By Rev. Bruce G. Epperly, Ph.D.
Despite the fact that many of us haven’t been in seminary for forty years and our children are grown up, September still signals “back to school.” If we were congregational pastors, university chaplains, or campus ministers, we can recall the mad rush of late August and early September, getting ready for “Rally Day,” planning the faith formation program, and readying ourselves for the beginning of the “church year,” not in Advent but practically speaking in September. It’s not as if we were off duty all summer, but with the coming of September, we need to gather our wits and inspiration, plan our fall sermons, ensure a consistent group of teachers for church school, or children’s faith formation, and get the new year underway.
For clergy members, who often prioritize the needs of their congregations over their own, and who may neglect the often-dreaded dental visit, ministers can soon learn that ignoring dental care can affect one’s overall health and one’s ability to serve effectively.
If you have school-aged children, the back-to-school season can be a costly one. Whether you are a UCC minister, lay worker, or a caregiver in an institution of care, the upcoming school season requires financial planning and practicality.
A Guide for Ministers
When embarking on the journey of negotiating a call agreement with a church, it's essential to approach this process with a combination of spiritual discernment and practical wisdom, so that you can negotiate an agreement constructively. If you are a minister in discernment or a recent seminary graduate, here are some tips to help you navigate the negotiation process.
With so much attention focused on securing networks and preventing phishing and avoiding ransomware attacks, the physical side of security sometimes goes overlooked. Even in the modern-day work environment where seemingly everything has an internet connection, we still must remain vigilant against physical threats to our security!