In a recent conversation, a pastor whose father was also a pastor related to me this interesting observation. The elder pastor said, “In my generation, if you could really hang your hat on one or two aspects of ministry, you…
Honest to God
How can we talk about orthodoxy or orthopraxy when best and brightest pastors have too much integrity to lie to get the approval they need to serve?
The fear of disappointing can’t drive a pastor’s life
Every day, I walk a fine line between servant leadership and people-pleasing. Some days, I get it right. Other days, I can’t even see the line. Let’s face it — pastors are human. We like to help people and fix…
Church planting may lead to marriage woes, food stamp eligibility, reports study
Financial stress is overtaking many church planters, leading some to even consider quitting the calling altogether, new research shows. An April study by The Barna Group found that only 41 percent of church planters feel personally secure in their finances,…
If it does, then it is
When I quit my job as a pastor eight months ago, I had very different expectations as to how my time as an unprofessionally religious grocery clerk would unfold.
No one warned me that ministry would make a mortician out of me
I want to build the casket and dig the hole. We usually hire those jobs out, but I want to do it myself. Remember the scene in Harry Potter where Harry buries Dobby, but refuses to use magic? Something about…
‘If the church is so great, then why are you teaching in seminary?’
During my first class as a professor at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology, I began waxing poetic on my years as a pastor and the glory of preaching: “What could be more wonderful than to imagine your way back…
Who owns a pastor’s body?
The roots of inappropriate comments and congregational entitlement.
Sermon making — a peek behind the curtain
In my free time I’ve recently begun watching the PBS series Grantchester, a television show about a village priest who solves murders in his free time. Since my free time doesn’t seem to be as generous as Mr. Chambers’, the…