Lynda C. Ward and Steven P. Brey, Ready, Set, Lead!: The New Pastor’s Guide to Starting Ministry. Abingdon, 2006.
Referenced in: Ministry Transitions and Interim Ministry
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This is written primarily for the new seminary graduate or student minister, and is probably one of the most usable volumes of its kind. It is full of reproducible worksheets, checklists, and suggested resources. Unlike other books on this subject, it is not about progressing through the stages of ministry transitions, but about engaging the many tasks and relationships faced by a new minister fresh out of school – board meetings (how to raise and answer questions, take notes, etc.), planning worship, weddings, funerals, pastoral visits, evangelism, fellowship, etc. It may seem too elementary for the seasoned minister, but for the starting minister, this is an indispensable nuts-and-bolts volume. It helps to minimize awkwardness in one’s first experiences in common ministry tasks.
From the Publisher
Packed with practical tips, reproducible pages, checklists, and suggested resources, this ready-to-use resource will help first-time pastors or those new to an established church get started the first day and the first Sunday.
This book leads the new pastor through creative ideas and concrete suggestions for getting started in church ministry by providing worksheets for planning and organizing worship, weddings, and funerals; questions to ask during pastoral visits to help both the pastor and parishioner feel at ease; suggestions for managing conflict; and ways to create opportunities for fellowship, study, outreach, and mission in the church—and much more.
About the Author
Lynda C. Ward is a freelance writer and holds an M. Div. from Duke Divinity School and a certification in Spiritual Direction from Neumann College.
Steven P. Brey is pastor of Spring Lake United Methodist Church in Spring Lake, North Carolina. He is an ordained elder in the UMC.
***For additional information on this resource, including reviews, click the bookstore links. Check the reference at page top or the links below for resource guides on related topics.***
See Resource Guides on Over 100 Areas of Ministry Leadership: