Church Council-Elder
The Challenge
Imagine if you (or a loved one) had four years of post-graduate education and still felt unqualified or poorly prepared to perform the demands of your profession. Also imagine, that you were in a job that ranks in the top 10% of the population in terms of educational requirements, but is 325th out of 432 in terms of compensation. And finally imagine that your vocation typically leads to severe stress causing anguish, worry, bewilderment, anger, depression, fear, and alienation. How would you feel?
You would be rather pessimistic about your chances of future success, wouldn’t you? There is a very high likelihood that your Pastor may be feeling the same way (you’ll learn why as you continue to read this page) because Pastors are in a dangerous occupation and most Christians have been totally unaware of this dilemma…until now.
Our Seminaries do a Good Job Equipping Pastors With the ‘How-to’ of Preaching, Providing Pastoral Care, Theology and Teaching the Word, but Often Fall a bit Short in the Areas of:
- Outreach
- Ministry Balance
- Congregational Leadership
- Overcoming Discouragement
- Personal and Professional Time Balance
- Stewardship, Raising Funds, and Funding the Mission
- Administration (as it relates to Staff Leadership and Management)
…and so many other areas that are critical for your Pastor to be successful in leading your congregation AND living a healthy and well-balanced life! There are two sides of the Pastoral role. On the one side, your Pastor needs to preach, provide Pastoral care, and be sound in theology and in teaching the Word. To better understand the other side of the Pastoral role (that is not generally taught), consider these questions:
- How does your Pastor develop relationships with many people who come from a variety ofbackgrounds and bring with them a multitude of ideas and attitudes?
- Where does your Pastor get the experience and wisdom so critical for properly and professionally performing the numerous responsibilities that accompany the Pastoral office?
- Where does your Pastor obtain the necessary training and development to grow the Kingdom while enjoying less stress and achieving more balance in his life?
- How does your Pastor avoid and overcome his feelings of frustration and move forward in tackling the ongoing challenges of his ministry?
- How does your Pastor continuously expand his leadership qualities and measure his impact in leading your staff and congregation?
If your Pastor does not master this ‘other side’ of his Pastoral role, the result could be crippling to his ministry and to his family. Research shows your Pastor is facing more issues and dealing with more conflict, more anger, and higher expectations than ever before.
In addition, your Pastor may be expected to work very long hours (away from his family) for far less compensation than he deserves and little recognition for his efforts. In many cases, research shows that most Pastors do not have the adequate support to meet the expectations of their parishioners.
To Better Understand These Challenges, Consider This...
Unfortunately, Here are a Few More Troubling Statistics
Good News, it Does Not Have to be This Way
Selected ‘PK’ (Preacher’s Kid) Stories
I’m Lila Larson. Dad was a United Church Minister in Canada and I saw the struggles he went through growing up as a Pastor’s daughter.
It was really in later years that we got to spend more time [with Dad] because in the summers he would take his 4-weeks of study leave and his 2-weeks of vacation and go study some more to add to his skills. Not just about the Church but adding to his skills on how to work with people and how to build systems that would work. All the things never included [at the seminary]. He paid for all of those things himself, which meant that there wasn’t a lot of money to do things.
What I’m sad about is those kinds of situations still exist. Pastors are given the theological base and there is more that's been added to their training. But they’re not given the skills in how to manage what God has prepared them to do…and the pain for the Pastor, for the Pastor’s wife, for the Pastor’s children is gut–wrenching because we were not supposed to show that Dad wasn’t fully equipped. Pastors need more, they need more support, and they need more training. They need more skills in areas other than just serving God.
Dad was a lifelong learner, I know that what is being offered through Pastor360, he would embrace whole-heartedly, he would be the strongest supporter, and he would be the first learner. And as he prays over all of us now from being with God he is rejoicing and his great thundering laugh is celebrating that there is such a resource as Pastor360!
I’m Pastor Ben Braun. PK’s have a good idea of what their fathers are going through in the parish, but it is always a filtered view. Having been in this a year and a half, I’m starting to realize just how much I was protected from, in terms of Dad not bringing it home. Things like taking on other people’s anxiety. Whether you brought on the anxiety from someone going through a divorce, or whether you are bringing on anxiety watching a ten year old go through cancer. If you don’t take care of it, it just builds up. I saw this happen as a PK. No one likes to see his or her father broken.
Now he and I are very close because we went through that brokenness as a family. But at the same time, I can’t help but wonder what could have been taken care of to help him. He does not have to go through those kinds of things alone and I think Pastor360 really offers up opportunities for that. It offers up opportunities for any age Pastor, whether you are starting off or you’re in transition to your second call, or whether you’ve been at this for thirty years.
It was great hearing about how this [Pastor360] was started up and how it came from someone sitting in the pew that really cares about what their Pastors go through and wanting to make sure that it is being taken care of and thought of. Whether you are an elder, on the board of governance, or church council, you’re in a place of responsibility to care for your Pastor. You are there to encourage your Pastor and say, ‘You need to grow too, because you’re not going to be any good to us if you crash and burn.’
Selected Stories on How Pastor360 is
Making Life and Ministry Better...
To me Pastor360 has meant a great deal, it has helped my congregation to see me more as an effective leader. They are really reaping the benefits of what they’ve invested so they are very happy with what they’ve seen with Pastor360!
Pastor Bob Hiller, Moorpark, California
As a son it’s been encouraging to see the support that my father is getting, it’s kind of nice to see that no matter the size of the church that guys are coming from there are some common things we all go through.
Pastor Ben Braun "PK" Preacher's Kid, Austin, Texas
If we do not continue to grow and learn from one another and from those who have been there and done that, but also from folks outside of the church then we’re gonna miss the boat, and we have for too many years. This work is that important!
Pastor Tom Pfotenhauer, Woodbury, Minnesota
When I got the invitation, it was (and is) an answer to prayer. It’s really the genuine investment of men who actually care about me and my spiritual life and walk. It’s also been a big help for my marriage. I would highly recommend this process to anyone!
Pastor Wayne Braun, Flower Mound, Texas
This is Your Opportunity to Change These Alarming
Trends and Protect YOUR Pastor From
Becoming the Next Statistic
Pastor360 encourages you to prayerfully consider lowering the risk of your Pastor (or another Pastor who needs support) becoming the next statistic. Remember, churches fail because Pastors fail and in many cases…it’s not their fault alone. Pastors are often limited by financial constraints.
You have a responsibility to care for your Pastor in every way possible, including spiritual and financial support so they can grow the Kingdom of God through your congregation while maintaining physical, emotional, mental and spiritual balance. Encouraging (and supporting) your Pastor to become part of our Pastor360 family can help accomplish this and so much more.
Make Life and Ministry Better for Your Pastor
Recommend Him for the Pastor360 Program Right Now
Our Pastor360 Leadership Team
Gerald (Jerry) B. Kieschnick serves as Chief Executive Officer of Legacy Deo. He served as president of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, a national church body with over six thousand congregations and two million members, from 2001 through 2010. He also served for five years as Presidential Ambassador for Mission Advancement at Concordia University Texas Jerry and his wife, Terry, have two grown children and two grandchildren, all of whom live in Texas.
William (Bill) Tucker is the Senior Pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church that worships over 2,500 each week. He is married to Julie and has four children. He graduated from Concordia University, Chicago with a BA in Theological Languages. He also served as a Marine Corps chaplain in the U.S. Naval Reserve, attaining the rank of Lieutenant. Bill received his M. Div. from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne in 1987.
Davy Tyburski is a business advisor, author and professional speaker who has served many entrepreneurs and corporations including Microsoft, the Walt Disney Company, FedEx and Kellogg's just to name a few. He also serves as an elder at Concordia Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas. Davy is married to Gail, who is an Intensive Care nurse. Together, they have two sons, Kevin and Dylan. They reside in San Antonio, Texas. Davy is also an avid basketball fan and player.
Steve Wagner served as Executive Director of the Pastoral Leadership Institute (PLI) located in Dallas, Texas. Prior to his work with PLI, Steve served for 28 years as Senior Pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Carrollton, Texas. He also served at Concordia Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas as an Associate Pastor. Steve is married to Rita and they have two adult children: Leah and Lance and daughter-in-law, Jodi.
Pastor360: Making Life and Ministry Better
Research shows that Pastors face more issues, deal with more conflict, more anger, and higher expectations than ever before. Not only that, your Pastor may be expected to work long hours for little pay, little reward, and be absent from his family because of the demands of ministry. And, in most cases, research shows that Pastors may not be adequately trained to meet the expectations of their parishioners. In addition, many Pastors have not learned to balance time and responsibilities of family and ministry or to deal adequately with the massive demands and expectations of the ‘job.’
Providing practical advice, proven leadership guidance and spiritual support for Pastors and their ministries, Pastor360 is where Pastors come to gain the right resources, ideas, strategies and tools to enjoy more balance, greater effectiveness, less stress, supportive accountability, and a sense of hope and joy in Pastoral ministry. Pastor360 delivers its vital educational, practical and spiritual support for Pastors and their ministries through live collegial events, “MasterMind” gatherings, video conference private coaching calls, group coaching calls, and our online 24x7 Pastor360 Academy.
A Cornerstone of Pastor360...
Showing Appreciation to Our Brothers in Christ
A big part of our Pastor360 culture is recognizing and appreciating our Pastor360 Brothers. Pastor Jerry Kieschnick is shown here presenting Pastor John Davenport with a Pastor360 Award of Excellence. We ask that you prayerfully consider sending your Pastor(s) to one of our upcoming live collegial gatherings!
And Recognizing Pastors For the Wonderful Work They are Doing in This World!
Pastor Bill Tucker is shown here presenting Pastor Tim Bohlmann with a Pastor360 Award of Excellence. We ask that you prayerfully consider enrolling your Pastor(s) into one of our Pastor360 programs!
And Acknowledging Pastors for All That They do!
Pastor Steve Wagner presenting Pastor Eric Hiner with a Pastor360 Award of Excellence. We are looking forward to acknowledging your Pastor(s) at one of our upcoming Pastor360 gatherings!
Pastor360 is not a “cookie cutter” approach to the issues of ministry. Our team is committed to providing specific solutions to specific challenges. In many cases having dealt with and overcome many issues personally and professionally, we know what to suggest as the right way for your pastor to deal with these matters in his own life and ministry. We provide the right solutions in a collaborative, collegial environment. With over 100 years of cumulative Pastoral leadership experience, Pastor360 has assembled a team of mentors and coaches who work as a team to address how your Pastor can:
- Expand outreach and mission impact
- Improve staff development and capacity
- Grow as a leader who develops other leaders
- Create a culture of generosity in your congregation
- Improve team performance and motivation for volunteers
- Improve alignment and purpose for churches with schools
- Feel a sense of rejuvenation and revitalization for ministry
- Be appropriately compensated for the great work being done
- Enjoy personal and professional time balance and effective time management
- Gain strategic insight for major transitions for themselves and your congregation
- Bring particular expertise to the issues of leading large, growing, multi-staff churches
- Leading and developing congregations that seem to be stuck in a rut to become healthy, vibrant congregations
and so much more!
This is Your Opportunity to Change These Alarming
Trends and Protect YOUR Pastor From
Becoming the Next Statistic
Pastor360 encourages you to prayerfully consider lowering the risk of your Pastor (or another Pastor who needs support) becoming the next statistic. Remember, churches fail because Pastors fail and in many cases…it’s not their fault alone. Pastors are often limited by financial constraints.
You have a responsibility to care for your Pastor in every way possible, including spiritual and financial support so they can grow the Kingdom of God through your congregation while maintaining physical, emotional, mental and spiritual balance. Encouraging (and supporting) your Pastor to become part of our Pastor360 family can help accomplish this and so much more.
Make Life and Ministry Better for Your Pastor
Recommend Him for the Pastor360 Program Right Now
Webinars
Pastor Jobs: 5 Pitfalls to Avoid When Considering Your Next Call (coming soon)
Pastor Salary: 5 Ways to Maximize Your "Take Home" Pay-That You May Not Even be Aware of (coming soon)