aaron klinefelter » clergy http://aaronklinefelter.net pondering life and its accumulated mysteries Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:27:38 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 MC500 – day seven http://aaronklinefelter.net/2009/07/01/mc500-day-seven/ http://aaronklinefelter.net/2009/07/01/mc500-day-seven/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:05:08 +0000 ak http://aaronklinefelter.net/?p=214 One of the perplexing instances of the Reformation is the retrieval of the “Priesthood of All Believers” doctrine that Luther tied so much to the strong criticism of Roman Catholicism.  Certainly, his was a step away from the doctrine of ontological change within the clergy class, but by maintaining a clergy class the ontological change is assumed, or becomes presumed or even subsumed!  So while in principle the priesthood of all believers was promoted the function didn’t quite make it.  Is there a progressive revelation at work here or is an adaptation and contextualization within culture (theirs versus mine) that is at work?

]]> http://aaronklinefelter.net/2009/07/01/mc500-day-seven/feed/ 0 The Bish http://aaronklinefelter.net/2008/10/02/the-bish/ http://aaronklinefelter.net/2008/10/02/the-bish/#comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:57:05 +0000 ak http://aaronklinefelter.wordpress.com/?p=138 I met the new Bishop of The Kentucky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church today at a clergy pow-wow. Lindsey Davis is his name.  Here are some notes from the gathering:

Pastoral Effectiveness evaluated by:
- number of professions of faith (making disciples)
- worship attendance increase

Expectations
- Godly character
- To be a spiritual leader
- Practice the disciplines of our faith
- pray
- scripture study for the feeding of your soul
- worship
- acts of mercy – daily contact with the poor, an advocate for the most     vulnerable among us (children, the addicted, the prisoner)
- Uphold and actively teach the doctrine and theology of the UMC
- Accept the authority of those who supervise your ministry
- Itineracy
- Be an evangelist (Luke 10.2)
- Work hard, take care of your health
- Take care of your family
- Don’t take yourself too seriously (take the work you are called to do seriously, but not yourself.  It’s not about you!  It’s about the Kingdom!)
- Use good pastoral judgement
- Finish the race

152,000 members of the UMC in Kentucky
300,000 people of Kentucky say they are a member or affiliated with the UMC

- We are a Sent Ministry (we need to learn to go and learn to let go)

3 areas of focus:
- Planting new churches (650 churches planted this quadrivium, 3 per year in KY)
- Leadership Development (of clergy and laity)
- Extraordinary Mission Outreach (local and global)

Primary task of a local church is to make disciples
Primary task of the conference is to develop leaders for the task

Only 6 elders under age 35 in KY conference
Inquire:

- What is the average retirement age of Pastors in the KY conference?
- What are the age ranges of Pastors in the KY conference?

]]> http://aaronklinefelter.net/2008/10/02/the-bish/feed/ 0