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Pastoral

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Disclaimer

‘Let no one who is not eager for truth and peace enter here’ (Plato)

Articles on this site express varying points of view, to encourage mature thinking on serious issues. The assumption is that you will want to study a controversial topic from various angles before you arrive at a conclusion, rather than simply believe what someone told you when you were impressionable! (So some stuff here is ‘hot’. Proceed at your own risk!). See the Statement of Faith for John Mark Ministries' theological stance.

Questions For Battered Clergy

By and others ⋅ July 2, 2003 ⋅ Post a comment

Good Morning Terrence, from DownUnder (Melbourne, Australia). Some comments below from one who’s ‘been there’ (a personal experience with a large church in Canada in the early 1980s), and who in the context of John Mark Ministries, talks/listens to pastors, ex-pastors and their spouses every day… Shalom! Rowland Croucher Director, John Mark Ministries: counseling and […]

Professional Burnout

By and others ⋅ July 2, 2003 ⋅ Post a comment

—————————————————————————- —- Beware Of Professional Burnout By Joel R. Cooper, The Medical Reporter ©1993, Joel R. Cooper All rights reserved Consider this article a beep on your emotional beeper…an existential wake-up call of critical importance. You or your co-workers may be suffering from Professional Burnout and not realize it. Or maybe you just want to […]

Stress Relief For Prophets (And Others)

By and others ⋅ July 2, 2003 ⋅ Post a comment

Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 1-151 (Sermon) STRESS RELIEF FOR PROPHETS (AND OTHERS) 1 Kings 19:1-18 by Rod Benson Did you see the television news yesterday [October 14, 1995], where the captain of a trawler ran onto a sandbar on [Queensland’s] Sunshine Coast, because he fell asleep at the wheel? While he was being interviewed, he was […]

Stress Fitness

By and others ⋅ July 2, 2003 ⋅ Post a comment

—————————————————————————- —- L I V E I T Today’s best advice from Christian books. http://liveit.crosswalk.com/ HOW IS YOUR STRESS FITNESS? Some people just seem to handle stress better than others. Certain life habits can prepare you well for stress: they give you a kind of cushion for the hard knocks of life. Stress fitness helps […]

Good Articles On Ministry, Parenting, Failure/Courage

By and others ⋅ May 30, 2003 ⋅ Post a comment

a.. Dear Church, We Quit! Marriage and Ministry Depression a.. Being The Best Father You Can Be a.. Blind to Failure: Coaching and Courage http://www.theducklows.ca/ These psychologists/pastors are good friends in Canada.

Questionnaire For Ex Pastors

By and others ⋅ January 13, 2003 ⋅ Post a comment

Note from Rowland Croucher (2005): This research has been halted for the time being… until we can find someone who wants to continue to do it for a doctoral dissertation. The following survey is being sent to one in 20 of all the ex-pastors we can find, in Australia. Already one in 40 (250) have […]

Pastoral Excellence

By and others ⋅ January 5, 2003 ⋅ Post a comment

MINISTRY AS EMPOWERMENT by Rowland Croucher (GRID, Summer 1989) It was 10 pm., and the 60-year-old patient would not last the night. She was still conscious so her grieving daughter and I prepared for a bedside vigil. Then a thought: I preach about the ministry of the whole church, so why was I there in […]

Shattered Vows

By and others ⋅ January 5, 2003 ⋅ Post a comment

(by David Rice, London: Michael Joseph, 1989) It is better that scandals arise than that truth be silenced. St. Gregory the Great The sexuality (or asexuality) and sexual practices (or celibacy) of holy people have always fascinated other mortals. When moralistic televangelists have their adulteries exposed, the news pushes superpower politics to page three. Morris […]

Ministry As Empowerment

By and others ⋅ January 5, 2003 ⋅ Post a comment

  “Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I may remember. Involve me, and I will understand.”  (Confucius)  ~~  “Instead of guarding power, Jesus gives it away; instead of rational discourse, he tells stories; instead of claiming status, he reaches to the lowliest; instead of excluding the rabble, he includes them—even at table fellowship! […]

‘This Is Your Life’

By and others ⋅ January 5, 2003 ⋅ Post a comment

Here’s a little bit of help our ministry gives people who come to us for an intensive 2-day retreat. Maybe you could do it over a longer period, and share with your spiritual director / soul friend.. Select some/all of the following, and jot down notes for discussion in your journal: 1. Do a time-line […]

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