Category Archives: Pastoral Renewal

Why Theological Education Fails the Need of Our Times

My title is big and broad, I understand. I believe, simply put, that contemporary theological education is failing to produce true leaders. We teach to our level of competence and the competence of most of our best schools is to … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Pastoral Renewal, The Christian Minister/Ministry | 5 Comments

Wes Granberg-Michaelson’s Faithful Missional-Ecumenism and the Reformed Church in America

For seventeen years Wes Granberg-Michaelson has served the Reformed Church of America (RCA) as general secretary. I not only count Wes as my friend but admire his leadership skills and the job he has done to make the RCA one … Continue reading

Posted in Leadership, Missional Church, Missional-Ecumenism, Pastoral Renewal, Reformed Christianity, The Christian Minister/Ministry, The Church, The Future, Unity of the Church | Leave a comment

The Pastor: A Memoir

One of my favorite modern Protestant writers is Eugene H. Peterson. I’ve never met Eugene, though I’ve spoken to him on the telephone. I invited him to participate in a writing project and he phoned me to decline. He was … Continue reading

Posted in Pastoral Renewal, The Christian Minister/Ministry | 3 Comments

Are Our Pastors Leaders or Managers?

I begin by stating what I hope is obvious to my regular readers. I was trained to be a pastor, planted a church I served for four years and pastored another for sixteen. I owe everything I now do in … Continue reading

Posted in Pastoral Renewal, The Christian Minister/Ministry | 3 Comments

Where is the Fault Line in Sports and the Church?

I read Sports Illustrated for several reasons. One is, of course, my love of sports. But there are a lot of magazines and papers that cover sports. Few do it with the journalistic excellence of Sports Illustrated. The March 29 … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Pastoral Renewal, The Church | 1 Comment

Pastors and Pornography

I wrote a book, The Stain That Stays, that deals with the problem of sexually fallen pastors and Christian leaders. I argue that in most every case the minister should resign and only after a long time, and in some … Continue reading

Posted in Pastoral Renewal | 1 Comment

The Real Hazzards of Being a Pastor

I am convinced that most pastors have no idea how hard it is to be faithful and effective for another year, much less for an entire lifetime.  I am further convinced that virtually no one outside the pastoral ministry understands … Continue reading

Posted in Pastoral Renewal | 5 Comments

Shepherd Leaders Needed: Others Need Not Apply

For some years I have taught biblical and common sense principles of leadership to churches. This all began by way of a two-day seminar I taught for another ministry back in the 1980s. This experience actually launched my present ministry … Continue reading

Posted in Pastoral Renewal | 3 Comments