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Pastors Examine Leadership in a Time of Social and Political Polarization
following Jesus, not to a particular party or ideology,” said Brubaker. “But to navigate important issues is often to invite conflict, and most churches are not good at managing healthy conflict.”
The pastors participated in several exercises that provided useful, practical insights into communicating across divisions and cultivating congregational practices that acknowledge difference and constructively address conflict as a spiritual practice. According to Brubaker, the anxiety that potential conflict creates can, if constructively acknowledged, help build resilience.
The February gathering was the first of a series of workshop retreats for pastors and staff ministers through CBFNC’s Helping Pastors Thrive program. Susan Beaumont, a celebrated consultant, author, coach and spiritual director, was secured to lead a workshopretreat in the Fall of 2020. The topic of the retreat was drawn from her most recent research and book, How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going. It
now seems prescient in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before this crisis, all church leaders sensed we live in a time in which we don’t know exactly where we are going. The Coronavirus crisis brought that sense into stark reality. We still plan to offer that workshop, with the added element of leading in a pandemic, on October 5–6 in Raleigh.
For more information, visit the Helping Pastors Thrive website at helpingpastorsthrive.org.
New Pastor Cohort (2020-2022) Now Forming!
“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” —Plato, Republic
STARTING WELL AS A NEW PASTOR IS CRITICAL for sustaining a meaningful, rewarding and fruitful ministry over a lifetime. Learning from peers and seasoned mentors is essential to starting well, and CBFNC recognizes the value of bringing new pastors together for that purpose. The vocation of ministry is a shared one. CBFNC’s Helping Pastors Thrive Program is currently forming a cohort of new pastors that will begin a two-year journey in formation and learning starting in September of 2020. Limited to eight participants, the cohort is designed to be a community and space for interaction, learning, support and growth.
