PASTORS E-NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2011
Hi fellow Pastors!
As you receive this edition of the e-newsletter, many of you will be returning from a ‘summer’ break while others are still on vacation. I’ve returned to the office today after a couple of weeks break in which I have enjoyed time with family members, some surf, plenty of gardening and some stimulating reading. Whenever I have a break over the Christmas-New Year period I always endeavour to include some head-space where I can get away with God and reflect on where God may be taking me over the next 12 months.
While I’m not one for new year resolutions, I’m a strong believer in reflecting on my life and ministry over the previous year and prayerfully considering where God might have me to grow and develop over the next 12 months. I make a point, usually before Christmas, of further working on the strategic plan for the following year and to take time before God seeking to identify how things might be different this time in the following year. Vacation time gives me the space to renew my energy, my focus, my relationship with Judy and to come back refreshed and renewed for opportunities and challenges the year will bring. The danger, though, is that routine things can then consume all of one’s time and energy so that in 12 month’s time nothing has changed in either my life or in my area of service because I have ceased giving attention to those areas of transformation that I believed God was leading. That is where I find having a supportive group of people who call me into account such a valuable asset. They keep me focused and on track personally, spiritually and on intentional ministry.
What has God got install for you and your area of ministry over the next 12 months? How do you think things might be different this time next year?
PRAYER for FLOOD VICTIMS
All of us are very conscious of the devastation that flooding has caused across parts of our nation over recent months, particularly in recent days in QLD, Northern NSW and Victoria. As up to today (Jan 14) it appears that there has been no major damage to any of the Queensland Baptist churches in the flood effected areas and the churches in Northern NSW have also been spared. A few congregational members, however, have experienced flood damage in homes and businesses.
Many of the pastors and churches have been very active in providing support and relief into their local communities as these communities begin the long process of recovery. Monies collected through the various denominational disaster relief funds (Australian Baptist Ministries, Queensland Baptist Union and Bapcare) will assist these pastors and churches to provide support and assistance to members of their community to recover and in many cases begin rebuilding their lives and homes again. This will be a long journey.
We can play a very important part in continuing to retain a focus of prayer for those who have been devastated by such a tragedy, especially those who have lost loved ones and those who have lost homes and businesses. Pray for those who are still searching for missing family and friends. May our prayers not be just while the media focuses on the tragedy but continue into the months to follow.
PASTORAL LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS in 2011
Here are some dates that you might like to include in your diary. They are various workshops for pastors that are being organised for this year. Some dates and venues are yet to be confirmed. More details will be provided in future editions of this newsletter.
Marriage Celebrant’s Refresher Course – this year these will be held at the Baptist Ministry Centre, Epping (May 20th), South Coast/Illawarra (date to be confirmed) and Gunnedah (date to be confirmed).
Pastoral Teams Day – October 28 at Baptist Ministry Centre, Epping.
Financial Boot Camp for Pastors with Christian Super (date to be confirmed).
Regional Pastors Day as part of Catalyst11 – Taree (April 1), Hunter Region (June 24) and Central West (Nov 4).
Pastoral Development Workshops – March 10 and July 15.
The following pastoral leadership forums have been arranged at Morling College for 2011:
The Multi-voiced Church: Monday February 21, 2011 with Stuart Murray Williams (as part of a postgraduate subject) – Steve Bartlett will be coordinating this workshop.
Leading a Local Church under Jesus for His Mission: Monday May 2, 2011 with Matt Hunt – Kel Willis will be coordinating this workshop.
Preaching the Parables: Monday July 11, 2011 with Craig Blomberg (as part of a postgraduate subject, in cooperation with the Homiletics Committee) – the Homiletics Committee will be coordinating this workshop.
Lifelong Leadership Development: Monday September 26, 2011, with Terry Walling (as part of a postgraduate subject) – Graham Hill will be co-ordinating this workshop.
RESEARCH FORUM
The Australasian Baptist Research Forum is seeking interested persons to write papers on the theme of Baptists and the place of the Bible. As part of the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Authorised Version of the Bible this forum will be held in June when papers will be presented. Further details can be found on www.msd.org.au/resources
DIRECTIONS 2012
Continue to pray for the taskforce members as they give further consideration to the submissions they have recently received. The purpose of the taskforces is to consider, as a movement, ways we may better serve local churches and pastors in their ministry and to invest in combined missional initiatives such as church planting, etc. The outcomes will impact the potential of us serving you in more healthier and effective ways. Above all else they need to discern what God may be saying to us as a movement. Later this year will be decision time when, as a collective group, we will determine the way forward. May we be obedient to God’s call on our life and ministry.
INVESTING IN OUR MARRIAGES
As many of you know, the MSD team has a strong commitment to investing in our own marriages and encouraging all other pastors to do likewise. There is no doubt that our hearts ache whenever pastors’ marriages get into difficulty and particularly if it leads to the breakdown of the marriage. Such circumstances are quite complex and both parties need our full support whenever pastors and their spouses find themselves in such a tragic position.
As a team we are committed to being as proactive as possible in putting preventative measures in place in attempting to reduce the level of vulnerability for pastors in this area. We will be seeking to offer further strategies and support to pastors and spouses to invest further in their marriages (as well as family life). One article that was recently passed onto us that has some helpful suggestions can be found at http://soulthoughts.com/?p=1888.
Ken Clendinning
Director of MSD
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