A Dangerous Side Effect of Moving
Carl F. George
The Christian leader's chief occupational hazards are depression and discouragement.
John R. W. Stott
When it comes to spotting hidden snares in the ministry, Carl F. George demonstrates a practiced eye. Now director of the Charles E. Fuller Institute of Evangelism and Church Growth after more than a decade of pastoring, he spends major blocks of time with individual churches and pastors who request his help.
He especially watches for things most people miss. For example, public success on Sunday morning doesn't tell the whole story of a ministry, he says. "Almost all ministers are well educated theologically. Most seminary graduates have more to teach than anybody wants to learn. If we spend any time at all preparing for a given sermon, we will meet the needs of the listeners. As Dan Baumann, author of a widely used preaching textbook, says, 'Anyone who simply sets forth the text and gives its meaning distinctly will be accused of freshness.'
"Meanwhile, the serious deficiencies are in management and leadership skills. This is a decision that goes unmade."
In the following chapter, Carl George puts his finger on a life management skill that is badly needed following a transition.
Pastors who change churches sometimes get more than they bargained for.
They naturally have become comfortable with a set of familiar faces in a church. Although the demands of preaching, leading a staff or committees, visiting parishioners, and counseling are at times overwhelming, the old church is still basically an affirmative setting. The pastor is needed and valued. He or she has many opportunities to offer help, encouragement, appreciation, and to receive expressions of appreciation ("strokes") in return. The people have come to a place of ...
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