A few weeks ago, we had the joy of seeing many friends from far and wide during Rhema’s Winter Bible Seminar. I am always reminded how richly blessed Tony and I have been to experience such good friendships throughout our 40-plus years since moving to Oklahoma to attend school. It also reminded me how important it is to nurture those friendships, to spend time and effort to reconnect, and to catch up on each other’s life journeys. … read more
I’ve heard it said that a pastor and his wife should not have friends in the church. We are young in ministry, and are trying to navigate this issue properly. My wife and I are both very social people, and I can’t imagine us being distant and aloof from the people God has called us to serve. However, we do want to avoid any pitfalls in this area. What are the pros and cons in the area of “friends in the church,” and what can other pastors share with us from their experiences?
How does one in a middle management position (associate pastor), foster friendships within the congregation and remain effective in a leadership role with those same people? When relationships develop into friendships it seems to result in a lack of respect (or less effectiveness) when I later have to function as a leader toward them. It seems to be a balancing act that I have not yet mastered. I want to be friendly, but I don’t want to minimize my effectiveness in leadership. What guidelines would you give to a staff minister who is trying to get this area right?
