Associate Staff Ministry: Thriving Personally, Professionally, and Relationally

Kevin E. Lawson; Mick Boersma

doi:10.5771/9781566997522

Summary

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.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 2/2014
Copyright Year: 2014
ISBN-Print: 978-1-56699-761-4
ISBN-Online: 978-1-56699-752-2
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 250
Product Type: Monograph

1. Contents No access
2. Foreword No access
3. Acknowledgments No access
Introduction to the Second Edition No access Pages 1 - 8
1. Introduction No access
2. 1: Finding Satisfaction in Following God’s Call No access
3. 2: Sustaining Spiritual Vitality in Ministry No access
4. 3: Weathering the Stresses of Ministry over Time No access
1. Introduction No access
2. 4: Strengthening the Home Front No access
3. 5: Working Well with Your Supervisor and Fellow Associates No access
4. 6: Building Supportive Relationships No access
1. Introduction No access
2. 7: Attitudes and Commitments That Support Thriving No access
3. 8: Ministry Settings That Support Thriving No access
4. 9: When You’re Not Thriving No access
1. Introduction No access
2. 10: The Valued Ministry Supervisor No access
3. 11: The Supportive Church Board No access
Appendix A: The “Thriving in Associate Staff Ministry” Studies No access Pages 237 - 244
Appendix B: Professional Organizations and Further Reading for Associate Staff No access Pages 245 - 248
Notes No access Pages 249 - 250