There are two main premises in Roy Oswald's book: First, be intentional - reach out to others. The myth is that support will find us, but why gamble? Roy has some good clues about how to select your support group. Second, be extradependent - name a leader. Self-selected and group guided support groups can work, but a support group with a designated leader is stronger and more satisfying. This book will help you identify and secure such a leader for your support group. The book is mandatory reading for ordained ministers and lay professionals. Dr. William C. Behrens, Director of Leadership Support, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America This book tells why there is a morale problem among clergy. Roy Oswald offers clergy a step-by-step 'how to' guide for developing a workable peer support system. He tells how to begin a support group and outlines the role of facilitators. The author's insights on developing rituals, finding 'encouragers, ' and enduring crises come from firsthand experience. Clergy and denominational leaders need the wisdom and experience shared in this book. Nancy T. Foltz, Leadership Consultant Roy Oswald begins his book on support systems for clergy with personal experience. We imagine that support systems come naturally. Through painful experiences we learn that isn't true. Roy's stories enrich and inform this valuable book. He adds to his personal research with support groups insights from the Oscillation Theory of the Grubb Institute and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. I found myself evaluating my own support system and making plans for changes. C. Leon Hopper, Senior Minister, East Shore Unitarian Church, Bellevue, Washington, President, Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association Roy Oswald is a Senior Consultant with The Alban Institute and the author of several publications including 'New Beginnings: a pastorate start up workbook' and 'The Inviting Church', which he co-authored with Speed B. Leas.

The Ministry of Helps Handbook by Buddy Bell is a unique combination of teaching, seminar guidelines and answers to often-asked questions. This useful and complete book provides pastors, and members with the tools and insights to restore the ministry of helps to their church.

Over a period of years, Donald Smith probed, analyzed, interpreted, and reinterpreted data pertaining to what makes for effective ministry. Through all his research, one fact kept emerging: Pastors who focus on empowering others are recognized as the most effective in their ministry. Empowering Ministry distills the best information about cultivating an effective ministry stance from the voices of several hundred highly effective congregational leaders, offering readers the benefit of many lifetimes of pastoral experience. Smith deals extensively with how pastors empower others, as well as with how they have been and continue to be empowered themselves. He also discusses the requisite skills needed for motivating and energizing others. The book offers a realistic look at life in the ministerial pressure cooker and confronts the issues of stress and burnout. Specific steps the reader can take to grow and nurture an effective ministry are included. Empowering Ministry is for pastors who are enriching their work, for the seminary student preparing for ministry, and for anyone working closely with their pastors in a quest for maximum pastoral effectiveness.

This vital revised and expanded update to How to Thrive in Associate Staff Ministry (Alban, 2000) provides guidance to the growing population of staff members employed by churches. Churches are expanding their staffs, but the turnover rate remains high, often due to stress, isolation, and conflict on the job. Lawson and Boersma address what it takes to thrive personally, professionally, and relationally within associate staff ministry. Based on updated research and interviews with over 600 veteran associate staff members from many different denominations, Lawson and Boersma describe the priorities, attitudes, and practices that can help associate staff members thrive in their ministry roles. They present, explain, and illustrate a four-part “Model for Thriving in Associate Staff Ministry,” a concrete framework that readers can use to help achieve satisfaction and balance in their own lives. In addition to addressing those in associate staff roles, the book also includes chapters to help supervising pastors and church boards support their associate staff members. Each chapter includes questions for personal reflection or discussion with others to help readers engage with the material and determine what steps they might take to improve their own experience in associate staff ministry.

The word "supervision" can have a negative connotation to those being supervised and leaders alike. You don't have to read very far in Transforming the Rough Places to realize that there is nothing negative about the supervision that Dr. Pohly describes. The result of years of research and experience, Dr. Pohly's method and rationale offer tools to make supervision a positive experience for all those involved. What he describes is a value-centered leadership style that focuses equally on the ministry or task to be done and the person doing the task. Practicing these skills in supervision can easily enhance all business, ministry, and personal relationships. Discover what it means to lead in a way that can be transformative for the individual and the institution.

Contents include: Foreword, by Lovett H. Weems, Jr. Preface Introduction CHAPTER 1. Finding Satisfaction in Following God's Direction CHAPTER2. Working Well with Your Supervisor and Fellow Associates CHAPTER 3. Foundational Attitudes and Commitments CHAPTER4. Church Environments that Enable Thriving CHAPTER 5. Sustaining Personal Spiritual Vitality CHAPTER 6. Building Supportive Relationships CHAPTER 7. Strengthening the Home Front CHAPTER 8. Savoring Joys and Weathering Storms CHAPTER 9. Thriving Skills for Female Associate Staff CHAPTER 10. Veterans' Advice to "Wanna-bes" and "Newbies" Introduction to Appendixes A and B - For Those Who Care about Associate Staff APPENDIX A. The Valued Supervisor APPENDIX B. The Supportive Church Board APPENDIX C. The "Thriving in Associate Staff Ministry" Study APPENDIX D. Professional Organizations for Associate Staff Members Further Reading for Associate Staff Members