Changing Pastors

This book offers a new, comprehensive method for transition that allows time for the parish and pastor to successfully adjust and navigate through major change.

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 revised edition, 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 pregnant moment” during which incredible congregational change can happen.

Pastors and Public Life examines the changing sociological, theological, and political characteristics of American Protestant clergy. The book that gathers data based on a study of random national surveys of clergy across four mainline Protestant and three evangelical Protestant denominations over the course of twenty-plus years.

Contested changes: "family values" in local religious life -- |t Religious involvement and religious institutional change -- |t Religion, family, and work -- |t Styles of religious involvement -- |t "The problem with families today ..."--|t Practice of family ministry -- |t Religious familism and social change.

A helpful handbook for pastors about all the stuff they didn’t learn in seminary. Ever tried replacing the organ with a keyboard? Shifting the service time by 30 minutes? Introducing a new ministry? Retiring an old one? Pastors often encounter resistance when suggesting change. But as new vision arises and communities evolve, change isn’t just important, it’s essential. Leading Change provides practical help for leading change in your church. You’ll discover... When to change—and when to leave well enough alone How to communicate vision—so you bring people along with you How to respond to resistance—and navigate the tough stuff About the Practical Stuff for Pastors series: Practical Stuff for Pastors is a series of how-to guides dedicated to topics such as managing teams, keeping ministries running, and defusing conflicts. Full of tips, recommendations, and strategies to equip pastors, these handbooks are valuable tools pastors will refer to again and again.

Preacher and teacher David Mosser offers practical and spiritual guidance for pastors struggling to manage and respond to changes in the economy, changes in their neighborhoods, changes in their denominations, changes in the congregation, changes in culture, and the life changes present in every parishioner's life. Wise words from authors such as Alyce McKenzie, David Buttrick, Joanna Adams, and Thomas Long all contribute to this most timely and helpful book.

The opening months of a new pastorate are decisive for how that ministry will unfold, so great care should be taken to begin wisely and well. Simply transplanting programs and habits that worked elsewhere, ignoring the specific dynamics of the new congregation and its people, making too few significant changes, or making too many insignificant changes will create problems for the new pastor that may never be overcome. Ten Commandments for Pastors New to a Congregation offers specific, down-to-earth principles and guidance on how to make a good beginning, one that will lay the foundation for years of fruitful ministry. Drawing on twenty-five years of parish ministry, during which he has mentored many new and transitioning pastors, Lawrence Farris here provides ten guidelines, illustrated with relevant examples, that identify potential pitfalls and show how to avoid them. Such areas as preaching, pastoral care, self-care, community and denominational commitments, and role clarity are addressed with an emphasis on practical approaches to ministry in a new setting. Farris also gives clear advice on how to learn the new congregation and its setting, how to set appropriate personal and professional boundaries, and how to stay focused on what matters most in a new ministry. Lively, practical, and brief enough for the new pastor to have time to actually read it, Ten Commandments for Pastors New to a Congregation is a must-read both for pastors on the move and for individuals preparing for first-time ministry.