Pastors:
- A Mélange of Sorts, a 25-minute video from The Work of the People: Click here
- A discussion on how pastoral search committees can find the right pastor for their congregation. Topics will cover where to search, how to review materials, what questions to ask of yourselves and the candidates, and how to communicate with the candidates. Will include some tips for small churches and part-time calls as well. 1/2022 recorded PRC webinar: Click here
- Articles on Pastoring by Karl Vaters: Click here
- Presbyterian seminaries explore definitions of ‘call’ and ‘ministry’ in the 21st century 7/2021. A series of four stories that include interviews with Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seminaries, taking a look at how the COVID-19 pandemic challenged and changed seminary learning environments.: Click here
- The new church jobs emerging and the skills needed, 3/2021 (PCUSA article): Click here
- Personal Discernment Profile (PDP) blank form as a PDF: Click here
- Call Seeker recorded webinar covers everything from signing up to seeking a call, 6/2023: Click here
- Annual Planning Calendar Templates: Years A + B + C from Building Faith, 2023: Click here
- Sabbatical Articles, Alban Institute/Duke: Click here
- Sabbatical grants available for new worshiping community leaders, 5/2021 (PCUSA): Click here
- Locations for free or reduced cost to take Sabbath for pastors: Click here
- JustPeace, UMC resource for mediation and conflict transformation of The United Methodist Church. There are resources to purchase as well as free articles and videos. The booklet Engage Conflict Well is free to download: Click here
Continuing Education/Conferences:
- Elevation Continuing Education (2.5 CEU’s) and Spiritual Renewal Retreat, May 13-17, 2024, Sponsored by Dr. Marcia McFee and Worship Design Studio: Click here
- Pastoral programs offered by Columbia Seminary: Click here
- Stepping Up To Supervision, 3-part seminar ($195) from the CCG (Congregational Consulting Group) led by Susan Beaumont, 8/15: Click here
- Ecumenical Institute at Château de Bossey encourages PC(USA) students to apply to learn about ecumenical ministry: Click here
- Graduate Certificate in Adaptive and Innovative Ministry (Pittsburg Theological Seminary): Click here
Finances:
- Board of Pensions Thrive Workshops, taking a holistic look at retirement. Available in two formats, as an e-learning series and an in-person seminar: Click here
- Board of Pensions to serve more with expanded access to Assistance Program, Changes include new grant for ministers and wider eligibility, 10/2021 article: Click here
- The Lilly Endowment posts information about its clergy renewal programs (11/2021): Click here
- Money Problems We All Loose Sleep Over, 5/2021, recorded webinar, also a podcast, from Barnabas Foundation: Click here
- Navigating the Maze of the Unique Compensation and Tax Aspects of Ministers, 5/2021 PRC webinar: Click here
- Living Wage Calculator: Click here
Interim/Transitional Ministry
- Upcoming Transitional Ministry online training: Click here
- Transitional Ministry Educational Consortium of the PC(USA): Click here
Leadership:
- Stepping Up To Supervision, 3-part seminar ($195) from the CCG (Congregational Consulting Group) led by Susan Beaumont, 8/15: Click here
- Along The Road podcast on faith and leadership
- Tod Bolinger (AE Sloan) Blog articles: Click here
- The Senior Pastor’s Guide to Reaching More People – Lots of ideas and best practices on how to reach new people PDF from Church Juice: Click here
- 12 Staff Devotions, PDF from Church Juice: Click here
- Leading Theologically guest explains how to authentically lead worship and other gatherings, even when you don’t feel like it, 4/2022 article with links: Click here
- Divine work: Some say it’s time for a new conversation about ordained leadership in the PC(USA), 3/2022 article: Click here
- Leadership article from Congregational Consulting Group: Click here
- Leaders Have Two Jobs, 9/2021 Church Juice article: Click here
- The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast: Click here
- Leadership articles from The Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Click here
- 8 Steps 4 Change: Steps Required to Transition a Church, Bob Whitesel (article): Click here
- Leadership best practices from The Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Click here
- The Reclaimed Leader podcast with Jason Tucker & Jesse Skiffington: Click here
- How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going: Leading in a Liminal Season, Susan Beaumont, 2019 – How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going is a practical book of hope for tired and weary leaders who risk defining this era of ministry in terms of failure or loss. It helps leaders stand firm in a disoriented state, learning from their mistakes and leading despite the confusion. Packed with rich stories and real-world examples, Beaumont guides the reader through practices that connect the soul of the leader with the soul of the institution.
Lectionary Resources & Tools:
- Takin’ It To The Text, (podcast from Unbound): Click here
- Sundays and Seasons (Augsburg): Click here
- Looking Into The Lectionary (Presbytery Outlook): Click here
- Logos Bible Study/Preaching App, $: Click here
Mental Health:
- Wounded Pastors: Navigating Burnout, Finding Healing, and Discerning the Future of Your Ministry by James Fenimore & Carol Howard, 2024, John Knox Press, $
- Theology, Formation & Evangelism Spiritual Practices cohort groups help pastors feeling fatigued, worn out and longing to go deeper into their faith journey, 11/2021: Click here
- The Lilly Endowment posts information about its clergy renewal programs (11/2021): Click here
- The Unseen Emotional Impact of the Pandemic on Pastors, 6/2021 (95 Network podcast with Karl Vaters): Click here
- Overwhelm Workshop – Do you feel buried under the weight of the the world? the church? the community struggles? the family demands? the near constant change and ever growing need? It’s all too much. We can help. 2/2022 PRC webinar: Click here
- Columbia Theological Seminary program to support clergy in crisis: Click here
- How I Recovered From Burnout: 12 Keys To Getting Back, Carey Nieuwhof (Blog article): Click here
Preaching:
- From Pew to Pulpit: Preaching Your First Sermon, a recorded webinar from PRC: Click here
- Call To Worship, a website featuring Liturgy, Music, Preaching, and the Arts from the PC(USA): Click here
- 10 Tips For Crafting Inclusive Worship Experiences, an article by Donald Griggs, 10/2023: Click here
- Working Preacher podcast, an engaging weekly conversation on the Revised Common Lectionary readings for the coming Sunday: Click here
- Humor Us! Preaching and the Power of the Comic Spirit by Alyce M. McKenzie & Owen Hanley Lynch, Westminster John Knox Press, 6/2023
- Fractured Ground by Kimberly R. Wagner, John Knox 2023, designed to help preachers called to speak about mass trauma
- Everyday Connections: Reflections and Practices for Year A (Connections: A Lectionary Commentary for Preaching and Worship) by Heidi Haverkamp, 2022
- Host At the Movies preaching series. Open Network has done all the creative work for you: Click here
- Synod of the Covenant’s monthly Equipping Preachers series, available to preachers inside and outside the boundaries of the synod: Click here
- Two seasoned storytellers share tips on what makes for great stories and best practices for sharing them, 12/2021 recorded webinar: Click here
- A Matter of Faith podcast explores the persistent problem of busy and stressed preachers lifting their sermons from online sources, 5/2022 article with link to the podcast: Click here
- Preaching isn’t just for preachers, homiletics professor tells the Synod of the Covenant, 11/2021, a 90-minute webinar by The Rev. Dr. Shauna K. Hannan, Professor of Homiletics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary: Click here
- Dr. Tom Long offers up a master class on ‘ministry for a new normal’, 9/2021 article: Click here
- Preaching Labs (PCUSA): Click here
Suggested Resources:
- Stand-Up Preaching: Homiletical Insights from Contemporary Comedians by Jake Myers, and an article about it: Click here
- Preaching at the Crossroads: How the World and Our Preaching Is Changing by David J. Lose (Fortress Press, 2013):
- How to Preach a Dangerous Sermon ($13.49) by Frank A. Thomas, introduction by William J. Barber II – This book is laid out to be helpful for preachers working on sermons during difficult times. Mainly the author explores the idea of “moral imagination and diabolic imagination” and lays the groundwork for prophetic preaching. In addition, the author explores several speeches and sermons by Robert F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Prathia L. Hall. The goal is to help a preacher or leader develop their own voice in this area. The author led a webinar for PRC about the book; you can register to watch the recording by clicking here.
- Feasting on the Word resources for preaching, worship, & devotion: Click here
- Finding Words for Worship: A Guide for Leaders ($25) by Ruth C. Duck – If you are working on writing your own liturgy, this book would be very helpful. Instead of liturgy already written out, this book teaches how to find your voice in designing liturgy for worship services. Though published in 1995, the information is not outdated and can be adapted to the times we live in. The author takes a leader seeking to write their own liturgy through the process including the process itself, finding images to help, and the different forms of prayers. The final chapter focuses on “Bringing It All Together.” This work could be used by individuals seeking to write their own liturgy or read separately and then used by a worship team to craft a service together.