Implementing Pastoring of Pastors in a Denomination1

Some of the following ideas will be more relevant in certain contexts, while others will apply to other contexts.

1. Gain the support of the president and main leadership of the denomination: brainstorm with the president individually about implementing pastoring of pastors, and then again with a group of 4-6 of the main leaders of the denomination.  This gets them involved, gains their support, and allows them to feel that they are a part of whatever project might occur.
   
   
2. Research: Administer a survey with the president and the key leaders.  Have a mini-consultation of 4-8 hours with them to talk about the results of the survey and options for putting Pastoring of Pastors into practice in their denomination.
   
   
3. National or state-wide consultation about pastoring of pastors: invite two denominational leaders from each of the main denominations to participate in a National Consultation or in state consultations of 4-8 hours.  If there is no consultation planned for your country, interested parties can help organize one with the possible participation of David Kornfield or of another non-denominational facilitator.
   
   
4. Consulting another denominational leader: after meeting at a national or state-wide consultation, denominational leaders can begin to consult each other.  For example, the denomination ICEB has two pastors who work full-time (one in São Paulo, the other in Goiânia) to give assistance to approximately 450 other pastors.  Other denominations can benefit from their experiences and work models.
   
   
5. Mentoring Clinic: after initial steps such as those indicated above, see if there is interest on the part of the denominational leadership in organizing a Mentoring Clinic for Pastors and Leaders.  This clinic could be set up specifically for state leaders and their spouses, possibly inviting a few other key pastors in the denomination.  The clinic could be ministered by MAPI instructors. 
   
   
6. Leadership Consultation: evaluate the possibility of the principle leadership of the denomination dedicating another 1-2 days after the Clinic to work on evaluating, adapting, and applying what they learned to the reality of their denomination.2 These additional days might be a good time to introduce the idea of developing a pastoral team in the denominational leadership, as well as teams in each of the pastors’ churches.
   
7. Repeat the Clinic: the Clinic may be repeated in each region of the country, with 4-6 leaders from each state (with their wives?), forming a group of approximately 20-25 pastors.  After returning to their states, the participants of the clinic would continue meeting together for a period of 6 to 12 months to experience pastoring of pastors among themselves.  After this experimental period, they would extend Pastoring of Pastors to others in their state, beginning by re-creating the Clinic.
   
   
8. Consulting: the MAPI state leader can offer consulting advice to the denominational pastoring of pastors state leader if so desired. 
   
   
9. Study good sources in the area, such as:
   • Hendricks, Howard and William; As Iron Sharpens Iron – Building Character In a Mentoring Relationship, Moody Press, 1995.  This book is extraordinary, dedicating its first half to those who want to be mentored and the second half to those who want to be mentors.  The terms mentoring and pastoring of pastors are interchangeable.
   • Kornfield, David; O Lider que Brilha (The Leader that Shines) – Seven relationships that lead to excellence, Vida, 2007.  Six chapters deepen each of the seven relationships, with questions at the end of each chapter for reflection, discussion, and application.  Two of these seven relationships emphasize mutual and vertical pastoring or mentoring.  Unfortunately this book currently only exists in Portuguese.  For a summary in article format, click here.    
   • The Pastoring of Pastors section of the MAPI (Support Ministry to Pastors and Churches) website, offers excellent resources in the area of mentoring and pastoring of pastors.
     
     
10. Mutual pastoring of pastors can be structured for a city, a region, a denomination, or among leaders of a local church.  It works best when people are allowed to choose who they would like to be with in a trio or small group.  These small groups may vary from one year to the next, but do not have to.  It is helpful for one member of the group to be elected as the facilitator, the person responsible to see that the group works well.  The person in this role can change from year to year, as the group decides whether to remain as it is or reconfigure itself.
    
    
11. Vertical pastoring of pastors cannot be implemented as a denominational structure.  Neither can it be structured in the local church.  This partnership requires a special affinity between two people.  As Hendricks says, “Searching for a mentor is like searching for a lover.”  This may and should be encouraged by the denomination, but it depends on pastors taking initiative to make this happen.

1 These ideas can apply to a movement like the Cell-Church or the Purpose-driven Church, as well as to  a council of pastors in a city or in several cities.

2 For example, in March of 2008, the Cell-Church will follow up on the Clinic for its main leadership, with one extra day of evaluation, application, and adaptation (beginning with lunch on Monday and ending with lunch on Thursday), immediately before their annual congress.

Other links:

1. Download this page as a Word document.
2. Catalyzing a Pastoring of Pastors movement.
3. Return to the main page about partnerships.