Comments for Leading to Serve http://leadingtoserve.com Coaching Leaders to Maximum Impact Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:46:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Five Myths About Clergy Burnout by Tom Nees http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=179&cpage=1#comment-6976 Tom Nees Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:46:23 +0000 http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=179#comment-6976 Susan - You have some good observations. I think it's a matter of experience. Hopefully age brings wisdom along with experience. Susan – You have some good observations. I think it’s a matter of experience. Hopefully age brings wisdom along with experience.

]]> Comment on Five Myths About Clergy Burnout by Susan Grube http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=179&cpage=1#comment-6974 Susan Grube Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:50:07 +0000 http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=179#comment-6974 Could you conclude that the new generation because of having it all early and quickly may be suffering in the role of pastor as a result? OR is the older pastor less likely to stress over situations because they become less anxious over situations and stress less about "success" or expectations as they age? Could you conclude that the new generation because of having it all early and quickly may be suffering in the role of pastor as a result? OR is the older pastor less likely to stress over situations because they become less anxious over situations and stress less about “success” or expectations as they age?

]]> Comment on Recent Report on Stressed-out Clergy Leaders by Chaplain Paul Slater http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=177&cpage=1#comment-6922 Chaplain Paul Slater Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:41:51 +0000 http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=177#comment-6922 Tom, Thanks for opening this topic. For many of us, we were trouble-shooters as to the assignments we took. Your father offered me Inglewood and I in essence was "the great white hope out of seminary" back in the days when the church was still wrestling with what to do with churches in changing communities. Personally, I disagree with the term "leaving the ministry" because of how I have seen God use those whose ministry became much wider than a local church assignment. Many of our pastors who leave church ministry do so because they are entrepreneurs and that drive destines them to serve God outside the proverbial church box. But doing so does not mean they have "left the ministry". In my case and I believe in the case of many others, we actually expanded our ministry far beyond what it would have been. By the way, this is the first time to visit your blog but I will return. Thanks for your entrepreneurial approach to expanded ministry outside the local church box! Onward with purpose, Chaplain Paul Slater Tom,

Thanks for opening this topic. For many of us, we were trouble-shooters as to the assignments we took. Your father offered me Inglewood and I in essence was “the great white hope out of seminary” back in the days when the church was still wrestling with what to do with churches in changing communities.

Personally, I disagree with the term “leaving the ministry” because of how I have seen God use those whose ministry became much wider than a local church assignment.

Many of our pastors who leave church ministry do so because they are entrepreneurs and that drive destines them to serve God outside the proverbial church box. But doing so does not mean they have “left the ministry”. In my case and I believe in the case of many others, we actually expanded our ministry far beyond what it would have been.

By the way, this is the first time to visit your blog but I will return. Thanks for your entrepreneurial approach to expanded ministry outside the local church box!

Onward with purpose,
Chaplain Paul Slater

]]> Comment on Five Myths About Clergy Burnout by Tom Nees http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=179&cpage=1#comment-6826 Tom Nees Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:17:01 +0000 http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=179#comment-6826 Tom - I only wish all congregations had the means to provide sabbaticals. McLean Bible is to be commended. Tom – I only wish all congregations had the means to provide sabbaticals. McLean Bible is to be commended.

]]> Comment on Five Myths About Clergy Burnout by Tom McMahon http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=179&cpage=1#comment-6818 Tom McMahon Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:33:27 +0000 http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=179#comment-6818 Good article, Tom. I think that 1 Timothy 5:17-25 is apropos to the first myth you list: "Taking time off is enough to prevent stress and burnout." This passage tasks the Church with the responsibility of taking care of clergy, but it also tasks clergy with the responsibility taking care of themselves. With respect to your point that sabbaticals are a luxury, McLean Bible Church initiated sabbaticals for ministry staff about 20 years ago and it has been a mutual blessing. Good article, Tom. I think that 1 Timothy 5:17-25 is apropos to the first myth you list: “Taking time off is enough to prevent stress and burnout.” This passage tasks the Church with the responsibility of taking care of clergy, but it also tasks clergy with the responsibility taking care of themselves.

With respect to your point that sabbaticals are a luxury, McLean Bible Church initiated sabbaticals for ministry staff about 20 years ago and it has been a mutual blessing.

]]> Comment on Five Myths About Clergy Burnout by Tom Nees http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=179&cpage=1#comment-6811 Tom Nees Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:00:26 +0000 http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=179#comment-6811 Ken - Thanks for you comment. I'm pleased to have it shared with other. Ken – Thanks for you comment. I’m pleased to have it shared with other.

]]> Comment on Five Myths About Clergy Burnout by Brian Postlewait http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=179&cpage=1#comment-6810 Brian Postlewait Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:55:26 +0000 http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=179#comment-6810 The need for mentoring/coaching for young leaders can not be understated. I believe this simple and low cost intervention will save real pastors, real families, and real churches--not to mention real dollars. For the most part, mentoring/coaching is not ready-built into our clergy structure. Leaders must seek it out as a measure of preventative maintenance. As a young leader, I can attribute almost any early success in ministry to the spirit guided wisdom of mentor/coaches/spiritual friends. The need for mentoring/coaching for young leaders can not be understated. I believe this simple and low cost intervention will save real pastors, real families, and real churches–not to mention real dollars.

For the most part, mentoring/coaching is not ready-built into our clergy structure. Leaders must seek it out as a measure of preventative maintenance.

As a young leader, I can attribute almost any early success in ministry to the spirit guided wisdom of mentor/coaches/spiritual friends.

]]> Comment on Five Myths About Clergy Burnout by Ken Mills http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=179&cpage=1#comment-6807 Ken Mills Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:22:22 +0000 http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=179#comment-6807 Tom: Great article - well balanced and helpful. May I have permission to share this with others? Tom:

Great article – well balanced and helpful. May I have permission to share this with others?

]]> Comment on Recent Report on Stressed-out Clergy Leaders by Steve Borger http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=177&cpage=1#comment-6662 Steve Borger Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:08:04 +0000 http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=177#comment-6662 Tom, Very significant topic and needed reminder to us all. I do understand the comments on "overworked pastors" but I strongly agree with those who are suggesting "balance" as the more important topic. Thanks for the NY Times article .... right on. It reminded me of the quote from Eugene Peterson's book; A Long Obedience in the Same Direction (p.17) "Everyone is in a hurry. The persons whom I lead in worship, among whom I counsel, visit, pray, preach and teach, want shortcuts. They want me to help them fill out the form that will get them instant credit (in eternity). They are impatient for results. They have adopted the lifestyle of a tourist and only want the high points. But a pastor is not a tour guide." The internal dissonance caused by knowing our highest calling and yet giving in to the pressures of expectation exact a very high toll on all of us. As always, thanks for the encouragement and challenge. Tom,
Very significant topic and needed reminder to us all. I do understand the comments on “overworked pastors” but I strongly agree with those who are suggesting “balance” as the more important topic. Thanks for the NY Times article …. right on. It reminded me of the quote from Eugene Peterson’s book; A Long Obedience in the Same Direction (p.17) “Everyone is in a hurry. The persons whom I lead in worship, among whom I counsel, visit, pray, preach and teach, want shortcuts. They want me to help them fill out the form that will get them instant credit (in eternity). They are impatient for results. They have adopted the lifestyle of a tourist and only want the high points. But a pastor is not a tour guide.” The internal dissonance caused by knowing our highest calling and yet giving in to the pressures of expectation exact a very high toll on all of us. As always, thanks for the encouragement and challenge.

]]> Comment on Recent Report on Stressed-out Clergy Leaders by Tom Nees http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=177&cpage=1#comment-6492 Tom Nees Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:01:04 +0000 http://leadingtoserve.com/?p=177#comment-6492 Clair - great insight - good to know someone else who has appreciated the work of Hans Selye Clair – great insight – good to know someone else who has appreciated the work of Hans Selye

]]>