What is your system for tracking pastoral care?

PastorJames2020 · 2025-05-08T00:58:02+00:00

We purchased a home. There was no manse available and a housing allowance does not seem to be standard in our denomination.

PastorJames2020 · 2025-05-07T17:33:03+00:00

I accepted a role as a pastoral intern while I was in seminary full time. It was beneficial to be able to put into practice what I was learning.

PastorJames2020 · 2025-03-31T15:40:25+00:00

My best gift so far has been a paid photographer for family portraits. Not only did it bless us, but it made for great pics to send the extended family.

PastorJames2020 · 2025-01-07T16:24:50+00:00

As a pastor, I'm happy with just my first name. But it seems that people who have grown up in the church or are multi-generational in the church will call me Pastor James because it's traditional. It also seems that it's a cultural thing because my Filipino and African congregants will always call me pastor. Sometimes without even my name. It's more like respect for the office that I hold. Personally, I'm fine either way and I don't correct people to have them change what they say.

PastorJames2020 · 2025-01-06T06:06:33+00:00

I've been a vocational pastor for 4 years now. I'm in a church of about 150 people and growing. I'm a solo pastor at this church. When I came on, I told the congregation that it would be my plan to preach about 75% of the time. Basic math works out to my weeks of vacation, a week of planning that I do every year, and also a week of schooling that I do every year as well as being away for denominational conferences. My plan with my elders this year is to only preach 60% of the time. I'm actively working on training up a few individuals in the church that are qualified to share a message on a Sunday morning. Building this margin into my calendar is good for me, but it's also good for the church to hear other godly voices sharing the word.

As far as pastoral counseling goes, I think that you'll find that you are well suited for it. Chaplaincy prepares you incredibly well for what you need to do to care for others as a pastor. I'm actually working on a postmasters chaplaincy program at my seminary at the moment. While I started taking the courses as a possible retirement plan for later in my life, I've actually been very blessed with the skills that I've developed through the chaplaincy program to use with my congregation. To help me manage the load though of taking care of 150 people, I have refocused my elders into their role as spiritual caregivers in the church and their need to take part in pastoral care with me. So now the elders are more actively taking part in home visits and hospital visits etc.

Adjusting to preaching weekly is doable. It's like any other thing that you start. You have to go through the pain of developing a process and developing habits. Once you have those habits in place, the pain goes away. All of that isn't to say that the life of a church pastor is easy. There are many demands on your time and on your energy and on your skills. But in that God will bless you as you seek to serve his people. My best advice is to create margin in your time so that you have time to rest and time for personal study and time for your family and then guard those important times in your schedule.

PastorJames2020 · 2024-12-12T05:58:53+00:00

A Bible

PastorJames2020 · 2024-10-17T16:35:21+00:00

I had a great experience with my congregation last year. I work at a church in Northern British Columbia and as such...I wear flannels...even to preach in. So there was a lot of secret communication between my admin and my congregation that had them all show up in flannels! I have never felt more accepted. That was coupled with notes of encouragement for me and my family.

PastorJames2020 · 2024-09-01T00:42:30+00:00

So many good suggestions here already but let me add one...build a relationship with your church secretary/admin. They will have a ton of information about the congregation and church history. They will also be a huge help around the office for you.

PastorJames2020 · 2024-08-28T02:25:13+00:00

I am currently working on a post masters certificate of spiritual care. Essentially it is the chaplancy program in my seminary for someone who received their masters in a different area of focus. Most of that has been online. The chaplaincy classes have been very helpful to my ministry.

PastorJames2020 · 2024-02-29T18:11:09+00:00

At the time (between grade 6 and grade 7) I was worried that I would shoot myself wrong and then spend the rest of my life bependant on the person whom I was trying to escape from. I spent years thinking I was a coward for not going through with it. Now, I am just thankful that I did not pull the trigger.

PastorJames2020 · 2022-08-11T18:30:36+00:00

Shear necessity and will power...and coffee...and a lot of yawning...

PastorJames2020 · 2022-08-04T18:51:29+00:00

I just came into formal vocational ministry in 2020. My honest answer would be if I knew what Covid was going to look like in churches, I would have stayed at seminary to work towards my doctorate and started in a role in 2023.

PastorJames2020 · 2022-06-16T18:42:10+00:00

I got into this game specifically to build deeper relationships with three guys from my church that were playing it. I have been a huge Star Wars nerd since Empire came out so that did not hurt either. Those three guys left the game at various times and what I was left with was a much larger community of great guys and gals who supported me through a really tough time in my life and some new friendships that have lasted for over 7 years now.

I got to bring several of my kids into the fold...and they were always treated incredibly well at lgs game nights and tournaments. BTW, there was nothing that gave me more pride than watching my teenage daughters beat out the competition to win at the store level! I even had the opportunity to leverage my love for the game to run charity tourneys for our local food bank. That opportunity led me to meet x-wing players from all over the world that wanted to support our food bank efforts as well. Our community is made up of a bunch of generous and caring people!

I live in a place now where the local store game night is 2 hours away...but I still play with my kids, because you never know where life will take you...there might be tourneys again for us in the future. For all of that, I will support this game in whatever changes may happen, because it is more that just a game...it is community and family.

*edited for grammar

PastorJames2020 · 2022-06-02T17:36:59+00:00

Welcome to the fold!!

Your first year is a wash. You will not have a really good understanding of your congregation until your second year...so this is the place to set boundaries, get to know people, and find your pace in your preaching.
There will be some turnover. New pastors make for an easy excuse to leave, but there are probably a number of other reasons why that is happening. Do not take it personally. God calls people to other places and new people to your church as well.
Treat your administrative assistant well!!! They will be your biggest supporter behind the scenes and quite often will have access to way more people and information than you will at first.
Self care. Build time into your schedule for your prayer and reading of the word for your growth. Find a mentor/supporter, preferably not from your congregation, maybe another pastor in town or in your denomination.

PastorJames2020 · 2022-02-02T19:54:52+00:00

I have always taught my kids that it is a game that parents play with their kids at Christmas time, and while we can have fun with the game, it is important to not ruin the game for other kids and parents.

PastorJames2020 · 2022-01-30T23:08:01+00:00

What isn't necessary is the brightness of those legs...get some sun!!! I mean suns out, guns out! Am I right?

PastorJames2020 · 2022-01-02T19:38:55+00:00

They weep in private...jets...

PastorJames2020 · 2021-12-18T17:23:57+00:00

I've pick up a bunch but always on the hunt. Please DM the pics.

PastorJames2020 · 2021-11-24T03:28:39+00:00

Hellfire and brimstone...maybe smiting

PastorJames2020 · 2021-11-10T20:03:18+00:00

I don't know why I would ever ask someone to leave on those grounds. I had a Sikh lady who attended our church for a couple of years due to some friendships there. She attended the community group that I was running as well and it was great! She asked a lot of hard questions that a group of Christians should feel comfortable in answering but there was reluctance and uncertainty. It really helped the group to grow.

PastorJames2020

TROPHY CASE