PASTORS E-NEWSLETTER
JUNE 2010
Hi fellow Pastors!
This edition of the pastor’s newsletter seeks to bring you up-to-date with a number of training opportunities plus a resource for reflecting on our roles as Christian leaders. I trust there are some helpful insights or courses that may contribute to your ongoing formation.
LEADERSHIP REFLECTION
Recently I reread Dan Allender’s Leading with a Limp and was again challenged about how God’s power is most evidenced as he works through our weaknesses and brokenness as leaders. Allender’s core assumption is that to the degree you face and name and deal with your failures as a leader, to that same extent you will create an environment conducive to growing and retaining productive and committed colleagues. In reading, I was reminded that sometimes my responses to leadership challenges (crises, complexities, betrayals, loneliness, weariness and glory) have not always the most appropriate. However, I found Allender’s suggestions of more effective ways of responding to leadership challenges personally helpful as I consider my calling and seek to make Jesus known. His discussion on how the threefold dimensions of King, Priest and Prophet might complement and yet irritate each other as they are woven in our pastoral roles is informative.
Rev Dr David Loder, the General Superintendent of the BU Queensland has compiled a very thoughtful synopsis on the book with some reflective questions. [The synopsis and reflections can be found on www.msd.org.au/resources.] The MSD team is using these questions as part of their retreat day this week. Maybe you could consider passing a copy on and using them with your pastoral or leadership teams. I would encourage you to read the whole book. MSD is purchasing a number of copies and we are encouraging pastors to read it and then pass it onto a fellow pastor. Copies are also available at Koorong.
ANOTHER COACHING and MENTORING SEMINAR
The initial Foundations for Coaching and Mentoring training seminar day on May 15 attracted 60 participants and we had to close registrations. A repeat of this seminar is to be held in Newcastle on Saturday August 14. This is about helping others to define their vision, clarify their goals and identify action plans. This stand-alone seminar introduces you to the basic skills and resources in the GROW coaching model.
These seminar days are also a launch pad into a six-month training process. Successful completion of this course will result in Coaching Accreditation with the Baptist Union. This MSD initiative is one way of investing in the growth and development of future pastors and leaders as well as your own life. [Further details and registration for this day can be found on www.msd.org.au/resources.]
PASTORS and SPOUSES ANNUAL DINNER
Due to the positive response to the Pastors and Spouses Dinner last year, MSD is again putting on the dinner which will be held in the Bayview Room at Tradies Caringbah on Friday evening September 17 as part of the Baptist Churches Annual Conference (being held at Gymea). Our guest speaker this year will be Rev Allan Demond from NewHope Church, Victoria. This is an opportunity for us to champion the contribution that pastors and spouses make to the work of God’s Kingdom among our churches and other ministries.
The cost of the three-course dinner will be $50 per head. However, Christian Super has again generously offered to provide some sponsorship to enable us to reduce the costs for pastors and spouses from rural churches and smaller churches where Pastors do not receive a full income. As numbers will be limited, I encourage you to register soon. Registrations can be made by contacting Ros on adminmsd@baptistnsw.asn.au. Full payment will be required by Sept 3.
24 HOURS PRAYER for DIRECTIONS 2012 CONSULTATION DAY
MSD strongly encourages all our pastors to engage in the consultation day to be held on Saturday July 10 at the University of Western Sydney (Parramatta campus) to discuss the taskforce reports on Directions 2012. This will be a significant day for our movement of churches as we consider the future focus and direction of our movement of churches. While no decision-making will occur on this day, it is an opportunity to listen and to speak into that future.
More importantly, MSD is encouraging pastors to join us at Epping in a 24 hour prayer vigil July 9-10 to pray for our movement of churches and particularly the Consultancy Day. Even though you may live some distance from the Ministry Centre, we encourage you to make the effort to join together for prayer. However, while we appreciate that some of you in rural areas won’t be able to come to Sydney for the prayer vigil and Consultation Day, we ask that you might arrange your own prayer vigil in your local church to pray for each other and our wider family of churches. Sign up on www.msd.org.au and also read of some of the prayer activities during that period.
PASTORS’ WORKSHOPS
There are a couple of one day Pastoral Development Workshops being held at the Epping Ministry Centre over coming months which can also count towards requirements for Continuing Accreditation. The first of these on July 12 is on Pastors and Pastor’s Kids while a further workshop for pastoral teams entitled Pastoral Teams and Personality will be held on October 29. These workshops have limited numbers so register early. Full details of the workshops and registration can be found on www.msd.org.au/resources. Other workshops for pastors in regional areas are held as part of the Catalyst conferences and in consultation with the Regional Ministers.
FINANCIAL PLANNING for PASTORS
In partnership with Christian Super, MSD is hosting a seminar day on financial planning for pastors. Entitled Pastors’ Financial Boot Camp the seminar day will be held at the Baptist Ministry Centre, Epping on Friday September 3. We encourage you to put the date in your diary. There is no cost associated with this seminar. However registrations through the MSD office are necessary for catering purposes. We have arranged for a number of presenters who will cover such topics as ‘Financial Markets update’, ‘Key Issues impacting Ministers’, ‘Practical Financial Tools for Pastors’, and ‘Living with Financial Freedom’. Further details of the presenters and program are available on www.msd.org.au/resources.
May you be richly blessed in your own ministry service and be a blessing to others.
Ken Clendinning
Director of MSD
kclendinning@baptistnsw.asn.au