 | In search of Pastoral Excellence |
Wed, 12 Feb 1997
Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list No. 362
IN SEARCH OF PASTORAL EXCELLENCE:
A MINISTRY EMPOWERMENT QUESTIONNAIRE
The following was written 10 years ago for my book 'Your Church
Can Come Alive'. I'm revising it: any suggestions (other than
telling me it's too rigorous)?
Most pastors fail this text of excellence: don't be too hard on
your pastor if he/she is a bit embarrassed... Encourage your
pastor to grow! (See the JMM home page for more details about John
Mark Ministries' seminars, resources etc. on these themes).
Shalom! Rowland Croucher
Director, John Mark Ministries - resources for pastors/leaders.
(Bookroom, library, and worldwide F.W.Boreham Trading Post)
Home Page: http://www.pastornet.net.au/jmm
==================================================================
Pastor-teachers 'prepare God's people for Christian service, in
order to build up the body of Christ', so that they may become
'mature people' (Ephesians 4:12,13). How well are you doing?
Answer every question by circling the appropriate number (1) (2)
(3) (4) or (5). If in doubt, choose the most nearly correct
answer. Note: 'Practical theology' is all about the practice of
ministry, and covers such areas as the theology of ministry,
spirituality for ministry/mission, preaching, Christian
education/formation, counseling, church leadership, Christian
management etc.
1. PREPARATION. To equip myself to equip others I spend time
in prayer, reflection and study each week: (1) 20+ hours
(2) 15-19 hours (3) 10-14 hours (4) 5-9 hours (5) Less than
5 hours
2. DELEGATION. As a pastor-leader I would delegate at least
three or four pastoral visits to others each week; I do not
attend most committees in the church but keep in touch with
them indirectly; I live comfortably with the idea that people
other than I can chair significant church meetings or comm-
ittees; I am not worried if I do not know the details of
everything that happens in the church; When a job has to be
done I have a habit of asking myself 'Am I the best person to
do it? Would I be depriving someone else of a ministry if I
did it?'; I readily delegate tasks to others; most of the
time I have the skill to choose the right person for a job,
and am happy to leave them with it; I circulate leadership
material (including GRID) to all our leaders.
(1) I would score well in all these areas (2) OK in four or more
of them (3) three (4) two (5) one or none
3. THEOLOGICAL TRAINING: (1) 4+ years full-time or equivalent (2)
3-4 years full-time or equivalent (3) 2-3 years full-time or
equivalent (4) 1-2 years full-time or equivalent (5) Less than one
year
4. PRACTICAL THEOLOGY: My theological training included practical
theology components such as # regular spiritual direction with a
spiritual guide, # personal growth and development, # a supervised
pastoral placement, # a thorough critique of my communication/
preaching skills, # supervised counseling, # a time management
course, # leadership skill development, # other courses in
practical theology:
(1) all of these (2) at least four of these (3) three
(4) two (5) one or none
5. CONTINUING EDUCATION. I do a post-seminary course (of at least
3 days' duration) in some area of practical theology (1) more than
once a year (2) about once a year (3) less than once a year (4)
about every 2-3 years (5) hardly ever
6. PROFESSIONAL READING. I read books on practical theology:
(1) at least one a week (2) about 2-3 a month (3) about 1-2 a
month (4) about 1-2 every two months (5) fewer than 1-2 every
three months
7. JOURNALS. I read practical ministry periodicals or
journals: (1) 4 or more a month (2) about 3 a month (3) about 2 a
month (4) about one a month (5) fewer than one a month
8. LEADERSHIP TRAINING. # I would meet with key leaders
individually at least once a month; # I meet with the leadership
team for a training session at least once a month; # these leaders
would aim to reproduce themselves in the lives of others; # we
have elders who visit members on a regular basis; # we have
commissioned deaconesses or lay visitors who visit in homes and
hospitals; # at least 10% of our regular Sunday attenders would be
involved in significant occasional counseling of others in need; #
there is a 'pray- er chain' or similar structure to engage in
intercessory prayer for those in difficulty; # we have regular
community ministries in place that would meaningfully contact the
equivalent of at least 20% of our Sunday attendance each week; #
at least a quarter of our people would know how to pray with
someone to receive Christ as Saviour and Lord; # a significant
minority of our people would find themselves spontaneously praying
with another as part of a meaningful contact.
(1) We would score well in at least seven of the above (2)
five-six (3) three-four (4) one or two (5) none
9. WORSHIP LEADERSHIP. Our church involves many people in leading
worship services through # seminars on worship; # setting up one
or more worship committees; # having at least 2 people participate
in leadership besides the preacher in most worship services; #
involving musically-gifted people to help choose hymns/songs; #
training persons with preaching/teaching skills and allowing them
to minister publicly according to their gifts; # opening up a part
of many services for people to share their faith-stories.
We do (1) all of these (2) four of them (3) three (4) two (5) one
or none of the above
10. COUNSELOR TRAINING. There is a 'counseling/how to help your
friend' course run by our church (or some other nearby group which
our church members are urged to attend): (1) about once a year
(2) about once every 2 years (3) about once every 3 years (4)
every 4 years or so (5) never or hardly ever
11. VISITATION TRAINING. To train people in visitation
/counseling I have a trainee with me (1) at least 50% of my
people-time (2) 30-40% (3) 20-30% (4) 10-20% (5) Less than 10%
12. GROWTH GROUPS. The proportion of our regular Sunday attenders
belonging at any one time to a small group for spiritual growth
would be (1) 70% or more (2) 45-70% (3) 25-45% (4) 10-25% (5) less
than 10%
13. FORMATION. To foster our people's ongoing spiritual growth we
have: # a how-to-pray course at least once a year; # a bookstall
operating after most Sunday services and perhaps at other times; #
regular book reviews from the pulpit and/or in the church
bulletin; # a church library (with books, audio- and perhaps
video-cassettes) in regular use by at least a significant minority
of our people; # at least two courses on Bible study or
theological topics a year; # at least one seminar per year on
life-related themes; # a habit of regularly circulating
photocopied articles particularly to leaders; # announcements at
least twice a month of outside conventions or training
opportunities for our people; # at least a significant minority of
our young people attending Christian camps, Scripture Union beach
missions, Christian groups at their schools or colleges and
similar functions; # leadership training opportunities in place
for small group facilitators (1) We would have at least five of
the above in place (2) four (3) three (4) two (5) one or none.
14. ORGANIZATION. In our church's structure, # we have regular
communication between the leaders and the church; # we open
positions for junior members to join important leadership groups;
# our leaders invite and receive regular written communications
from church members; # we have a feedback mechanism which produces
ideas and suggestions from many in the church; # we have a
'sabbatical' system so that leaders must retire for at least a
year every six-to-eight years; # at least 30% of regular Sunday
attenders would belong to a committee or task force during a
two-year period. (1) We have all this in place (2) we have three
of the above (3) two (4) one (5) none
**** How did you score? If your total circled numbers was 14
(honest?) go straight to heaven: you have fulfilled your
ministry!
15-20: your church is quite unique (but don't rush into
organizing seminars on 'how we succeed around here'!).
21-30 - excellent: now work on setting goals to improve.
31-40 - get the John Mark Ministries' 'Your Church Can Come
Alive'.
41-50 - get the JMM video and a copy of the book for each leader.
51-60 - definitely get the video and book, and get other
churches in your area to combine for a live seminar. (See
my home page for details).
61+ Don't get discouraged, and do all of the above!
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