​The above title was the topic of an SBCAL Pre-Conference Workshop I led in Dallas last month. (To listen to the entire Workshop click here.) I could not cover everything on this blog, but I wanted to share highlights that might be of help to potential DOMs/AMSs who could not be there.
 
Why do you want to become an Associational Leader?
Prayerfully examine your heart, motives, calling.
Is it to serve the Lord and His pastors and churches in fulfilling the Great Commission?
Is it to get out of a difficult pastorate or other ministry position?
Is it to have a stable ministry position to finish your career between now and retirement?
Is it to be a denominational leader for the sake of being a denominational leader?
Or is it because you believe - and other trusted individuals believe - you have the calling, compassion, skills, giftedness, and leadership ability to lead an association of churches?

At the recent SBCAL Midwest Regional Associational Leaders Conference, Mark Elliott, DOM of the Heartland Church Network, Omaha, NE, led a workshop on helping churches in transition between pastors. It was excellent.
 
I recommend contacting Mark and adapting his research, experience, and workbook for your Pastor Search Committee process. He has developed a manual you can use to train Pastor Search Committees, and he is gracious to share it with you at no cost. Mark has also agreed to be part of our SBCAL Resource Network in this area. For more information, contact him at mark@heartlandchurchnetwork.org; 402-551-0608.
 
He unpacks Ten Proven Steps for Selecting the Right Pastor.
 
1. Determine the Church’s Needs and Goals
2. Receive Resumes
3. Prayerfully Review Resumes
4. Schedule Interviews
5. Conduct Initial Interviews
6. Check References and Hear Candidate
7. Narrow the Field to One Candidate
8. The 2nd Interview
9. Calling the Pastor
10. Completing the Process
 
 
To the praise of His glory,
 
Ray
Pr. 3:5-6
 
Quotable Quote: “Organizations learn only through individuals who learn. Individual learning does not guarantee organizational learning. But without it no organizational learning occurs.” Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline, p. 129

As Associational Leaders, we are often inundated with resumes of candidates for pastor, associate pastor, as well as for ministry positions of music, youth, children, etc. If you are like me, I receive many more resumes than I have positions open in my churches.
 
What do you do with all these resumes? How do you respond with love, care, and concern to the person sending the resume, and yet not give them false hope? Do you “screen” your resumes before sending the names on to Search Committees to try to protect your churches, or not?

​As you know, there are different ways to handle pulpit supply.  Some DOMs post the list of preachers who have told them that they are available to preach on the association website and/or send that list to pastors and churches who ask for pulpit supply.
 
While that takes minimal effort, I believe it is not protecting and caring for our pastors and churches as we seek to “shepherd” those God has entrusted to our care, as much as it depends on us.  I am reminded of Paul’s statement in 2 Cor. 11:28, “Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me; my concern for all the churches.” (CSB) 

​“Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” Proverbs 4:23 (CSB)
 
In my Quiet Time this month I am reading and praying through Proverbs.  Each year I take one month with 31 days and read a chapter in Proverbs each day that month.  I have waited until the last month this year because while going through other books of the Bible earlier this year, they always seemed to carry over from one month to the next.
 
Today being the fourth, I read Proverbs chapter 4.  The verse that stood out to me was v. 23.  I am reading from the new Christian Standard Study Bible, and I highly recommend it.
 
In the study notes, it says to guard something is to make sure that it does not get away and that it is safe from attack.  I was reminded that I need to guard what I allow my eyes to watch, see, and read, and what my ears listen to each day.  By doing so, I will not let my heart stray from God’s Word, and I will protect myself from the fiery darts of the evil one.

I recently received an email from an Associational Leader asking my opinion about him serving as Interim Pastor of one of his churches.  His association allows him to do so for up to three months.

​Jason Lowe’s recent survey of associations confirmed what many of us have thought – a number of pastors, staff, and lay leaders of churches do not consider their association to be relevant.  This should be a great concern to associational leaders.