As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“Measuring attendance, giving, staff levels, and several other metrics in 2022, he found that after all the regulations had been lifted …there was little to no discernible difference between churches where there had been lots of restrictions and those where there had been almost none.” - CToday
“The Vatican on Monday published a letter Francis wrote to the cardinals on July 11…. In it, Francis suggests that such blessings could be studied if they didn’t confuse the blessing with sacramental marriage.” - RNS
“Church should be the place we sprint to when things are at their worst, not the place we avoid until we’ve got our Instagram-worthy Christianity back in place.” - TGC
“The state of South Carolina can partner with or fund foster care agencies that refuse to hire individuals who do not share their religious beliefs” - CPost
“The change was approved by a majority of delegates at the Alliance’s general council in June, after several years of discussion.” - CToday
Pastors experience discouragement. It goes with the territory. Paul wrote his protégé, Timothy, to encourage him at a time when he was down. Paul’s letter is what we call 2 Timothy.
“Even the largest churches stay at the top of the list for only about twenty years. Each generation has its own group of biggest congregations or fastest-growing congregations.” - Sam Rainer
“AI and ChatGPT … make a tantalizing, almost irresistible offer: They’ll do your work for you. They’ll write the sermon, exegete the passage, draft the lesson plan, and outline the discussion questions while you get to the real work of ministry.” - CToday
“The summit will bring 464 Catholic clergy and laypeople, including women, to the Vatican to discuss hot-button issues ranging from sexual abuse to LGBTQ inclusion and female ordination.” - RNS
Read Part 1.
It’s one thing to put some verses together and present a pastoral succession plan. It’s another thing to carry out this plan. The following distills many authors’ advice on pastoral succession, addressed here to key individuals and groups.
1. Commit yourself to training pastors. This commitment takes focus and time. Your ministry can have continuity when you train a pastor and have him take your place.
Discussion