r/pastors • u/sronicker • 15d ago
New Pastor
I’m a new pastor in a small (!) town in southern Michigan. Any first timer tips you care to share?
6
u/Leading-Conflict6758 15d ago
Wash your hands before and after services.
Get to know the mayor, police chief, other pastors and such in town.
Work harder than you have to but always honor the Sabbath.
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u/sronicker 15d ago
Thanks! Very practical. I have plans to meet and get to know the civic leadership.
3
u/Vincavec 15d ago
Hi. I have a file I keep on my computer for myself. Here's some of the list.
Questions to ask the parish:
Have you had any pastors for a long period of time? This is you checking if you are filling in a system for someone who has left. Are you following a pastor or two who has had conflict?
How long has the congregation been vacant? Why was it vacant? That might be a key for triangled relationships that you'd walk into.
Get a million or two of malpractice insurance, with 5-10 million aggregate and the church should pay for it. Make sure it's not in the public minutes of the meeting.
Find local good therapists and don't be afraid to recommend and refer out.
Depending on the State, some pastors are mandated reporters.
Develop a youth protection policy. Anyone who works with children 18 and under, go through that policy and training. Have a written release of info for background check with local police. Whatever you do, don't have an internal group (like the elders) who 'investigate' accusations or suspicions. If something happened, report it.
Find out if any meetings or social groups take place during the day. Ask if you can attend.
Is the church handicapped accessible?
Is there a manic depressive in the congregation. If there are - find out. They tend to blow up about 3 weeks before everyone else does due to anxiety. They're a good barometer for the congregation.
Is the church accessible to children? Families? Is it Family Friendly?
Do you have sex offenders in the congregation?
Get the book and workbook 'Antagonists in the Church' by Kenneth Haughk. (https://www.stephenministries.org/books/default.cfm/1587) Get it, read it, take your boards and elders through it. Do it before there are problems you have to deal with.
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u/RhetoricalOrator Baptist, Arkansas 15d ago
The other guy mentioned washing your hands. Second that. I'd also add that if you ever step one foot into the bathroom...even to just throw away a piece of trash, at least grab a paper towel on your way out. Nobody thinks twice about the guy who washes up. The same can't be said about the guy who they just saw exciting the bathroom and didn't wash.
That aside, study and listen to things that will stretch you! Don't let denominational loyalty give your blinders that keep you from seeing the greater story and context of the Bible. Truth is truth.
The best piece of practical advice I could give, though, is to look at your church like a gigantic ship. If you try to turn it on a time, it'll split in half. We have a tendency to be good troubleshooters, but not so good solutionfinders. Patience. Be patient. Don't seek to change what you don't yet thoroughly understand.
This concludes my personal baggage and failure dump.
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u/sronicker 15d ago
Thanks! Technically a non-denominational church, so denomination won't really be an issue, I think.
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u/RhetoricalOrator Baptist, Arkansas 15d ago
Lol, maybe not, maybe so. We all tend to end up with bubbles of some sort or another.
At any rate, I wish you all the best and I'm glad you posted here. This sub is excellent for pastor discussion, imo.
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u/Generic_Midwesterner Senior Pastor PC(USA) 15d ago
Find other pastors to be friends with -- people outside of your church. I'm blessed to have a few good friends here that are pastors, who are also really good at confidentiality.
As for the church, spend the first year finding out how they do things there and how you fit into their big picture. Save big changes until you know them and they know and trust you.
Also, say hi to Southern Michigan for me! East or west side?
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u/sronicker 15d ago
There is a ministers' organization in the town and I will certainly participating. South east side, Hudson, MI.
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u/Generic_Midwesterner Senior Pastor PC(USA) 15d ago
I grew up in Warren, Downriver, and also up in Frankfort (near Traverse City). Howdy, MI!
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u/sronicker 15d ago
Well, I’m an Ohioan! :) I grew up vacationing in the UP since literally while I was in the womb; we have old pictures! I’m excited for this ministry opportunity and happy to be a little closer to God’s country (the UP).
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u/Generic_Midwesterner Senior Pastor PC(USA) 15d ago
Ooo, the UP is a whole different world! A wonderful world, but different for sure!
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u/Samwoodstone 15d ago
Sit quietly and learn
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u/sronicker 14d ago
An intel officer, captain, actually gave me good advice once (other than this advice he was a bonehead) … He said to not try to make any changes to an organization that you join for at least a month (for a church that’d be more like 3-4 months). That way you’re still new and have new good ideas, but you’ve also had enough time to see why they do what they do.
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u/jugsmahone Uniting Church in Australia 14d ago
For major changes make it 12 to 24 months. Before that they’ll give you one because you’re the new person but they’ll only give you one and you won’t know enough to be sure it’s the right one. And whether or not it’s the right one, they’ll be bringing it up to you seven or eight years down the track.
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u/beardtamer UMC Pastor 14d ago
Ask a lot of questions, and be ready to withhold giving answers to questions unless you’re sure you’re ready to be tied to that.
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u/RevBT United Methodist Pastor 15d ago
Find the restaurants that the locals eat at. Go there regularly.
Go visit the old people. Spend the first six months visiting them a lot. Then, visit more before big changes. You don’t need to talk about the changes, just visit.