Recently in United Church of Christ (UCC) Category
Julie Holm has an excellent article on how going to seminary is ministry.
It was after being recommended for in care that I was asked to be on the leadership group (of 3) that supported 40 ministry teams. I was the only nominee for the vacant position. I was already serving on a number of our church's ~90 ministry teams. Churches have few people willing to take leadership roles (the 80/20 or 90/10 rule: 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people). Those few who will are expected to, because the alternative is empty leadership positions.
Financial support of seminarians is an interesting issue. The two congregations I've been with both struggle to pay their staff - one pays a full time pastor plus part time staff positions: youth minister, music minister, accompanist, facilities manager, church secretary, and cleaning staff. The other pays only a pastor (full time) and part time accompanist. There's no money left to try to help someone through seminary (despite what the MoM may say).
And why should they? It's not like they'll be the beneficiaries of the education. The seminarian will likely go pastor some other church or do some other ministry. Why give money to help someone else's ministry, especially when our own ministries are struggling?
Perhaps the fundamental problem is that, for many, the church has been relegated to an hour on Sunday morning. For some, this is clarified to "on days when none of the kids has an activity like skating or baseball Sunday morning and when we weren't out too late Saturday night" (I know a paid minister who has to skip even some large celebrations - read Christmas - due to conflicts with primary job, secondary job, and kids).
It should be no surprise that paid ministers, seminarians, and lay leaders are burning out. While 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people, the other 80% of the people are expecting more.
I don't have an answer to this problem.
It was after being recommended for in care that I was asked to be on the leadership group (of 3) that supported 40 ministry teams. I was the only nominee for the vacant position. I was already serving on a number of our church's ~90 ministry teams. Churches have few people willing to take leadership roles (the 80/20 or 90/10 rule: 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people). Those few who will are expected to, because the alternative is empty leadership positions.
Financial support of seminarians is an interesting issue. The two congregations I've been with both struggle to pay their staff - one pays a full time pastor plus part time staff positions: youth minister, music minister, accompanist, facilities manager, church secretary, and cleaning staff. The other pays only a pastor (full time) and part time accompanist. There's no money left to try to help someone through seminary (despite what the MoM may say).
And why should they? It's not like they'll be the beneficiaries of the education. The seminarian will likely go pastor some other church or do some other ministry. Why give money to help someone else's ministry, especially when our own ministries are struggling?
Perhaps the fundamental problem is that, for many, the church has been relegated to an hour on Sunday morning. For some, this is clarified to "on days when none of the kids has an activity like skating or baseball Sunday morning and when we weren't out too late Saturday night" (I know a paid minister who has to skip even some large celebrations - read Christmas - due to conflicts with primary job, secondary job, and kids).
It should be no surprise that paid ministers, seminarians, and lay leaders are burning out. While 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people, the other 80% of the people are expecting more.
I don't have an answer to this problem.
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Learn how General Synod works and about the resolutions at General Synod 27.
This is an informal discussion with a UCC member who attended General Synod 27 and the United Church of Christ History and Polity Course.
Tuesdays at 6:30 at the home of Cindi Knox and Mary Dycus.
Please call 815-254-6920 or go to http://cindik.com/contact/ to reserve a space and express your preference of pizza thickness and toppings.
Please bring something to drink.
July 14: How General Synod works
July 21:
July 28: TBA
August 4: TBA
August 11: TBA
August 18: TBA
August 25: TBA
This is an informal discussion with a UCC member who attended General Synod 27 and the United Church of Christ History and Polity Course.
Tuesdays at 6:30 at the home of Cindi Knox and Mary Dycus.
Please call 815-254-6920 or go to http://cindik.com/contact/ to reserve a space and express your preference of pizza thickness and toppings.
Please bring something to drink.
July 14: How General Synod works
July 21:
1. Toward Unified Governance for the National Setting of the United Church of Christ - Substitute Resolution - Approved
2. Amendment to the Proposed Changes to the Constitution and Bylaws - Approved
July 28: TBA
August 4: TBA
August 11: TBA
August 18: TBA
August 25: TBA
Continue reading Pizza and Polity.
I live in Joliet, and am a member of a UCC church near Joliet.
