The Reality of Clergy Burnout in 2024
Inspired by the webinar “Preventing Burnout and Promoting Flourishing Among Clergy” from Common Table Conversations, let’s have a conversation about Burnout as we approach the fall—a time when work new expectations, meetings, and initiatives begin to pile up, and your next season of rest seems to be a million miles away.
Knox Counselling Centre
As a part of Knox College’s commitment to serving the Church and the wider community, we are delighted to share the news of the soft launch of our Knox Counselling Centre.
Transitioning from Summer to Fall in Ministry
As the relaxed pace of summer gives way to the bustling activity of fall, ministry leaders often find themselves navigating a whirlwind of events, meetings, and programs. It can feel like you blink and suddenly it’s Advent, with a non-stop flurry of autumn activities and the resumption of weekly meetings. In the midst of this transition, it’s crucial to bring moments of rest, balance, and self-care into your routine to prevent burnout.
Here are 5 tips to help you embrace this seasonal change mindfully.
Community-Based Ministry
As someone who spent over 20 years cultivating an intentional community-based ministry in Guelph at St. Andrew’s PC, I can attest to the meaningful connections forged with community members, organizations, businesses, and local government. This ministry was invigorating, often leaving me in awe at the conversations and activities that made a real difference in our city.
While this approach didn’t always translate to numerical growth in the congregation, it opened doors to incredible ministry opportunities—providing pastoral support to community leaders, being called to the hospital in times of crisis, and offering unexpected financial and prayer support to those in need.
1 Tip to Stay On Top of Too Much Content.
In the fast-paced world of ministry, staying informed and inspired can be challenging. Articles and resources can easily pile up, making it hard to keep up. For me, the summer is the time I catch up on reading articles, I try to keep up during the year but it often becomes challenging. Here’s my process for staying on top of content that I WANT to read through, but don’t always have the time on a weekly basis.
Elevating Lay Leadership
When I was in Saskatchewan recently, I had some insightful conversations about lay leadership in today’s Church. It’s fascinating how the Church passionately aims to empower the laity in congregational roles, yet over the decades, we’ve marginalized these roles through ordered ministries like the Diaconate or lay missionaries. This has resulted in an over-reliance on ordained clergy, who are now stretched beyond capacity and dwindling in numbers…
Let Us Know
Every week we’ll ask a question to the community. We hope you’ll provide your thoughts and insights and engage with other lifelong learners on this journey of growth and development.
Is the Future of the Church Lay-Led?
In a recent episode of the Pivot podcast, the conversation dives deep into the vital yet often overlooked role of laypeople in the church. The conversation sheds light on how small congregations, often seen as burdens, might actually hold the key to the future of our denominations. The episode challenges us to rethink our traditional models, which have long centered on ordained clergy - now stretched thin and dwindling in numbers.
OurBible App
The OurBible App is a progressive, inclusive Bible study and devotional app designed to support LGBTQ+ Christians, women, and other marginalized groups. It offers a range of devotionals, Bible translations, podcasts, and other resources to help users grow in their faith.
Bible in a Minute - Riverside Church NYC
1,189 daily videos, all 1 minute in length detailing each chapter of the Bible… one day at a time!
Daily Ripple - Small Acts of Discipleship Everyday
Daily Ripple is an idea we had to build a community of readers and authors. For authors, it’s a chance to share their experiences and their ideas about discipleship. For readers, it’s a chance to disciple in a different way.
Repost: 17 Podcasts for Church, Care, Leadership & Learning
Reposting the top articles from Ministry Forum over our first 365 days.
Our First Year In Review
This week, I’m celebrating my 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY as the Director of the Centre for Lifelong Learning at Knox College. And what a year it has been! Can’t wait to share with you all of what’s next for us as we grow our community and remind one another that we are not alone as we seek to share the Good News of Jesus with the world.
RePost: The Pastor-Less Church
Reposting the top articles from Ministry Forum over our first 365 days.
Creative Ways to Welcome New Members
Welcoming new members or attendees to your church is an important act of hospitality. Here are several creative ways you can consider welcoming new people into your church.
16 Things to Consider When Creating a New Members Class
Creating a new members class or program is essential for helping newcomers feel welcome, understand the church's mission and values, and become active participants in the community. Here are key considerations based on insights from the provided resources
PCC Membership Documents and Resources
Seven resources from the PCC and PCUSA that can help you create an effective and informative new members class at your church.
Marking Transitions with Meaning: Worship Resources from the United Church of Canada
In my journey of ministry, transitions have always been significant moments, both personally and for the congregations I’ve served. To navigate these changes with grace and intentionality, I’ve often turned to the rich worship resources offered by the United Church of Canada. Their comprehensive materials for milestones and transitions, particularly the Covenanting Service and DeCovenanting Service, have been invaluable tools in creating meaningful experiences for beginnings and endings in ministry.
3 Books For Navigating Transitions
Leaving well and starting well are vitally important for both parties - the ministering person and the ministries to which they are beginning or concluding.
Rethinking Pastoral Transitions: What If They were Like A Relay Race?
I’ve wondered from time to time if the PCC would benefit from considering - What if we imagined pastoral transitions as a relay race