In conjunction with today’s post, I encourage you to read the following article by Mark Galli as a complement to what I have to say here. As usual, Mark is spot on. * * * The Leadership Cult Why are we fascinated with the very thing Jesus warned us against? by Mark Galli, 11/13/2008, ChristianityContinue reading “Why “Leaders” Are Not the Church’s Greatest Need”
Category Archives: Pastoral Ministry
Randy Thompson: If it seems like your pastor is crazy…
Note from CM: Randy Thompson is one of our faithful readers and commenters. Randy and his wife Jill have served churches in New England for over twenty years and are now running a retreat in New Hampshire called Forest Haven where they minister to other ministers. Today’s post will help you understand why they feel this isContinue reading “Randy Thompson: If it seems like your pastor is crazy…”
One of My Favorite Cases
A few years ago, I was involved in a unique chaplaincy situation with a patient and family that combined two of my greatest loves: pastoral care and Cubs baseball. It illustrates one of the basic principles I try to follow in pastoral ministry — Take interest in the interests of those you are trying toContinue reading “One of My Favorite Cases”
Pastoral Resources for Visiting the Sick and Dying
After this morning’s post, some have asked questions about resources for pastoral care, especially when it comes to visiting and ministering to the sick and dying. Let me give a few suggestions. First, the mainline and historic traditions usually have excellent resources for ministers. The contents of the best of these prayer books and pastor’sContinue reading “Pastoral Resources for Visiting the Sick and Dying”
A Central Part of the Mission
NOTE FROM CM: It was back in Nov. 2009 when I wrote my first piece for IM, an interview with Michael Spencer about pastoral care for the dying. The timing was ironic, for it took place right before Michael became ill with cancer. You can read the entire interview HERE. Today, in light of severalContinue reading “A Central Part of the Mission”
Thoughts on “Ministry”
Monday, Scot McKnight had a post reflecting on Graham Buxton’s book on pastoral theology, Dancing in the Dark: The Privilege of Participating in the Ministry of Christ. I haven’t read the book, but Scot’s post made me want to; and in the meantime, I like Buxton’s definition of “ministry” alot: “Christian ministry is fundamentally aboutContinue reading “Thoughts on “Ministry””
Open Mic: Pastoral Succession
John Piper has announced his intention to step down as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, a position he has filled for 32 years. Piper is not ill, and admits he still has the energy to pastor the church for at least another 10 years. But, he says, he feels his church is readyContinue reading “Open Mic: Pastoral Succession”
The Business and the Work
I am employed in the health care field. Working as a chaplain for a corporate entity has taught me a great deal, and has helped me reflect upon the make-up of the “corporate church” in America and the nature of its leadership. If you have read Internet Monk over the past two years, you knowContinue reading “The Business and the Work”
Carl
His name was Carl. An old New Englander, he was strong and mostly silent. He was always pleasant to me, a young minister who had come to the mountains to take the pulpit in my first church. As with many of the men who lived in those hills, it was his wife who was activelyContinue reading “Carl”
Mark D. Roberts: All Pastoring Is Personal
All Pastoring Is Personal From The Pastor’s Workshop Used with permission of the author Earlier this week, we reviewed Mark Roberts’ book introducing Advent. How happy I was when I went over to his blog and saw that he too has been writing on the subject of pastoral ministry. In fact, he has an excellentContinue reading “Mark D. Roberts: All Pastoring Is Personal”
The Internet Monk Archives 