I recently attended the Peacemaker Conference in Orlando, Florida. One of the most helpful sessions I attended was led by Tim Pollard, VP of Strategy and Marketing for Peacemaker Ministries. His session, Leading Through Change Without Dividing the Flock, was excellent. You will find Tim's article at XPastor.org. Here is the link:
http://www.xpastor.org/articles/pollard_leading_through_change.html
~ Jim
Showing posts with label Peacemaker Ministries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peacemaker Ministries. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
The Peacemaking Pastor
I began to read a new book this past weekend. It is The Peacemaking Pastor, by Alfred Poirier. Alfred is the Chairman of the Board for Peacemaker Ministries as well as the Senior Pastor of the Rocky Mountain Community Church in Billings, Montana.
In his Introduction, Alfred provides an excellent overview of conflict. He cites a study which revealed that 75% of congregations reported some type of conflict in the last five years. Another study identifies conflict and the stress it causes as the leading cause for pastors leaving local church ministry. In addition, pastors listed conflict management as the most needed training they lacked in their seminary or Bible College studies.
The first chapter of this book is aptly titled "Hope for a Heretic." Alfred calls himself a closet heretic and he confesses that he is guilty of Docetism. Docetism is the belief that Christ did not live in the flesh, or that He only appeared to be, or seemed to be, fully man. Please note that his heresy, as he calls it, is not theological but practical.
Alfred observes that we often confess that Christ came as a man and was fully human. He writes: "Consequently, when conflicts arise, we act as if Christ's person and work have little relevancy or hope to offer. We act as if Christ cannot relate or, perhaps, that our parishoners cannot relate to Christ" (Pg. 19 - 20).
In a similar manner, when we begin to feel the heat of conflict, we get caught up in the details and often act as described in this book. We forget that Jesus experienced the heat of conflict, knew its devastating power and can guide us through the steps of reconciliation. Thus, I believe we too act like closet heretics.
I still have much to read and process in this excellent resource, but I highly recommend it and believe it will be helpful to those who truly desire to shepherd people who experience conflict on a daily basis. It is helpful to be reminded that the faith we believe and affirm has relevance to the issues of life. And I appreciate leaders like Alfred who are not afraid to admit their struggles so that others can learn from them.
~ Jim
In his Introduction, Alfred provides an excellent overview of conflict. He cites a study which revealed that 75% of congregations reported some type of conflict in the last five years. Another study identifies conflict and the stress it causes as the leading cause for pastors leaving local church ministry. In addition, pastors listed conflict management as the most needed training they lacked in their seminary or Bible College studies.
The first chapter of this book is aptly titled "Hope for a Heretic." Alfred calls himself a closet heretic and he confesses that he is guilty of Docetism. Docetism is the belief that Christ did not live in the flesh, or that He only appeared to be, or seemed to be, fully man. Please note that his heresy, as he calls it, is not theological but practical.
Alfred observes that we often confess that Christ came as a man and was fully human. He writes: "Consequently, when conflicts arise, we act as if Christ's person and work have little relevancy or hope to offer. We act as if Christ cannot relate or, perhaps, that our parishoners cannot relate to Christ" (Pg. 19 - 20).
In a similar manner, when we begin to feel the heat of conflict, we get caught up in the details and often act as described in this book. We forget that Jesus experienced the heat of conflict, knew its devastating power and can guide us through the steps of reconciliation. Thus, I believe we too act like closet heretics.
I still have much to read and process in this excellent resource, but I highly recommend it and believe it will be helpful to those who truly desire to shepherd people who experience conflict on a daily basis. It is helpful to be reminded that the faith we believe and affirm has relevance to the issues of life. And I appreciate leaders like Alfred who are not afraid to admit their struggles so that others can learn from them.
~ Jim
Friday, June 20, 2008
Peacemaking Church Resource Set
Check out this valuable resource from Peacemaker Ministries as a way to create a culture of peace within your church. There are three component parts to this resource and each are explained in detail at this link via video and text.
http://www.peacemaker.net/site/c.aqKFLTOBIpH/b.2837365/k.65C1/The_Peacemaking_Church.htm
Building A Culture Of Peace
Lou Ann and I had the privilege of hosting Rick Friesen last night in our home. Rick is the Director of Ministry Relations for Peacemaker Ministries and we talked about how their ministry might help Mission Mid-Atlantic build a culture of peace in the churches throughout our region. The process of creating this culture includes assisting conflicted churches, scheduling training for mediators as well as identifying people to lead peacemaking efforts in their local churches. We are glad that Peacemaker Ministries desires to assist churches in this manner, and we will keep you informed as this strategic relationship is developed. Visit http://www.peacemaker.net/ to learn more about Peacemaker Ministries.Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Peacemaker Ministries Trip Review
I had a great time at the Peacemaker Ministries Focus Group last week. Three focus group panelists, including me, arrived a day early and several guys from the PM office who are great fly fishermen took time off from work to float down the Bighorn River with us. After a great day of fly fishing the Bighorn, we spent two days in the Focus Group. Peacemaker Ministries has a wonderful team that really desires to create resources to assist church leadership in the ministry of reconciliation. I left Montana with a deep sense of gratitude for their ministry and look forward to finding ways for Mission Mid-Atlantic to use their resources. By the way, here is a picture of the first of three fish I caught on the Bighorn!
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