Caring for the Clergy/ Church Planter

A five year retrospective

10 ways to Care

• 1. Remind them of the Vision that sparked the Plant in the first place

• 2. Stir up/ encourage their devotional life

Care of the Planter cont.

• 3. Stir up the unique inspiration of the Planter

• 4. Encourage them to commit for the long haul

• 5. Allow them to say that they hate it but provide empathy

Planter care cont.

• 6. Be aware of the strain on their marriage if married

• 7. Care for the church planter’s children - they too are paying the price

• 8. Co discern the future with them

Planter care cont.

• 9. Help identify the Planter’s passion

• 10. Encourage healthy habits: eating, sleep, exercise

Danger Signs of Burnout 1. A mood shift

• Loud to quiet• Quiet to loud• Gentle to aggressive• Patient to irritable• Team player to solo• Solo to team• Outgoing to introverted

Mood shifts continued

• Optimism to pessimism• Energy to lethargy vs. paced to

running on adrenalin

Behavioral shifts

• Making decisions to procrastination vs. making quick decisions

• Change in work patterns: arriving late, staying later

• Happy to sad• Missing days off

Behavioral shifts

• Sleep pattern changes: going to bed earlier, going to bed later, waking up in the night.

• Eating habits changing

• Sexual needs rising/falling

Overload

• Panic attacks• Paranoia• Projection onto spouse/others• Drastically reduced performance• Breakdown

Resources to deal with stress• Spiritual Directors

• Mentors/ coaches

• Best friends

Stress reducers

• Dealing with Internal conflicts• Need for affirmation• Need to compensate• Little time left• Driven-ness

• Go seek professional intervention

Leadership Styles Hershey Blanchard

• Four Styles:• Tell, Share, Consult, Give away

• Four factors:• Time, Risk of Poor Decision• Skill level, Ownership of the decision

Tell

• When:• Ownership low• Risk factors high• Skill level low• Time short

Give away

Need for• Ownership High• Time Low• Skill level High• Risk factors Low

Consult

When Need for:• Ownership Med Low• Time Med High• Skill level Mid• Risk Factors Med High

Share

When need for:

• Ownership Mod high• Time Low• Skill level Med high• Risk factors Med-Low