The Pastor As An "Adult Child" --Up to 50% May Be ACDF/ACOA's!

# 27

Thirteen Ways To Recognize The "Adult Child"--In You???

# 53

Dysfunctional Families As Missionaries

# 210

ACOA Strengths For Ministry**(under const)

# 331

 Personal Boundaries (cf. "Self-Management: Self-Differentiation")

Healthy Boundaries And Co-Dependent Extremes

# 57

Ten Commandments Of Dysfunctional Families

# 64

The Difference Between The "Real Self" And The "False Self" -- Looking Beyond Those "Facades"*

# 72

Tell Yourself The Truth--Key Insights For Overcoming Self-Blame and Anger Based on Backus' Book

# 73

Pastoring The Powerful--Strategies For Ministering To Antagonists

# 45

Dealing With Dissenters--When To Stand Up

# 50

Four Types of Antagonistic Manipulators--And How To Deal With Them

# 63

The "Beagle Principle"--Develop A More Constructive, Grace-Based Attitude Toward Antagonists

# 101

Strategies For Countering Antagonism--How To Use Their Strategy To Counter Their Anti-Kingdom Efforts!

# 285

Classic Obstructionist Strategies--And How To Overcome Them

# 291

 Antagonism: Pathology

Coping With Damaged People--What To Do When Antagonists Erupt!

# 114

Are They Crazy??? A Discussion Of Those Undiagnosed "Shadow Syndromes"

# 227

85 Character Disorders--A Tool For Identification And Self-Improvement*

# 231

Dysfunctional Needs Aggravate Conflict

# 300

Is There A Narcissist In The (Lord's) House?--A DSM-IV Based Profile of A Antagonistic Personality

# 70

When Trusted Leaders Become Troubled

# 80

How To Deal With Dr. Jekyl-Mr. Hyde In Your Church

# 81

'Trojan Horse' Transfers--And How To Deal With Them

# 168

Minorities: Alive and Well In The Church--How To Deal With Dissident Groups

# 178

Beware Of The Spiritual Tourists 

# 283 

Knives: The Attacks That Hurt Most

# 83

Don't Kill The Dragons--Tame Them!

# 103

Response To "Don't Kill The Dragons"

# 144

How To Make Antagonists Give Up* (Under Const.)

# 174

Who's In Charge?

# 266

Ministry To The Unrepentant--Should They Be Forgiven?

# 342

The Antagonist's Greatest Weapon--Perils of Pastoral Over-Function

# 56

A Recipe For Antagonism

# 60

An Antagonist's Dictionary: What Their Words Really Mean!

# 175

Tyranny Of The Tacit

# 312

Ministry To Fear--Insights From A Dentist

# 319

 Communication: Strategies

Verbal Aikido--A Strategy To Help Ease Conflict

# 123

Five Styles Of Ritual Communication

# 145

Interrogatory Inflection--Change The Way You Speak For A Positive Difference In Your Leadership Style!

# 259

Subtle Signs Of Impending Conflict--Recognize Trouble Before It Happens

# 37

Dealing With Congregational Anxieties

# 200

Conflict: The "F" Response--What Happened And What You Can Do!

# 203

Further Reflections On The "F" Response

# 206

Surviving The Culture Of Criticism

# 252

When Congregational Anxiety Makes Leaders Anxious

# 340

 Conflict: Consultation/Resources

What To Do When The Conflict Consultant Comes--Helpful Hints

# 31

URL's Of Other Helpful Conflict Articles On The Internet--Including articles by Rick Warren, Peter Steinke, et al!

# 226

 Conflict: Issues

Be-Aware! Parsonage For Sale

# 19

The Issue Is Not The Issue-The Real Causes of Conflict

# 20

Music: Where's The Harmony?--Insights On Your Hymnal Controversy

# 199

Those Libelous Letters--Some Guidelines and Suggestions For Yours

# 188

Dealing With Difficult Letters--How To Deal With A Conundrum

# 248

 Conflict: Leadership Styles

When It's All Out Of Control

# 10

During Conflict, Lead Like a Pilot

# 11

Four Responses To Crisis--How Do You Respond?

# 75

Conflict: Ten Tests Of Character

# 127

The Pastor's Role In Managing Conflict--How To Make It Through The Heat

# 224

Four Tools To Fight Fire

# 265

 Conflict: Negotiation

When The Other Side Won't Negotiate--Dealing With Impasse

# 28

Seven Elements Of Principled Negotiation--From Harvard Negotiation Studies

# 48

Nixon's Ten Commandments Of Statecraft...Plus Two: Key Insights For Leadership And Negotiation

# 90

Twelve Conciliation Responses--Healthy And Unhealthy Responses to Conflict...And What You Can Do

# 197

Let's Turn Our Differences Into A New Direction!--Avoid The High Cost of Conflict in Your Church

# 201

 Conflict: Splits (Congregational)

How To Survive A Split--Yes, You Can Survive!

# 15

Congregational Splits: Seventeen Lessons In The Aftermath

# 102

It's Sad But True!—Reflections in the Aftermath of a Congregational Split!

# 110

Those Church Splits: We Need A Better Way

# 179

The Salem Witch Hunt: A Case Study Of Level IV Conflict

# 190

A View From Level IV--What To Do If You Are In   Level IV Conflict

# 247

 Conflict: Trauma Recovery

Recovering From Post-Conflict Trauma

# 156

Traumatized? Don't Talk, Don't Trust, Don't Feel!

# 192

Post-Traumatic Stress: The Pastoral Experience--How Severe Crisis Affects You

# 328

PTSD Inventory--How Affected By PTS Are You?

# 329

PTSD And The Family

# 330

 Congregational Dysfunction And Health

Five Kinds of Church Dysfunction-Which One Makes Your Church Tick?

# 25

Fifteen Characteristics Of A Dysfunctional Church

# 95

Healthy Church …Or Unhealthy Church

# 196

Ten Keys To A Healthy Ministry

# 278

Diagnosis And Intervention In The Neurotic Organization

# 316

Internet Church Health Links

# 347

 Management Topics

We Don't Have Voter's Assembly Meetings Anymore--Consider An Effective Alternative!

# 100

That Erratic Church Attendance -- Ways To Deal With Yours

# 116

 Metaphors For The Church

The Nursing Home: A Metaphor For The Church???

# 79

"Horse Sense" For Pastors And Leaders -- Insights For Your "Ecclesiastical Corral"

# 98

The Church As A Campfire -- Is The Fire Glowing???

# 119

Support Groups: Paradigm For Transformative Ministry

# 349

 Program Suggestions: Outreach

Reaching Bob And Muriel -- Suggestions For Effective Outreach

# 117

Are There Still Lost People?--Reflections and Encouragement for Plateaued Churches

# 160

Who Rings The Door Bell Now?--Ways To Enhance Member Visitation

# 164

Your Church's Body Language--What Do The Visitors See?

# 253

Leadership: Accountability/Integrity

Accountability--Insights For A Stronger Ministry

# 217

The Importance Of Integrity

# 218

Seven Deadly Sins Of Leadership

# 310

 Leadership: Biblical Basis

Is Your Church Gospel-Driven?--How To Tell If It Is...Or Isn't!

# 228

Proverb-ial Character--Insights on Christian Character From The Book of Proverbs* (Under Const).

# 232

Five Commandments For Sowers

# 237

The Parables: Jesus' Prescription For Healthy Ministry

# 308

 Leadership: Change

How To Identify Innovators and Laggards--A Key To Renewal!

# 41

Five Principles To Facilitate Change--Effective Insights to Ease Change

# 42

Twenty-One Characteristics Of Pastoral Change Agents

# 147

Why Change? Insights How Churches and Organizations Are Changing And What to Do

# 183

Anchors--Their Critical Importance To Your Ministry

# 313

Strategy For Growth: "Dorothy"--Insights On Leadership Charisma

# 341

 Leadership: Influence

Don't Look Now: They're Just Like You!--Do Churches Mimic Pastors?

# 128

Pastors, Parishioners, And Pygmalion--Do Congregations Really Mimic Their Pastors?

# 138

Leadership And Influence

# 142

 Leadership: Insights

What Parenting Taught ME About Leadership

# 66

Leadership Insights From The East

# 89

44 Lessons On Church Leadership From Lyle Schaller

# 198

101-Plus Differences Between Givers And Takers

# 239

What I've Learned...Through All Those Years

# 304

Things I've Learned From Dr. Laura

# 309

 Leadership: Marks

Pastoral Code Of Conduct

# 68

Ten Marks Of Effective Ministers--What REALLY Counts

# 32

Lessons From My Mentor

# 33

In Search Of Pastoral Excellence--An Inventory Of A Healthy Ministry

# 77

Sixteen Lessons On Leadership

# 136

Observations On Leadership: More Ministry Health Snippets

# 139

Principles Of Leadership--Insights by Peter Drucker

# 260

Fifteen Pointers For Preachers--Great Advice For You

# 325

 Leadership: Morale

Raising Morale In The Small Church--Simple Suggestions For A Critical Task

# 47

Snippets For Leaders--Reflections Of Leadership

# 124

44 Ways To A Healthier Ministry

# 125

One Solitary Life--Reflections On Jesus’ Leadership Influence

# 137

 Leadership: Resources

Top Ten Maxwell Tapes--Great Listening During Difficult Times

# 35

Ten Commitments of Leadership--From Kouzes and Posner

# 40

 Leadership: Small Church

Ministry Renewal In The Small Church

# 298

Leading And Growing The Small Church

# 348

 Leadership: Style

Isaiah, Son of Amoz, CEO

# 135

42 Power Plays In The Church And How To Address Them--Isn't It Time To Put God Back In Control?

# 153

CEO-cracy Or Theocracy?--Which Is Your Ministry Style?

# 246

Four Temperaments At The Beach--A Helpful Analogy For Leaders

# 242

Business Vs. Family Style Of Leadership

# 326

 Leadership: Vision

Those Vision Statements

# 134

Get A BHAG--Consider This Most Explosive Ministry Growth Tool!

# 169

Capacity To Act--Can Your Church Act When It Needs To?

# 255

Capacities--How To Overcome Personal And Congregational Limitations

# 256

From "Country Club" To "Mission Base": The Strategic Role Of The Pastor--The Pastor's Key Role In Leading Mission Renewal

# 282

The Power Of "Yes"!--What "Yes" Really Can Do For Your Ministry

# 321

Four Components Of Foresight--Keep Looking Ahead (Under Const)

# 213

The Rewards Of Risk--Take One Today!

# 214

 Ministry: Beginning

What To Do With The New Pastor--Some Helpful Welcome Suggestions

# 30

Night With Pastor--A Program To Start Your New Pastorate

# 43

When Your New Ministry Commences--Nine Things To Remember

# 165

 Ministry: Compensation

A Fair Salary--How To Ask For Your Rightful Compensation

# 46

Where's My Raise?--How To Encourage A Healthy Compensation System In Your Church

# 257

 Ministry: Confidentiality

Keeping Those Confidences--Advice From A General Superintendent

# 184

Levels Of Confidentiality--Insights For Managing A Difficult Issue* (Under Const)

# 187

 Ministry: Congregational Settings

Part-Time Ministry--What To Expect

# 39

 Ministry: Decline

Twelve Steps Toward Enhanced Congregational Decline

# 205

The Mark Of A Church In Decline--Go Beyond The Symptoms!

# 207

Reading List For A Church In Transition

# 208

 Ministry: Denominational

Thirty Things Your Denominational Executive May Not Tell You

# 343

Things Your Denominational Executive Would Love To Tell You

# 344

 Ministry: Divine Perspective Of…

God's Calling: A Two-Sided Blessing

# 4

The Office Of The Ministry: A Unique Burden

# 105

Ministry In The Fourth Dimension

# 172

Did You See Jesus At Church Today?

# 202

 Ministry: Concluding

I Put My Name On A Call List Today--Reflecting on a Hard Decision

# 22

When Is It Time To Move On?--Advice From A Denominational Overseer

# 166

Resolution For Pastoral Severance Compensation

# 171

 Ministry: Pastoral Relationships

Sheep Can Be Stolen!

# 182

 Ministry: Pastoral Support

How To Get Rid Of Your Preacher

# 74

Ten Things your Congregation Won't Tell You--What Are Their Secrets?

# 161

Steps Toward Recovering The Long-Term Pastorate

# 264

The "Mom Phenomenon"--The Church's Best Source Of Pastoral Support

# 258

 Ministry: Pastoral Value

Investing God's Pearls--The Pastor

# 9

Your Labor Is Not In Vain--And The Reason Why!

# 173

Who Are You Really???--Insight On Your Real Ordained Identity

# 189

 Ministry: Preaching

Preaching The Gospel: Snippets From Rev. Wayne Dobratz

# 92

Let's Find Our Prophetic Voice

# 180

We Have The Testimony

# 167

 Ministry: Search Committees

Pastoral Search Committee--A Search For The Ultimate Pastor

# 44

What Are Our Pastoral Search Committees Are Looking For? 

# 181

 Ministry: Service

I Will Serve The Lord--Recall Your Conviction for Ministry

# 23

Some Wrong Reasons to Serve God

# 24

Yes, But Do You Love Them?

# 130

Spiritual Half-Gifts--Insight On Your Unique Half-Giftedness

# 230

 Ministry: Trends

Ministry Trends In The Australian Church--It's Comin' To America!

# 18

Our Changing Spirituality In A Post-Industrial Society

# 107

LCMS Clergy Study (PDF only)
(Reprinted With Permission by the Board of Higher Ed: Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)

# 140

Baby Boomers: What Should Our Response Be?

# 163

 Self-Management: Attitudes

You Gotta Have Hope

# 1

Hope Is Our Calling

# 2

Characteristics of Hope-Filled Leaders

# 3

Press On

# 6

A Football Tao For Pastors

# 62

Your Strength Is Your Weakness

# 67

Persistence Pays

# 215

The "Batch Attitude"--Insights From An NFL Quarterback

# 269

Reality-Based Ministry

# 284

The Ministry Fantasy

# 336

 Self-Management: Brokenness

Are You Broken Yet?

# 305

We're All Orphans--An Introduction To A Critical Stage Of Spiritual Development

# 307

How To Survive "Desolation"--Insights For Your Ministry From St. Ignatius

# 314

Four "Bases" Of Brokenness--An Overview Of The Painful Stages of Spiritual Transformation

# 318

 Self-Management: Burnout

Twenty-Five Ways To Lose Your Passion For Ministry

# 234

Re-Lighting Your Fire

# 235

So You Want Passion?

# 236

Life In The Fast Lane--Four Pitfalls of Going Too Hard Too Long!

# 249

Compassion Fatigue--When You Help And Care Too Much

# 261

 Self-Management: Coping Strategies

There Is A Time--For When Patience Is Short

# 17

Settle It In Your Heart--Jesus' Key For Coping (Luke 21:10)

# 69

Joy: Missing Or Presumed Lost In Action?

# 177

High Tolerance For Frustration

# 216

Healthy Clergy Wounded Healers (Book Review) 

# 334

Three Keys To Resiliency

# 327

 Self-Management: Depression/Loneliness (cf. "Brokenness")

Protect Yourself From The "Elijah Syndrome"

# 21

Loneliness: A Calling

# 99

Pride, Sloth and Loneliness--The Hideous Connection

# 293

 Self-Management: Career Expectations

How's Your Pastoral Career Path?--Are You Climbing The Ladder?

# 120

Consider This Call To A Mega-Church

# 154

 Self-Management: Developmental/Mid-Life

The Five Stages of Ministry--Are You In The Critical Years?

# 8

First Half--Second Half—Reflections On Bob Buford's Book, "Half Time" 

# 59

We All Go To Damascus: Your Mid-Ministry Spiritual Transformation

# 91

The Changes Life Brings To Us

# 132

 Self-Management: Family

When Your Church World Collapses--And You're The Pastor's Wife

# 86

Pastoral Care Of The Pastor's Wife

# 126

You're The Only One I Can Tell

# 148

Care For The Pastor's Wife Too!--Those Unhealthy Expectations

# 219

The Affair-Proof Pastorate

# 294

Those Adolescent PK's

# 317

PK's And The Fishbowl--Insights For The Parsonage Children

# 324

The Pastor's Problems

# 323

 Self-Management: Fear

Twenty-Four Anxiety Indicators--How Anxious Are You?

# 220

Nothing To Fear...But Phobia!--How Fear May Affect Your Ministry

# 211

Courage Or Cowardice-What Drives Your Leadership?

# 229

Five Toxic Beliefs--They're Sure To Destroy You And Others

# 222

Roots Of Reactivity

# 277

 Self-Management: Grief

Grief: The Hardest Thing

# 51

When You Lose A Confidant: Working Through The Grief

# 52

Searching In Sorrow—Pastoral Reflections on God’s Leading

# 58

Tears Of Trial--A Discussion of The Meaning And Experience Of Christian Suffering

# 65

Insights From Seamand's Healing Of Memories

# 88

Stages Of Grief—Another Perspective

# 155

 Self-Management: Guilt

Sixteen Marks Of A Shame-Based Ministry

# 82

Twenty-Two Expressions Of Unhealthy (Pastoral) Guilt

# 84

Eight Characteristics Of A Shame-Based Ministry

# 204

 Self-Management: Hazards

Compulsive "Medicators"--Are You Enjoying Something Too Much??

# 38

Sexual Addiction--No One's Immune

# 13

Recognizing Addictive And Obsessive Behaviors -- Stress May Bring Them On!

# 76

The Seven "Deadly" Sins Of Pastors

# 158

Hormones And Ministry: A Good Mix?--How To Keep One From Destroying The Other

# 162

 Self-Management: Healthy Perspectives

Rules For Being A Pastor

# 93

Twelve Guidelines For Being Human

# 96

What's It Like To Be A Pastor Of A Church? 

# 85

Are You A "Super" Pastor???

# 104

"Waiting For A Miracle"

# 106

He's Not Here, He's On A Long Service Leave

# 131

The Last Word

# 150

Dr. Paul's Prescription For Sanity

# 159

The Ministry Paradox

# 241

God's "Little" Surprise--For Your Ministry

# 243

Tertullian On "Patience"--Classic Advice For Today's Pastors