|
COMMUNICATION
August 2007
A Word from Us |
Introductions |
This month‚ I am pleased to introduce a new feature: “Clergy Communication.” This is a column that will appear in the next 10 issues of Signpost‚ written by Dr. Randy Ritz. Dr. Ritz is the head of the drama department at Concordia University College in Edmonton‚ Alberta. He is also an actor and communications coach. He is passionate about helping pastors be effective communicators. I hope you enjoy his contributions.
We are also featuring an article about the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada. As you work to communicate truth about these issues in your ministry‚ you may find this organization helpful in providing information and research about marriage and family issues. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with their work; they put out some great stuff!
Last‚ but not least‚ I would like to announce that we have added a contract counsellor to our CCN staff: Ed VanBergen. He has a master’s degree in counselling from the University of British Columbia and a wealth of counselling experience. Ed spent 10 years as a district counsellor in the public school system and served for 23 years as both a counsellor and director with Burden Bearers of Canada. Although retired since 2004‚ Ed continues to provide counselling and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing for various agencies‚ including WorkSafeBC. Ed has been married to Hilda for 40 years and has two adult sons. He enjoys singing‚ woodworking and adores spending time with his grandchildren. Ed will be available by appointment to callers‚ particularly those who prefer to speak with a male counsellor. Call 1-888-5-CLERGY to schedule a call with Ed.
Blessings,
Wendy Kittlitz
Program Manager
Clergy Care Network
|
|
GO TO TOP
| |
|
| |
Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after.
– Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea |
| |
|
| |
Every improvement in communication makes the bore more terrible.
– Frank Moore Colby
|
| |
|
| |
Let us make a special effort to stop communicating with each other‚ so we can have some conversation.
– Judith Martin (“Miss Manners”) |
| |
|
| |
I wish people who have trouble communicating would just shut up.
– Tom Lehrer |
GO TO TOP
|
On Deck |
|
Summer/Fall Events |
re:new | re:fresh
A personal retreat for pastors and leaders, sponsored by Living Waters Canada. |
| |
Date: August 13-18, 2007
Place: Calgary, Alberta |
For more information or to register, please visit Living Waters Canada. |
Pastoral Couples’ Retreat
Please join Focus on the Family Canada for a restful three days of pampering and relaxation with other pastoral couples. |
| |
Date: November 13-15, 2007
Place: Sun Peaks Resort, Kamloops, B.C.
Featuring: H.B. London |
| Registration will be available mid-August (watch Clergy Care Network for details). |
The Truth Project (first time in Canada!) |
| |
Date: November 2-3, 2007
Place: Toronto, Ontario
Date: November 16-17, 2007
Place: Edmonton, Alberta
|
Registration details to follow, but mark your calendars! Click here for more information. |
GO TO TOP
|
Beyond Duct Tape |
Research for the Pastor |
Research for the Pastor
by Andrea Mrozek
We live in an unprecedented age: Non–Christians and Christians alike are getting married later‚ living together before marriage‚ facing hostile public school and university environments‚ pressures toward early sexual activity – the list goes on. Even where the pressures are not as dramatic‚ people at different stages of life are pulled into our mainstream culture‚ which is so often hostile to Christian morals and Biblical teaching. Couples in counselling may not overtly ask‚ “What is marriage?” when they start to have troubles; most certainly‚ however‚ most could benefit from a deeper‚ intellectual and factual understanding of what marriage is and has been over the centuries.
That’s just one example of an issue pastors might grapple with that the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada (IMFC‚ Imfcanada.org) also tackles head on from a research standpoint. The IMFC is the research and policy branch of Focus on the Family Canada. Our focus is on family and marriage–related issues in public policy‚ politics and the mainstream and Christian media. Our research focuses on the policy ramifications of different issues, and we defend Christian values using secular terminology. We aim to provide factual‚ concise policy information on the issues of the day.
. . . read more
GO TO TOP
|
Must-haves |
|
Need Help Communicating? |
Cracking the Communication Code*
by Dr. Emmerson Eggerichs
Dr. Eggerichs shows couples how to decipher what they’re really saying to each other. By cracking the communication code‚ you and your spouse will learn how to speak each other's distinctly different language – love for her‚ respect for him – build mutual understanding and enjoy a successful‚ godly marriage.
The Ungame*
This non–competitive game can be a great ice–breaker or a serious exchange of thoughts, feelings and ideas. Encourages communication and self–expression in a non–threatening atmosphere. A great family game to get you communicating.
I Told the Mountain to Move
by Patricia Raybon
Do you need to learn to pray in deeper ways? As Patricia Raybon prays her way through crisis‚ she weaves a compelling story of family challenges with a thread of renewed experiences with the Lord. You will be challenged and encouraged by this insightful book.
To order your copy, call the Clergy Care Network at 1.800.5.CLERGY (while supplies last).
* Click on book titles to purchase online or call Focus on the Family Canada toll-free at 1.800.661.9800 to order.
GO TO TOP
Are You Saying . . . ?
Podcasting Helps Churches Reach Larger Audience
The Etiquette of Church Communication
GO TO TOP
Clergy Communication |
Actors and Clergy Share the Platform |
Actors and Clergy Share the Platform
by Dr. Randy Ritz
Welcome to a series of articles on how to improve your communication skills as a pastor. As an acting coach‚ I am well aware of the specific voice and movement training that actors must take. Actors are hired‚ after all‚ by how they perform vocally and physically on the stage.
In comparison‚ pastors have a multi–faceted job description – counselling, administration, visitation, mediation‚ public relations‚ etc. – you are aware of the “different hats.” But I would argue that it is the time behind the pulpit that most parishioners relate to. The weekly message sets up the inevitable question: “What did you think of the sermon today?” Pastors‚ too‚ are often “called” – hired – in part by presenting the audition sermon.
. . . read more
GO TO TOP
Thank you to all who wrote and asked for a copy of Overcoming Fatigue. This topic seemed to resonate with people‚ as we had more responses to this offer than any previous one! We said we would give away six books‚ but we ended up sending one to every person who responded – in total, 17 copies!
This month‚ we will send a free copy of I Told the Mountain to Move to the first five people who write and tell us they would like to communicate with God more deeply.
GO TO TOP
|
A Word from the Coach |
|
Words of Wisdom |
| |
|
|
“Understand this‚ my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen‚ slow to speak‚ and slow to get angry.”
|
– James 1: 19 (NLT)
GO TO TOP
Sneak Peek |
September: Boundaries in Ministry |
Next month’s topic will be: Boundaries in Ministry.
GO TO TOP
|
