Facing Brick Walls “Nobody ever liked Eileen anyway.” Ouch. “Eileen, I’m really hoping that you will be our next pastor.” Oooof. These words, and many variations on them, polarized the congregation when I left it over 20 years ago. What…
Challenge. Question. Conflict. Change. How do you practice ministry in a no-win situation? Last week I talked with more than two dozen pastors, ministers, and chaplains. I also talked with ministry mentors and my seminary colleagues. And in my weekly…
How are you cultivating pastoral imagination? This week, Three Minute Ministry Mentor Host, Eileen Campbell-Reed is away on vacation with her family. However, recently Eileen shared a conversation with Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. Today we…
Editor’s Note: Today we welcome Rev. Elizabeth Hagan as our guest! Most recently Elizabeth served the Palisades Community Church in Washington, DC as senior minister. She is a graduate of Samford University and Duke Divinity School. She is also the…
Conflict in ministry is hard. It is hard because it often feels personal. It is hard because it can evoke feelings like anger, self-doubt, fear or shame, feelings that are unpleasant to digest. And it is hard because change of…
There are many powerful rituals available for ministers to engage while leading people of faith. In this post, I want to share two stories about engaging ritual. This past weekend I took some of my seminary students to the “Beating…