The Archives
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clergy, ministerial-formation, ministers, seminary
Ministers: Are you grateful?
10.25.07 | Permalink | 4 CommentsAttention all ordained ministers: I have a burning question for you. Thinking back to your candidacy process, is that a process you are grateful for now? (As opposed to being grateful that it’s over.) And were you grateful for it then? I’m asking specifically about the denominational vetting process—interviews, position papers, etc.—as opposed to seminary […]
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church-staff, clergy, disability, ministry
Is ministry a …?
09.16.07 | Permalink | 4 CommentsChurch work can be a tough business. It’s never done. The needs—as I’ve heard so many people put it—are endless and nonnegotiable. It follows you home. It goes to bed with you. Lots of folks’ work follows them home. Lots of folks do work that encounters endless human needs. So I’ve put off writing this […]
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clergy, health, ministers, stress
Does ministry make clergy sick?
A friend sent me a provocative article from Pulpit & Pew that notes a fifty year rise in general unhealthiness among Protestant clergy. Fifty years ago, clergy were among the healthiest professional groups. Now the opposite is true. Much of the clergy health problem may be rooted in the very nature of ministry today—what Stephanie […]
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clergy, ordination, seminary
No pulpits for seminarians, no seminarians for pulpits
10.03.06 | Permalink | 5 CommentsA recent Washington Post piece says that only 50-65% of seminary graduates find ministry jobs, matching up with an earlier NYTimes piece that said much the same. However, the WP piece talks about pulpit shortages, but the NYT piece talks about twentysomething seminarians choosing not to go into the ministry. Add to that anecdotal evidence […]
