Category: ministers
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Signs your Minister may need a day off
Their Outlook Diary reminds them of an appointment and offers them the chance to ‘snooze’. They take the opportunity to close their eyes… They find a post-it note from their spouse on their computer to ask for an appointment to see them. They forget someone’s birthday – their own! You hear them replying through gritted…
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Swiss Army Ministers
I am still processing a lot of the ideas, information and inspiration that I received from the conference this week. (Did you notice the alliteration? I am a Baptist minister who trained at Spurgeon’s College!). [brings thought process back to the matter in hand] Ahem. When I trained at Spurgeon’s College (note joined up link) I was…
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I wish they’d taught me to…
It is now over 15 years since I was ordained and I have discovered some deficiencies in my ministerial training. I would like to suggest that vicar factories include some or all of the following in their training programmes: “Excuse me” – how to suppress embarrassing body noises when visiting / in the pulpit. This…
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mad
Today has been an interestingly eclectic one. It started with a visit to our church by Year 5 children from a local school, where we tried to explain what happened in the building and what was distinctive about Baptist Christians. From there it was straight to Costa Coffee for a meeting with Susan, our Children…
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underprepared, overprepared, ministering free…
Very quick lunchtime blog today as I am almost overwhelmed by stuff I have to get done. Yesterday I was at an inspirational conference about how churches respond to the Big Society agenda. It was delivered by Steve Chalke and gave us lots to think about. At the end of the day there was a panel…
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booking time
I have four books sitting on my desk that are ready to be read. Some of them have been on my desk for a while. They have not gathered dust (because they keep getting moved around to make space). But they have not been opened in anger or engaged with in a meaningful way. It…
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you heard about it here first
On 1 February this year I mused on my blog about what would happen if there was a transfer window system for Ministerial moves. I have another idea which may be a brilliant TV show. (I will tithe my royalties to BUGB Home Mission). When it comes on your TV screen as the next ‘reality’…
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ring ring, ring ring
I have an interesting task ahead of me today. I have been asked to bless someone’s new ring. It’s not a wedding ring. I think it is a ring that they wear to bring them good luck. What to do? All sorts of theological issues are raised. It reminds me of an occasion when I…
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>the art of time mismanagement (or being a Pastor!)
>Procrastination: the art of delaying difficult or disagreeable tasks until they become more difficult or disagreeable because the available time has reduced. (See also entries under ‘Leaving it too late’ and ‘Apologising profusely’)* It’s very tempting at this point to quip that I will come back to the blog later and leave it at that.…
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transfer windows for Baptist Ministers – is it the way ahead?
There is an interesting process involved when Baptist Ministers move church. The Regional Ministers, who know the ministers and the churches, meet together monthly to pray and suggest names of ministers to churches that are looking for a new minister, and it is up to the churches and ministers to discern if they have got…
nukelearfishing 