Curacy Express

A Training Resource for New Clergy

Robert M. Lewis

• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN:
  9781498295291
  9781498295314
• eBook ISBN:
  9781498295307
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Church

The twenty-first-century church is increasingly placing recently trained seminary or locally trained clergy in smaller churches where they must stand alone without the training under a senior pastor. Since leadership in a church and academic preparation in seminary are two very different things, the church historically developed a history of offering "curacies," or training assistantships, to help blend the two disciplines and merge classroom knowledge into practical application. Today, these formal assistantships are mostly a thing of the past. Curacy Express: A Training Resource for New Clergy reconfigures this training into a current model. New clergy serving in their own church and mentor clergy serving in another church work together over a course of thirty-three self-paced learning modules. In each module, the newly ordained person gains valuable skills, mentor's observations and reflections, new confidence, and leadership formation. The result is clergy trained to be competent and confident in their roles as clergy-in-charge.

Addressing Potential Leadership Flaws

Every leader has a weakness. If we simply examine the biblical record, we see a host of leaders with several leadership flaws. Samson was codependent. He needed the affirmation of those of the opposite sex. Jonah was more than stubborn. He was passive aggressive. He knew what God had called him to do, and he actively went in another direction. Moses was a compulsive leader, striking the rock in the wilderness without waiting for God. Saul was a paranoid leader, often fearing that everyone was out to undo his reign. Solomon was a narcissistic leader. He was bigger than life in his own mind. Scripture, as well as life today, is filled with the stories of people with great character flaws.

Every leader has these flaws, in varying amounts and intensities. If we deceive ourselves into thinking that we have none of these flaws, we are missing major spots where God may be willing to transform us into a great leader. Remember, out of brokenness comes healing. Even though there is significant pressure to appear that, as a leader, you have it all together. We also remember that we are broken by nature because we are all redeemed sinners.

Every leader has a past. We are formed by life’s experiences. Some effective leaders come from seemingly perfect “Leave It to Beaver” homes. Still others come from a very broken, abusive, and tragic family of origin. Again, Scripture is replete with these examples. The mere fact we all have these character flaws should be of some consolation. But perhaps of even more significance is that the very things that, if gone unchecked, can destroy our ministry, can be the same forces that, if properly channeled, can become great powerhouses of strength in our service to others.

But before we begin our self-analysis, let’s look at an example from recent history:

In the late 1980’s, television programs reported with regularity the fall o...

Table of contents

• The Covenant-Learning Procedure
• Sample Letter of Agreement
• Leadership 101
• Discovering Your Congregation’s Genesis Story
• Understanding Family Systems
• Addressing Potential Leadership Flaws
• Understanding Congregational Life Cycles
• Tribal Christianity
• Does Size Matter?
• Boardroom Basics
• Liturgical Environments
• Preparing for Programs
• A Balanced Work Week
• Self-Care for the New Curate
• Small-Group Ministry
• Baptisms from Start to Finish
• Weddings from Start to Finish
• Funerals from Start to Finish
• The Holy Eucharist from Start to Finish
• Healing Ministry from Start to Finish
• Lenten Lessons
• Hearing Confessions: Counsel and Penance
• The Ecumenical Curate
• Emergence for the Establishment
• Spiritual Direction
• Newcomer Assimilation
• The Catechumenate
• Constructing a Sermon Series
• Using Your Lay Persons to Their Fullest
• Building the Guiding Coalition
• Stewardship Success
• The Demanding Lover
• Coping with Crisis
• Moving Out or Moving On
• Quotes from Seasoned Pastors:
• Review and Certification:
• Bibiliography