15 December 2009

Analects of Ministry Wisdom

I liked a lot of these from Bishop Alan. Here are some which gained a particularly hearty 'amen' from me as I reflect on my ministry. Bishop Alan’s Blog: Ministry: Rudiments of Wisdom:
"4. Don't ask until you’ve worked out the question. Only ask people questions they are likely to answer in the way you want. Also, Don't ask when the baby is due until the new lady in Church has actually told you she is pregnant. Never ask a Lawyer “Can we do this?” The question is always “How can we do this?”
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"6. You do not have their P45's in your back pocket, so always explain, always apologise.
...
9. Schedule your free time as zealously as you would a funeral. Your family are the closest members of the body of Christ. Strive not to be toxic to them, and remember they didn't ask to have you for a parent.
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12. Rigid faith is often brittle. ...
13. You inherited far more than you realise. Before you go buy a new tool, check the old toolbox you seldom use and nine times out of ten you've already got one. Revolution by tradition!

And of the additcions offered by commenters:
God doesn't ask us to be succesful, but he does ask us to be faithful.
A satsuma is not a failed orange.

I think mine might be:
you can often tell a church that is doing the business by whether it attracts those who wider society finds hard to cope with and if the church doesn't do that, it's probably doing something wrong.
Have you got any pearls of ministry wisdom?

No comments:

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