In his book Kitchen Confidential, the late Anthony Bourdain describes a phenomenon that he calls “Failing Restaurant Syndrome:” I began to see, for the first time, what I would later recognize as Failing Restaurant Syndrome, an affliction that causes owners to flail about looking for a quick fix, a masterstroke that will “turn things around”,Continue reading “Failing Church Syndrome”
Category Archives: Church/Ministry
This Horse Is Very Much Dead, But Let’s Keep Beating It Anyway
It happened again. It didn’t surprise me, honestly. I was scrolling social media the other day and came across someone insisting that residential seminary education forms people for ministry much more effectively than hybrid or online programs. On the one hand, I understand this. These opinions always seem to come from clergy who had deeplyContinue reading “This Horse Is Very Much Dead, But Let’s Keep Beating It Anyway”
The Needs of Bi-Vocational Ministry
Jan Edmiston recently wrote a blog post about bi-vocational ministry, which has really resonated with me and many colleagues. For those unfamiliar, bi-vocational (or multi-vocational) ministry is where a person pastoring a church is less than full-time, and works one or more non-church job in addition to their ministry responsibilities. Jan’s post is speaking toContinue reading “The Needs of Bi-Vocational Ministry”
Jeffrey A. Nelson 