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| Affirming Your Pastors |
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Memo to District Coordinators I prepared the following comments to assist our district men’s ministry coordinator as he shares the vision for men’s ministry with district pastors. They are based on my observations while serving on a district office staff. I believe the comments will be helpful in framing your interaction with your pastors: Most pastors are very focused on their own ministry context. It might be good to spend some time asking about their ministry, how they feel the men’s ministry is going in their church, what is their greatest frustration with men’s ministry, etc. These questions convey your concern for them and their ministry success and also provide important clues to you about where their needs may be. Collectively these responses may also tell you about macro needs across regions or the entire district. It might also be helpful to ask about ways they think the district men’s organization could assist the development of their ministry. I hope this does not make it sound like I think pastors are selfish and self-centered. I don’t. I do think that the pastoral task is extremely difficult and becoming more so each year. It is requiring more disciplined focus for pastors to lead their congregations to growth. Additionally they are inundated with appeals from organizations who whan to co-opt them for an outside purpose. The way to win their support is to demonstrate that your first commitment is to their success. Whenever possible, in whatever way may be appropriate affirm and encourage them. Most pastors are constantly being bombarded by “little criticisms”, little statements about dissatisfactions with items that cumulatively can become eroding to their morale. Encouragement and affirmation from a district leader can be an enormous lift. When it feels like you can’t ever please anyone, those words of affirmation can be treasures that lift the heart. As district coordinators, you have the capacity to make a difference in the lives of pastors and churches. I trust that the Spirit of God will guide and encourage you as you meet with pastors and assist them in advancing the Kingdom. Keep up the great work you are doing. Rev. Douglas G. Conley Senior Pastor Derwood Alliance Church Rockville, MD
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