Before You Move: A Guide to Making Transitions in Ministry - Softcover

Cionca, John R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0825423929 ISBN 13: 9780825423925

Publisher: Kregel Academic & Professional, 2004

Synopsis

Based on interviews with hundreds of pastors, as well as ten years of counseling ministry leaders, Dr. Cionca provides practical if's, when's, and how's to consider before changing ministries.

About this title

About the Author

John R. Cionca is the executive director of Ministry Transitions, Inc. He also holds the position of professor of ministry leadership at Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Dr. Cionca has served in full-time capacities as a youth pastor, minister of education and senior pastor. He has written four books, coauthored three books, and served as contributor and editor for two other books. He has ministered in many churches as an interim pastor and transitions coach. John is also a ministry spouse; his wife, Barbara, serves as a children's pastor in the Twin Cities.

From the Back Cover

“Read this book carefully, but never lend it. There may come a needy night when its wisdom will be for you the only light in a passage of darkness.”

—Calvin Miller, from the foreword

The average senior pastor serves a church for five years. Most youth pastors move every two years. Why do pastors and other ministry professionals change positions so frequently, when experts agree that longer tenures enhance ministry effectiveness? Are there objective criteria that can be applied to transition decisions, or must you simply rely on your sense that “my ministry here is complete”?

In this valuable guidebook, John Cionca provides practical wisdom, evaluative checklists, and specific worksheets to bring some objectivity to your assessment of making a change in ministry. Based on surveys and interviews, along with ten years of experience counseling leaders in transition, Cionca’s advice will prove invaluable in helping you decide if now is the time for a move.

If you are being led to a ministry transition, Cionca provides helpful advice and planning suggestions that will make your move go as smoothly as possible. Before you move, you must read this book.

John R. Cionca (Ph.D., Arizona State University) is the executive director of Ministry Transitions, Inc. He is also professor of ministry leadership at Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. In addition to previously serving in full-time capacities as a youth pastor, minister of education, and senior pastor, he has also written, coauthored, and edited several books.

Edition details

• Publisher: Kregel Academic & Professional
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0825423929
• ISBN 13: 9780825423925
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240