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| Ministry Services |
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There are eight main ways in which we aim to be servants to pastors and their churches.
1. Pastoral care and advice
The Ministry Advisor's main role is to offer pastoral support by visiting and spending time with pastors (and, where appropriate, their spouses). Issues to do with spiritual formation, ministry development, and strategic planning would, typically, be talked through. This pastoral contact becomes particularly important in times of illness, stress or church conflict. There is a Ministry Advisor's Fund which allows financial help to be offered (confidentially) when needs are discerned. The Ministry Advisor is active in encouraging each pastor to form their own support structure, following the publication of Models of Good Practice for the Pastoral Care of Pastors. New support initiatives, such as an annual conference on 'The Next Stage of Ministry' are being developed.
2. Probationer ministers
The Ministry Advisor has particular responsibility for overseeing the development of Accredited Ministers in the first three years of their ministry. In cooperation with the Scottish Baptist College, peer support and in-service training are offered.
3. Selection of ministers
The Baptist Union of Scotland has an 'accredited list' of ministers. Its purpose is to ensure Godly and competent standards for Christian ministry. Selection occurs by candidates coming before a Board of Ministry. Most of the Core Leaders serve on this Board and the Ministry Advisor and Mary MacKay oversee its smooth running.
4. Sabbaticals
At the end of seven years of ministry, pastors are entitled to a sabbatical for three months. The Union offers a modest grant towards costs. The Ministry Advisor has a watching brief to make sure sabbaticals and sabbatical grants are used wisely.
5. Conflict resolution
At times churches find relationships so strained that it is necessary to seek outside support. The Ministry Advisor is available to help in such circumstances. He is actively building a trained 'conflict resolution team' to assist in this very time-consuming work.
6. Settlement of ministers
One of the key roles of the 'department' is to assist churches in finding a new pastor, and support pastors looking for a new pastorate. The Ministry Advisor acts as a confidential guide to both parties. He informs churches, and their 'vacancy committees', as to good practice and passes on profiles of possible candidates. The Ministry Advisor joins the National Settlement Team of the Baptist Union of Great Britain every other month to coordinate when pastors wish to be smuggled across the Border!
7. General ministry advice and child protection and vulnerable adult issues
We aim to offer general advice on issues such as good ministerial practice, terms and conditions of employment, and issues related to child protection matters. We are careful to maintain boundaries, and do not seek to offer legal advice. We sponsor a Child Protection Working Group that can inform and advise the churches. We liaise closely with the Retirement Property Group, the Scottish Baptist College, and other denominational ministry departments.
8. Reflecting, speaking and writing on ministry matters
There are many crucial issues to think through regarding approaches to Christian Ministry. Our culture is changing rapidly and all ministry must cope with transition. The Ministry Advisor is committed to reflecting on such issues and promoting debate, prayer and action. This is often in ministers’ fraternals or with church leadership teams. A series of modest publications is planned.
What of the future?
Our work is already wide-ranging and stretching, but we are committed to the following, as we look to the future:
- Promoting a better understanding of the need for appropriate mutual accountability (through Accreditation)
- Developing new strategies for realistic pastoral support
- Increasing opportunities for in-service training and continuous professional development
- Promoting new patterns of ministry
- Seeking fresh ways of nourishing the spiritual formation and development of pastors
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