Healthy Pastors for Healthy Churches

Featured Resource: Honoring One Another

The goal of the recently published Ministerial Forum "Honoring One Another, The Former Pastor / Present Pastor Relationship" is to stimulate productive thinking and improve our record of honoring one another.  Download a copy and discuss the content it in your next pastor cluster or staff meeting.

Four healthy practices assure sustainability in ministry.

"A group of pastors attending a retreat asked me if I could summarize what I thought pastors did (or failed to do) to assure they were healthy.  They were asking, "what assures sustainability in ministry?"  My answer included the four healthy practices which later became the heart of what I urge all pastors to do."  Rev. John Herman, Executive Director, EFCA Pastoral Care Ministries

First: Get Connected - essential relationships

Get Connected outlines the essential relationships maintained by a healthy pastor.  Find out if you are adequately connected or at risk of being too alone.  Everyone needs time with the Lord, time with true friends and time with a ministry team.

Then: Keep Growing - lifelong learning

A commitment to Keep Growing helps a person avoid stagnation in life and ministry.  Some pastors intuitively know how to be lifelong leaners.  Most of us need the benefit of guideliness or the help of a good friend.  One option is "I’m Growing!".  It helps you make a plan that fits you.  It could make a significant difference in your life for a long time to come.

Mircosoft Office Word version of "I’m Growing!"

Remember: Take a Break - sabbath experiences

Take a Break describes a series of sabbath experiences practiced by a growing number of EFCA pastors.  Want to see sabbatical examples?  Be aware, fatigue can put you at risk.

"We…host Sabbath Rest Retreats to strengthen pastors and to produce healthier congregations." — Rev. Jim Anderson, North Central District Pastoral Care Director, (author of For God’s Sake Rest, Discoverying the Pleasure of His Rest, Pleasant Word, 2007)

Finally: Address It Now - preventative care

Address it Now because the longer a pastor waits to deal with a problem, the harder it is to take the first step.  Whatever the "it" is in your life that could take you down, the time to address it is now. 

If the "it" is pornogrpahy, review the EFCA’s Purity Initiative.

If the "it" is too big, consider taking advantage of the Recovery Church Ministry offered to any EFCA pastor who feels the need for a break from ministry.

For more information contact John Herman at pastoralcare@efca.org.