Ten Commandments for Pastors New to a Congregation

Rating:
Summary: Simple presentation of important information
Review: I needed this book when I was a new pastor. It took two years to get to the point where we could back up, and tend to the issues presented simply and thoughtfully in this book. Farris, an insightful consultant and forward thinker, grounds his book in love for the congregant, God and the pastor herself. The human condition does not escape the sanctuary, and Farris provides gentle reminders of that fact. He does not shy away from issues such as adultery (read the last chapter) and the problem makers, but faces these issues with a gentleness that gives respect to the humanity within the issues. Farris could go deeper and sharper with his insights, yet the end result is a book of thoughtful wisdom, that can lead to pastoral and congregational health.

Rating:
Summary: Thou shalt read this...
Review: This book should be required reading for any new pastor in a congregation. One of the key virtues of this text is that it is very short and to the point - the last thing a new pastor needs, who is trying to figure out all manner of things from where is the emergency water shut-off to who are the key supporters and trouble-makers in a congregation, is to find a big, thick book that `needs' to be read. Most often such texts will be skimmed, or serve as a doorstop, being so imposing a presence that the new pastor won't even pretend to attempt to read it. Farris' book, `Ten Commandments for Pastors New to a Congregation', has fewer than 100 pages, and can probably be read by most in one sitting, given that the text is engaging, accessible, and not in any way dense.

Practicality is the key word here. Farris' commandments address key concerns a new pastor will have; `Thou Shalt Be a Cultural Historian', for example, speaks of the need to figure out the place - the church, the communities within the church, the church's place in the broader community, the history of people who have been there (and often, of people who are no longer there, including the previous pastor...). Making sure the church is in good order financially, physically and spiritually is the responsibility of the pastor, but not for the pastor to do alone. I would probably have moved Farris' sixth commandment (`Thou Shalt Take Care of Thyself from Day One') to the first commandment spot, given that this is, as often as not, where ministers neglect their duty, and in the drive to be all things to all other people, they neglect their families and themselves.

Farris' is direct and blunt, addressing major issues of the day - his tenth commandment is right out of the original Ten Commandments - `Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery'. Lest you think this is a metaphor for something else in ministry, guess again. With sexuality issues a key concern for denominations Catholic and Protestant, this is an important reminder of the kinds of personal standards that the church expects from its ministers as it prepares to preach to others.

Knowing one's job is a difficult task, even for those with extensive training and seminary education. Limiting oneself to the tasks of ministry that are expected and being able and willing to delegate what can be shared (making ministry of the other church tasks helps to empower the congregation as well as helps to save the minister) is an important skill, but that skill must be borne of the recognition that ministry is a shared enterprise, but there are still things to be done by individuals (and that individual does not always have to be the minister). My one disagreement with Farris in this chapter would be in his discussion of the pastor as resident theologian; depending upon the nature of the congregation, this might be true, but there are congregations with high educational levels of attainment, and the particular theological training of congregation members might exceed that of the minister, so the wise minister will find these things out in the learning of the cultural history.

Farris adds a final commandment, an eleventh one, which relates to the idea of clergy self-care in the sixth commandment of his. This is the commandment to draw together a community of support, or at the very least a mentor or discussion partner. Some would also see this an opportunity to engage (as the seeker) in spiritual direction. In any event, it is very wise advice.

Each commandment is very simple and short. The book is a blessing, in that it will most likely remind the pastor or reader of what she or he already knows, but helps to clarify and crystallise issues for easy remembering, and hopefully, easier practice.

Rating:
Summary: Thou shalt read this...
Review: This book should be required reading for any new pastor in a congregation. One of the key virtues of this text is that it is very short and to the point - the last thing a new pastor needs, who is trying to figure out all manner of things from where is the emergency water shut-off to who are the key supporters and trouble-makers in a congregation, is to find a big, thick book that 'needs' to be read. Most often such texts will be skimmed, or serve as a doorstop, being so imposing a presence that the new pastor won't even pretend to attempt to read it. Farris' book, 'Ten Commandments for Pastors New to a Congregation', has fewer than 100 pages, and can probably be read by most in one sitting, given that the text is engaging, accessible, and not in any way dense.

Practicality is the key word here. Farris' commandments address key concerns a new pastor will have; 'Thou Shalt Be a Cultural Historian', for example, speaks of the need to figure out the place - the church, the communities within the church, the church's place in the broader community, the history of people who have been there (and often, of people who are no longer there, including the previous pastor...). Making sure the church is in good order financially, physically and spiritually is the responsibility of the pastor, but not for the pastor to do alone. I would probably have moved Farris' sixth commandment ('Thou Shalt Take Care of Thyself from Day One') to the first commandment spot, given that this is, as often as not, where ministers neglect their duty, and in the drive to be all things to all other people, they neglect their families and themselves.

Farris' is direct and blunt, addressing major issues of the day - his tenth commandment is right out of the original Ten Commandments - 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery'. Lest you think this is a metaphor for something else in ministry, guess again. With sexuality issues a key concern for denominations Catholic and Protestant, this is an important reminder of the kinds of personal standards that the church expects from its ministers as it prepares to preach to others.

Knowing one's job is a difficult task, even for those with extensive training and seminary education. Limiting oneself to the tasks of ministry that are expected and being able and willing to delegate what can be shared (making ministry of the other church tasks helps to empower the congregation as well as helps to save the minister) is an important skill, but that skill must be borne of the recognition that ministry is a shared enterprise, but there are still things to be done by individuals (and that individual does not always have to be the minister). My one disagreement with Farris in this chapter would be in his discussion of the pastor as resident theologian; depending upon the nature of the congregation, this might be true, but there are congregations with high educational levels of attainment, and the particular theological training of congregation members might exceed that of the minister, so the wise minister will find these things out in the learning of the cultural history.

Farris adds a final commandment, an eleventh one, which relates to the idea of clergy self-care in the sixth commandment of his. This is the commandment to draw together a community of support, or at the very least a mentor or discussion partner. Some would also see this an opportunity to engage (as the seeker) in spiritual direction. In any event, it is very wise advice.

Each commandment is very simple and short. The book is a blessing, in that it will most likely remind the pastor or reader of what she or he already knows, but helps to clarify and crystallise issues for easy remembering, and hopefully, easier practice.