Pastoral Care-What’s Important?
(12/01/08 Alban Weekly) ALL for GOD’S GLORY: Redeeming Church Scutwork (by Louis B. Weeks) Nobody likes scutwork, the unwanted dregs of the working day. Pastors are no exception to this, often dreading the endless e-mails and phone calls, having no heart for putting together one more bulletin or attending one more meeting, all of which feels like so much distraction from the “true” pastoral work to which they have been called. Louis Weeks challenges that paradigm and lifts up scutwork as an integral part of pastoral care and leadership. It is through focused attention to the details of scutwork that pastors are able to build solid relationships within the congregation, and without the trust that comes from these relationships, no true pastoral care and leadership is possible. All for God’s Glory explores ways in which churches are engaged and can engage in practices of administration that deepen care and build a healthy congregational community.
“Louis Weeks uses the practical everyday leadership experiences of a wide variety of pastoral leaders to help us see that ’scutwork,’ the menial, mundane tasks of ministry, is holy work. This book is filled with a host of faithful, hopeful, and practical suggestions for strengthening congregational leadership–for new and experienced leaders alike”–Dent Davis
(Nov 24, 2008)The Alban Weekly (No. 226–11/24/08) features a new book: Reaching Out in a Networked World: Expressing Your Congregation’s Heart & Soul, in which author Lynne Baab examinies “9 Myths About Communicating Congregational Identity”. Use The Alban Institute LINK (center of this page) to read or sign up for this weekly newsletter. At least read the author’s own summary of the 9 myths dealt with in the book; it’s food for thought, to go along with a turkey dinner.