Leadership
The Most Insidious Cult Of Them All
Forget the Sunday afternoon door knockers with their magazines, or the mantra chanters who leap up and down in Swanston Street, or the duo cyclists in their suits and ties. When it comes to the cults, they are small fry. We have already been sucked in, comprehensively seduced by a cult that has wrought enormous […]
Those Church Splits: We Need A Better Way
It is every pastor’s nightmare. Much worse than losing the plot in the middle of the sermon, or forgetting the Christian name of the blushing bride who wonders why you have pulled up in the middle of the vows, or dropping someone mid plunge in the baptistry. It makes the debate over who should have […]
Don’t Look Now, But They’re Just Like You
No, not your kids. Or your other rellies. It’s your congregation. Those folks who call your church their home. The ones who are so able to bring great joy and great drama all in the one hit. They are getting more like you every day. The longer you are with them, the more they are […]
Put Your Hand Up If You Are Drowning
We’ve all met the hyperactive pastor who claims to read three books a week minimum (why get out of bed in the morning?), listens to half a dozen cassettes every other day (do they ever talk to their partner or kids?), reads all their magazines (I don’t open all of mine let alone read them), […]
In Defence Of Little Old Ladies
Uncertainties about the value of pastoral visitation are sometimes expressed by busy ministers in the well worn declaration, "I do not have the time to have cups of tea with little old ladies." Now what’s wrong with cups of tea and, more particularly, with little old ladies who apparently do not need active pastoral interest? […]
Differences Into New Directions
In case you had not realised it, we do not have the greatest of track records when it comes to sorting out differences within our congregations. We come to blows too fast; we play for sheep stations often over issues which are hardly worth the time of day. Or, we prefer peace at any price. […]
Who’s In Charge Around Here?
When the disciples in a moment of unbridled ambition argued the toss about who would wear the stripes, they started a debate which still rages on. The twentieth century friends of Jesus still have it on their agenda and it is still causing pain to the body of Christ. The lust for control and power […]
Part Time Ministry
Paul’s tent making business represents one of the earliest examples of bi-vocational ministry. Part time pastorates have been a crucial dimension of our church life here in Victoria throughout our history. With the number of churches opting for part time leadership increasing, this will remain so. There are some serious implications for pastors which need […]
Baby Boomers
What Should Our Response Be? These days every pastor probably has a dray load of books and articles on baby boomers. These products of the post war period have been variously described as self centred, consumer driven, highly mobile, not given to making long term commitments, distrustful of institutions and highly focussed when it comes […]
Who Rings The Doorbell Now?
Is the home visit finished? Has this classic pastoral care strategy finally fallen by the way side? It seems that the door bells are not being rung as often these days. The preacher cum house caller model of pastoral leadership is fading. The old adage of the "home visiting pastor producing a church going people" […]
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