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PRE-EMPTIVE CARE
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION
SPOUSES AND FAMILIES
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
LOCAL CHURCH PASTOR CARE
STARTING AND FINISHING
FELLOWSHIP AND CONNECTIVITY
LEADERSHIP PARTNERING

PRE-EMPTIVE CARE
Clinical Pre-Crisis Care for Those on the Mission
Module Leader: Rev. Harold Luff [Read Biography]

Pre-emptive Care is designed to promote the well-being of credential holders through activities which are designed to prevent problems and to enhance personal growth and performance. Also, to assist all credential holders experiencing personal problems or concerns which ,may adversely affect their ministry performance, by providing professional assistance. This module provides private and confidential pre-emptive counselling assistance for credential holders- up to three professional counselling sessions with the counsellor of choice from the approved lists of counsellors.

To access this, pastors will contact a pre-approved counsellor and mention that they are a credentialed member of the PAOC Maritime District and would like to make an initial confidential counselling appointment under the District’s Pre-emptive Counselling Program. The District will subsidize 80% of the cost up to three visits. The counsellor will invoice the District using a code number rather than a name. These visits remain absolutely confidential between the counsellor and the credential holder unless the issue becomes a credential matter, then the District Executive would assume care.

Note to church boards: Since the credential holder serves the local PAOC church/organization, appropriate responsibility for pre-emptive care should be borne by the church organization. Rest time, retreats, and sabbaticals should be provided by the local leadership.

This particular strategy may not fit nicely as a module, but it is a key part of PCD. Remember, too, that consultation with the District Superintendent and/or any member of the elected Presbytery of the Maritime District is always available. Further, you have 24/7 access to the confidential “Clergy Care” help line: 1-888-5CLERGY (525-3749).

This module provides private and confidential pre-emptive counseling assistance for credential holders – up to three professional counseling sessions with the counselor of your choice (from a list of approved counselors).

Should the counselor feel there is a critical need, he/she is at liberty (with permission) to the local church or District leadership with regard to immediate, intensive professional care.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Enhancing our Skills for the Mission
Module Leader: Rev. Harlyn Purdy [Read Biography]

Pastoral ministry is complex. Ministry today demands a wide variety of skills and abilities. Each leader needs to be committed to continuing to develop their abilities. This module offers leaders some opportunities to develop in many areas of the leadership. With it leaders can expect to increase their theological, spiritual, managerial, and practical skills.

Leaders can determine their own course of action for this module. It will remain a module that offers many training options and a “pick and choose” approach to development. Leaders may chose whatever courses, seminars, clinics, readings, or presentations they feel might enhance their ministry. The module will continue to adapt and address current trends and expectations. It will seek to take advantage of web-based training, conference gatherings, off-site day-clinics and various print media tools to accomplish professional development.

This module will create “learning opportunities” centered around enhancing traditional ministry skills such as performing weddings and funerals, conducting board meetings, conflict management, counseling, or evangelism techniques – to name a few.

Practical skills such as media use, audio technology, accounting, and graphic/web design are all possibilities for this module.

This could even include the opportunity to take courses for credit toward a degree program. This module will also make leaders aware of resources and books that are available for specific areas of skill development.
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ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION
Leaning Who We Are and Where We Fit on the Mission
Module Leader: To be announced

What do you have extra passion for doing? What part of your ministry do you see much effectiveness and fruitfulness? What could you enjoy for a lifetime and keep get better at doing? What is your “sweet spot?”

So many leaders do not understand their wiring. They do not know their leadership tendencies, their personality, or their spiritual gifts. They remain the prey to everything and everyone who tells them what they should be. They have blind spots and unanswered behavior questions. Some do not even know what it is that they do really well.

This module uses common tools and techniques to allow emerging and seasoned leaders to understand who they are and what they are made for. It will give participants the ability to develop their own strategic approach to addressing faults and sharpening abilities. These varying volunteer assessments will be made available at conference, online, or by mail.

Much of this evaluation and assessment process will be continually added to the credentialing process in our District. New credential holders will be able to feel the advantage of knowing themselves thoroughly. This knowledge will help emerging leaders make smart decisions about roles and direction for their ministry.

As a side benefit, the module will also help churches understand the various dynamics of assessment that factor in to the selection of a new pastor or additional staff.
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SPOUSES AND FAMILIES
Strengthening Our Families and Key Relationships
Module Leader: To be announced

No other module is as broad and diverse as this one. Spouses and Families allows us to tackle a full scope of marriage, family, and relationship needs. There will be three main areas to target:

1. Marriage – This module will insure that resources and events are available to help keep our pastoral marriages strong. Someone once said to married leaders, “as goes your marriage, so goes your ministry.” Attention will be given, especially, to the needs of the spouse who is not formally on-staff at a church but serves alongside their partner in a supportive role.

2. Ministry Children – There are unique, and sometimes unrealistic, expectations placed on pastors’ children. Kids need spirit-led parents, a healthy home and good church environments in which to grow. We must be committed to raising children that will not be bitter or resentful because of ministry’s pressures. As soon as the research and need-identification is complete, this module will suggest and implement ways to encourage our kids.

There are so many exciting ways that this module can help. It can increase the connecting points for spouses in meaningful ways. It can provide advantages and benefits to our children which can make growing up in the ministry something to be celebrated. It could provide financial assistance for children to attend key district events.

As this module develops we can expect to see spouses and families honored at a new level. The possibilities are endless!
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SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Becoming More Like Jesus While On the Mission
Module Leader: Rev. Freda Steeves [Read Biography]

We cannot help but reproduce what we are. It is not enough for us to do right things, it is most important for us to be right people. Too many leaders teach about God they no longer pray to. They worship a God they do not know. They sell a God that they no longer love.

If we do not truly love Jesus, we will not truly love those we will lead. Our intimacy with Christ determines the outcome of our ministry – and life! Someone once said that ministry is what we leave in our tracks as we concentrate on pursuing our relationship with Christ.

“Beware of anything that competes with loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service for Him.” Oswald Chambers

The module will cause us to keep prayer as a central emphasis at events and conferences. It will provide spiritual formation resources and helps for spiritual disciplines. It will set up fasting programs and prayer networks/chains. Accountability opportunities and structures will be creative for new credential holders to help them establish healthy prayer patterns and disciplines. Using District communication pieces we will celebrate the results of a District filled with leaders of significant spiritual depth.

Through prayer, the Mission will be accomplished and the Kingdom will expand!
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LOCAL CHURCH PASTOR CARE
Helping Churches Treat Their Leaders With Kindness
Module Leader: Carmen Crockett [Read Biography]

Helping churches care for their pastor and family is essential to the success of the PCD strategy. Time with colleagues is minimal when compared to the amount of time spent with congregations. Congregations and their boards must take on the primary responsibility for the health of their leader. This module will serve to educate and resource local church leaders.

Here are a few examples of the things this module could accomplish:

- Church boards will appoint a person to be the Pastor Care representative. These should be people who have a love for their pastor (and family) and the respect of the congregation. Representatives would receive information and ideas to help care for their leaders. Clinics could be hosted by the module leader and these representatives would be expected to attend.

- This module will forward information to churches concerning salary scales, pension/health benefits, time expectations, Clergy Care Month, vacations, study leave, and caring for ministry children.

- It will assist the local church in embracing a proper understanding of the role of a pastor – and the limits of expectation on pastor’s spouses and families.

- Inform and assist churches on protocol items such as moving expenses, severance, gifts (ie Christmas, birthdays), allowances, etc.
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STARTING AND FINISHING
Beginning and Ending Well On The Mission
Module Leader: Rev. Russell Knowles [Read Biography]

This is a broad module that seeks to assist pre-leaders, new leaders and retiring leaders to prepare for the next phase of their ministry. There are 3 areas of main concentration:

Bible School Students – This involves tracking potential students and staying in contact with Maritime students who have decided to move toward full-time ministry. This module will assist students where possible and help them find solutions for challenges such as student placement, credentialing, student debt, and personal obstacles.

Young Pastors – This module works in cooperation with other modules, the Young Pastors Retreat and other strategies to assist young pastors. It helps new credential holders set discipline patterns and leadership practices that will become their mainstay in their ministry journey.

Retiring Pastors – One of the challenges of all pastors is determining ministry expectations and function after a formal ministry season has concluded. Yet, so many of these experienced pastors are rich in abilities, wisdom, and passion. They also have a commitment to learning and growing even after decades of successful ministry. The module seeks to provide care, development and ministry opportunities for our retired leaders. It also will help retirees process the emotional adjustments that occur at retirement.
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FELLOWSHIP AND CONNECTIVITY
Becoming Friends Together On The Mission
Module Leader: Rev. Paul Duplessis [Read Biography]

Much of this module exists in various conferences and initiatives already present in our District. Therefore, this module seeks to be a gathering point for those strategies and new strategies. It will be a consultant to our two annual gatherings and provide an “ear to the ground” for identifying the concerns of leaders so that conferences can be tailored to felt needs.

Because it is currently administered by the District Superintendent, District Executive and administrative staff, this module may not need independent module status. Rather it would serve as a consultant for our times together.

The goal of this module is help the District conference become a District “family.” We are convinced that if we are going to advance the Kingdom in the Maritimes we are going to have to do it together – as one force. The successes of each individual are a credit to the whole, and the struggles of each leader are borne by the entire family.

This module, working in tandem with other modules, will create new opportunities, at conferences and outside of conferences, to bring us together.

Key to this connectivity will be strategies including prayer chains, missionary connection, and social events.
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LEADERSHIP PARTNERING
Life-on-Life Personal Leadership Development
Module Leader: To BE ANNOUNCED

There are many terms that reflect what this module could involve – coaching, mentoring, apprenticing, etc. The term “partnering” best reflects this module as it spans the generations.

For the new credential holder they will be assigned a “coach” who has been pre-trained to fill such a role. They will journey with the candidate until Ordination – and beyond, if necessary.

For the seasoned leader, there are two options. First, a partner or mentor could be requested or appointed to assist the leader in a specific area. For example, a coach could assist a leader who is struggling with preaching effectively. The leader would be partnered with strong communicator who would provide appropriate training and resources to increase their mentoree’s skill. Secondly, a partner could be assigned to someone in a more general way. A pastor (of any age) could be partnered with an appropriate leader who would assist them in a broad range of areas in life, family, ministry, and personal. For example, a 30 year old leader may request, or be suggested to solicit, a 50 year old mentor who will bring appropriate advice and suggest action steps for the protégé. They might suggest resources or set up necessary accountability structures.

Leadership Partnering could begin at the Bible School level as a District strategy. Also, this module would work in concert with other modules.
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