The Practical Handbook for Ministry - Essay Example

This essay considers these aspects in terms of ministry presentation, the centrality of preaching, and general moral concerns.
One of the major elements I learned through the handbook was the importance of presentation in terms of ministry. One of the intriguing trends in this regard was the handbook's discussion of the relationship between preaching and presentation and the internal qualities of the preacher or speaker. In these regards, the text considered the nature of charisma and an internal identity as key factors in successful interpersonal skills. In explicating the purpose behind these personality traits the text takes the view that these are God-ordained character traits that were imbued unto the individuals as a gift of redemption, deliverance, and redemption.

Presentation is also a highly important concept in terms of pastoral counseling as a self-encounter. In these terms, there are a variety of situations the pastor must remain cognizant of when dealing with the church community. Some of the most notable along this spectrum include investigations into the detached self–individuals that don’t want to take part in church practices and expect the pastor to meet and provide for them. At the other end of the spectrum includes the Ambition-Ridden Self, which is the kind of personality that thrives on interaction and open leadership competition of the average Protestant church.

Another element I learned was the importance of having to preach as a core or central function in the lives of the ministers. In these regards, the handbook revealed through the survey method that in most instances preaching was the lifeblood of the ministers and that their integrity was revealed through an inner sense of identity or the lack of it. Within this perspective, it was also revealed that the pastor acts among a variety of levels or types of ‘pastoral care. This was enlightening as it provided insight into not only the variety of functions pastors must undertake but also their role as an extension of God’s ministry. A great amount of practical understanding was gleaned from the text in these regards, including the level of privacy and professionalism expected of preachers. Another important element in terms of the preacher’s life as necessarily being central to the individual’s existence concerns the need to develop a personal ethical code. Within this context, some of the predominant elements are indicated to be developing a simplicity of speech, durability of relationships, and a principle of day-to-day and face-to-face.

Another highly important concept within the ministry is moral concerns. This is an extremely broad concept and is addressed in a variety of ways throughout the text. One of the initial explorations into this mode of thinking is in the investigation of the pathology of religious leadership. In this regard, the handbook argues that the proper moral psychology of religious leaders is intent on their own lives and goals rather than that of their practitioners. From another perspective, the handbook analyzes the moral structure of the ministry's followers. In this regard, it’s recognized that there is an aesthetic stage wherein the individual is concerned with women over personal responsibility. There is also a ‘good man’ stage that embodies proper moral thought and actions.

In conclusion, it’s clear that there are a number of notable elements that are examined in the Practical Handbook for Ministry. In terms of presentation, there is a broad array of elements related to both the preacher and their community of followers. A central theme in these regards is that the internal state of the preacher, as well as their outward charisma, are believed to be elements of God-ordained virtue. Still, it’s indicated the pastor must cultivate functional presentation skills. Another element demonstrated was the necessary centrality of the ministry to the preacher’s life. In terms of dealing with the community, it was demonstrated that there exists a spectrum of understanding and personality that the pastor must become aware of in order to reach out and handle community members with the greatest efficiency and productivity. Finally, there are a variety of moral elements that the pastor must consider in relation to his own integrity and that of the ministry. Read More