SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR CHURCH LEADERS
Part of the ministry resources on Burnout and Self-Care for Church Leaders.
The following ministry resources focus on support systems for church leaders, including congregational and collegial support. Each resource is listed in alphabetical order unless indicated. Hopefully each is described sufficiently for readers to assess the direct value for their situations.
- CONGREGATIONAL Support Systems for Church Leaders
- COLLEGIAL Support Systems for Church Leaders
- Other Works
- Related Ministry Resources
CONGREGATIONAL Support Systems for Church Leaders
First Reads:
- Gary R. McIntosh and Robert L. Edmonson, M.D., It Only Hurts on Monday: Why Pastors Quit and What You Can Do About It — One of the most informative guides to burnout issues. Specially aimed to instruct congregations on how to help their ministers.
- Roy M. Oswald, How to Build a Support System for Your Ministry — Equips ministers on how to set up pastoral support groups in their congregations.
- Daniel Overdorf, Ministering to Your Minister – Develops eight affirmations churches should repeat frequently and act on consistently to support their ministers.
- Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce, Leadership That Fits Your Church: What Kind of Pastor for What Kind of Congregation – Probably the largest, most definitive study every conducted on what ministers and churches do to work together effectively. Helps to establish good matches in minister search, and to understand important factors in ministry support systems, self-care and burnout issues.
Other Helpful Resources:
- Louis M. McBurney, M.D., Counseling Christian Workers: A How-To Approach. Resources for Christian Counselors, Volume 2 – Offers helpful spiritual foundations and psychological strategies for three of the more common diagnostic conditions presenting in ministers.
- Gary L. Harbaugh, Caring for the Caregiver: Growth Models for Professional Leaders and Congregations — An older but still helpful discussion of seven levels of support needed for ministers.
- Gary L. Harbaugh, Rebecca Breneis and Rodney R. Hutton, Covenants and Care: Boundaries in Life, Faith, and Ministry — Discusses how covenant support groups for ministry self-care help one enliven service to family, congregation, and one’s coworkers.
COLLEGIAL Support Systems
- Gary D. Kinnaman and Alfred H. Ells, Leaders That Last: How Covenant Friendships Can Help Pastors Thrive – A complete conceptual and practical guide to setting up, initiating, maintaining, and trouble-shooting Pastors in Covenant support groups that allow ministry colleagues to help each other.
Other Works
- Toby Awasum, Ministering To Your Pastor: How to Serve God’s Servants of Harvest. Treasure House, 1997.
- Bob Broadbooks, How to Bless Your Pastor: Stories of Uncommon Grace. Beacon Hill Press, 2010.
- Kent Philpott, How to Care for Your Pastor: A Guide for Small Churches. EP Books, 2007.
- Dan Reiland, Shoulder to Shoulder: Strengthening Your Church By Supporting Your Pastor. Thomas Nelson, 1997.
- Wes Roberts, Support Your Local Pastor: Practical Ways to Encourage Your Minister. NavPress, 1995.
- Jane Rubietta, How to Keep the Pastor You Love: Caring For Ministers and Their Families. IVP Books, 2002.
- Dave Williams, How to Help Your Pastor Succeed: Moving From the Multitude to the Inner Circle. Decapolis Publishing, 2010.
Related Ministry Resources
See Other Resources on Minister Self-Care and Preventing Burnout:
- Burnout and Self-Care in Church Leaders – Index
- Self-Care for Church Leaders
- Burnout in Church Leaders – Preventing and Overcoming
- Support Systems for Church Leaders
- Strengthening and Renewing the Call to Christian Ministry
- Pastoral Theology for Christian Ministry
See Resources on Over 100 Areas of Christian Ministry: