Thursday, July 19, 2018

Hey Fletch … I was in a class of yours in the Doctor of Ministry program at Dallas Seminary. As Senior Pastor of our church, we’re hiring a care minister. I’ve attached our job description and we have a candidate who is a long-time member. He’s been sensing a call out of the corporate world and shows a lot of the giftedness and experience for this position.

I need a good book on pastoral care in a 1,000+ member church that is relatively contemporary that will give him a primer on leading a care ministry for caring. He will have to do some seminary training. I need some good books to get him started and to serve as a discussion starter as we move toward hiring him.

Thoughts? You may know someone who can make a recommendation.

DRF— I remember our time together and it’s a delight to hear from you. A couple of thoughts on the role description:

  • The one-page length of the job description is ideal.
  • It includes percentages of time. These aren’t hard and fast but guidelines of expected time use. They help set priorities for how you want the time to be invested.
  • I would include something about Ephesians 4—where the Scriptural basis of the role is to train and equip others. Pastors have a hard time with this, especially in the Care area. They want to go and do, and that is vital. But, there will always be more care needs than any one person can do. You have a great emphasis on team in the description, but show that it is a biblical mandate for all pastors. Ephesians 4:12 “… to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God—a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature.” 

We have assembled a list of key books from XPastor’s seven online courses. There are plenty of winners here:

  • Sam Chand—Leadership Pain: The Classroom for Growth
  • Henry Cloud—Necessary Endings
  • Henry Cloud and John Townsend—Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life.
  • Ken Sande—The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict.

There are also many books on Amazon on the practice of Pastoral Care. You have a counselor on staff who is knowledgable of your hands-on needs.

God’s best to you and your church in this new hire!