Best Practices
| October 19, 2011
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 "We will match your capacity to inflict suffering with our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. We will not hate you, but we cannot in good conscience obey your unjust laws. Do to us what you will and we will still love you. Bomb our homes and threaten our children; send your hooded perpetrators of violence into our communities and drag us out on some wayside road, beating us and leaving us half-dead, and we will still love you. But we will soon wear you down by our capacity to suffer. And in winning our freedom we will so appeal to your heart and conscience that we will win you in the process."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
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| Ministry |  Toward A Balanced Life, Part 2:
Being Holy and Whole
by John R. Landgraf To minister effectively one must keep his or her cup "full and running over." No minister can be as holy as possible without being as whole as possible - socially, spiritually, sexually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and recreationally.
But how? What's a minister to do to stay well and balanced, given the never-ending tasks incumbent upon him or her?
There is no magical, mystical "Do this and Thou shalt thrive" formula. You'll need to design and implement your own unique game plan to improve your balance. To help you think about it, here are ten things, in no particular order, I have noticed about the most "whole" ministers I have known: - They pay themselves first; financially, but more importantly with self-care, for instance by staying trim and fit.
- They maintain a certain distance from their ministry role(s).
- They have close non-church friends. (I know a highly effective "big steeple" pastor whose best friend is a Jewish lawyer in the same city.)
- They have passions they actively pursue outside of their ministry work.
- They maximize their income and live within their means.
- They tend their primary relationship and make parenting a priority.
- They take at least one "long" vacation (three weeks to a month) every year.
- They practice clear communication in a timely fashion. For example, they do not avoid conflict; rather, they use crises as "dangerous opportunities."
- They truly, deeply appreciate their staff, and show it.
- They are not possessive of their "turf." For example, if preaching is a forte of theirs, they freely share the pulpit with staff members and guest speakers.
A few more hints to help you design your unique "balancing act":
Many ministers, especially males, tend to be circumstantial rather than purposeful about assertively seeking relationships they may be able to deepen into lifelong friendships. Ask yourself, "Are the 'friends' I have in my life the friends I want in my life?" If your answer is, "Not really," or "Not quite," consider firing some of your present friends, thereby creating a friendship vacuum. Then, make time to court a friend this year.
When it comes to a minister's support and accountability group, an ecumenical one, or at least an interdenominational one, is more trustable than a group of peers within one's own denomination, let alone within one's workplace.
Many ministers are able to negotiate sabbaticals. If you can, do it. A sabbatical can renew your strength like nothing else. In the spirit of #5 on the "Twenty Questions" checklist, one's annual educational adventure should last at least a week.
Women in ministry do better at this than men, but if I had $1,000 for each time I have heard a pastor's wife say something like "I feel he's more married to the church than he is to me," I'd be a rich man. Ask yourself, "Who, exactly, do I want to grow old with?" And if you have a wife (or husband) and aren't absolutely, positively certain it is she/he you want to grow old with, you have work to do.
Finally, I risk emulating a dominical axiom: "You have heard it said unto you, 'Never play till your work is done.' But I say unto you, 'Never work till your play is done.'" I think Jesus would like that idea. Discuss this article on our Facebook page  John Landgraf was director of the Center for Ministry in Oakland, CA (1975-1987), president of Central Seminary in Kansas City, KS (1987-1992), and taught at Fuller Seminary in Northern California (1992-2008). He and his wife Laura conduct private couple retreats (www.landgrafretreats.com). |
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Do you know anyone married to a pastor?
Live Satellite Uplink for Ministerial Spouses 
The NAD Ministerial department urges Best Practices readers to invite pastoral spouses to participate in a special TV program to be uplinked on the Hope Church Channel Tuesday, November 1, 2011 from 2-4 pm east coast time.
Donna Jackson, Associate Director of NAD Ministerial for spouses said: "I can't wait for November 1 when we will be able to connect, affirm, and empower all of the pastoral spouses in the NAD." Keeping it Real targets pastors and spouses but is especially focused on those who recently acquired that role. Pastoral spouses Joanne Cortes and Carin Villalva will host the presentations. 
The live show will feature:
- Daisy & Daniel Quinones--Finding Your Voice for God
- Rhonda Johnson & Debi Pedersen--Healthy Body & Soul
- Martin Weber--Keeping Your Kids Connected
- Christina & Bernie Anderson--Dealing with Pornography Addiction
- Cynthia Mercer--Increasing Spiritual & Emotional Intimacy
- Jose Hernandez--Embracing Your Identity and Role
Dave Gemmell says "Although studio space at the Hope Channel is limited there is room for everyone to view the live show and participate via the Ministerial Spouses Association Facebook page. Or text your questions to 818-477-3844. Keeping it Real can be seen on the Hope Channel App, Online, and on Glory Star Satellite receiver channel 124. For more info contact Donna Jackson.
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| Reading for Pastors | Five cultural shifts that should affect the way we do church. Quote: "Churches aren't the most culturally savvy places. I know that some congregations are still fighting about whether they should be singing 'contemporary' songs, which were written in the 1980s."
Poor Harold Camping: he just won't give up. This time, his date is October 21. (You'll find some reflections on Harold's predictions from an Adventist perspective here.)
Alternative church styles:Pastors, in case you need one more reason to behave yourself, please note that a Minnesota jury just gave a $1.4 million award to a parishioner who had a sexual relationship with her pastor at a time when she was emotionally vulnerable. The pastor has to pay about $250,000 of it personally. Is that how you want to spent your retirement savings?
You think your church has conflict? I'd be surprised if you could top this! Quote: "A group of religious castoffs has been attacking fellow Amish, cutting off their hair and beards in an apparent feud over spiritual differences."
Religious issues with Mitt Romney as presidential candidate: Is Mormonism a cult? Who decides? And if it is, should we be calling it one? New study highlights the decision-making flaw in powerful people: they don't listen well or take advice. |
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Prepare to be Disappointed:
October 22 Celebration
 "In the events leading up to and including October 22, 1844 our Adventist forefathers left us with an important heritage. Instead of a beginning of being 'right' about our religion, we began with utter failure and humiliation. Out of this failure and what was indeed a Great Disappointment - hope was born and a movement began." -Rajeev Sigamoney
In 2010 many Adventist Churches began a tradition of reenacting the Great Disappointment Day, and learning from the journey of the Adventist Pioneers. Groups huddled around campfires and stayed up till midnight weaving their own experiences of anticipation, disappointment, and renewal with the experience of the pioneers. These resources are now available on Pastor's DVD volume 19 to be used in planning a life changing experience at your church. Event planner helps include a video promotional piece, a video with discussion questions and a complete facilitators guide produced by the Hollywood Adventist Church. The file is found under Documents\GDD_MASTEER_PDF. The Pastor's DVD is distributed to all pastors in the NAD through local conference Ministerial departments. Others may purchase PDVD19 at AdventSource.
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| To the Point | A desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world.
- John Le Carre
Whenever we seek to avoid the responsibility for our own behavior, we do so by attempting to give that responsibility to some other individual or organization or entity. But this means we then give away our power to that entity.
- M. Scott Peck
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
- William Shakespeare
Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.
- Mohandas Gandhi
The moral arc of the universe bends at the elbow of justice.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.
- Mother Teresa
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
- Buddha
A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain.
- Mark Twain
Love is not blind - it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less.
- Rabbi Julius Gordon
Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to be always part of unanimity.
- Christopher Morley
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| Upcoming NAD Events |
Do you have an event you'd like to invite NAD pastors to? Send details to BestPractices@Ameritech.net.
Youth Leadership Development (YLD). Oct 21, 2011 - Oct 23, 2011, Andrews University, Center for Youth Evangelism, 4145 E Campus Circle Drive, Berrien Springs, MI 49104. Annual gathering for youth leadership development, focused on bringing the finest experience into one intense weekend of training, networking, and worship. YLD summit is the place to be. Over 50 hours of youth and young adult ministry seminars by specialist trainers. Phone: 800-968-8428. For more information, email: japhet@andrews.edu
Pathfinder Sabbath.
Oct 22, 2011, Division Wide. Special materials provided.
Native Heritage Month. Nov 5, 2011 - Nov 26, 2011, Division Wide.
Stewardship Sabbath.
Nov 5, 2011, Division Wide. Check the NAD Stewardship site for information.
Week of Prayer.
Nov 6, 2011 - Nov 12, 2011, North American Division. Readings will be available in September 22 edition of the Adventist Review.
G.L.U.E..
Nov 11, 2011 - Nov 13, 2011, Cohutta Springs Conference Center, 1175 Cohutta Springs Road, Crandall, GA 30711. The G.L.U.E. (Giving, Loving, Understanding, and Encouraging) conference will provide the steps, as well as the techniques churches can use to assist in discovering how people with disabilities can be included as partners in ministry. Phone: 301-680-6425. For more information, email: ChildrensMinistries@nad.adventist.org
Welcome Home Sabbath. Nov 26, 2011, Division Wide. Let's get serious from the start. Programs don't win people back to church, people do! That's why a contact from someone in your local church is vital to getting inactive members engaged in church life again. Welcome Home is a user-friendly guide for personalizing invitations to Homecoming Sabbaths to reach and reconnect with former and missing church members. Phone: 800-328-0525. For more information, email: service@adventsource.org
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Best Practices is a Vervent publication of NAD CHURCH RESOURCE CENTER. Editor: Loren Seibold, Ohio Conference. E-mail:
Best Practices. You are free to republish pieces from Best Practices in your own
newsletter or blog, with attribution to the Best Practices newsletter and the
author of the piece. |
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