Fulfilling the demands of clergy persons when a member dies is both diverse and challenging. Presumptions are made as to your expertise and prior experience with similar circumstances. But what happens when expectations are higher than your preparation, who can you turn to for support? I offer the Ringmaster as a tool to help you navigate the waters. This book is an intimate look at actual death and grief events and examples of the care provided...

Serving faithfully in one's current congregation while simultaneously going through the secretive process of looking for a new position is one of the most difficult dilemmas of any pastor's life. How should one respond to 'getting the itch'? Where is the line between keeping confidentialities and presenting one's credentials in the most favourable and realistic light? What are the consequences of being an active candidate? Antal's companionable approach...

Pope John Paul II - Tear down your wall of sins. A Spider Trap, the sequel to Don't Holler at Me, I Didn't Write the Bible, gives a vivid crisis of the problems that are embedded throughout the Christian Bible that dove-tail precisely with the problems that are embed in the clergy within the Roman Catholic Church, as well as all denominations of religion established that are of the Christian faith. Don't Holler at Me, I Didn't Write the Bible first...

Twenty years after “Critical Moment of Ministry” was first published, Loren Mead returns to his groundbreaking work on one of the most important times in a congregation's life-the time between one pastor's leaving and another's arrival. In this edition of “A Change of Pastors”, Mead shares the wisdom he gained from 35 years of studying congregations, wisdom that he hopes will allow congregations to take full advantage of this "extraordinarily...

The authors combine clinical psychology and spiritual direction to create a practical model of spirituality that integrates theology, psychology, and an understanding of individual frailties in a new way. Spiritual Wholeness draws on counseling experience with more than 400 clergy and pinpoints the human problems, traps, and temptations awaiting those who choose the clergy role. Clergy will learn to develop and maintain a psychologically healthy spirituality...

When we have questions, whether they be questions of fact or faith, where do we go in search of answers? More and more the answer these days is the internet. With over 2.4 billion of us online today, being internet savvy is essential for spiritual leaders. Rev. Dr. Lauren Speeth's eMinistry - Virtual Pathways for Spiritual Leadership serves as a guide for ministers looking to learn how to effectively communicate and expand their ministry online. Written...

Many professional ministers struggle at some point with the desire to pursue another career. For those at such a place on their journey, this book poses questions, offers practical suggestions gathered from other ministers who have traveled this path, and shares insights from the authors' own experiences of career change. The authors emphasize two principles. First, entertaining the possibility of leaving professional ministry is not to be condemned...

Rev. Anne Barber takes an in-depth look at a difficult subject for Christians to talk about. Since the first Christian flocks were formed, the cause of Christ has been hurt by predatory shepherds. Much media attention is given to the fallen pastor when his sins are exposed, but what becomes of the sheep that he seduced and morally abused? Pastor Anne offers words of compassion, understanding, and healing to help these sheep regain a sense of self-value...