As you assess your personal capacities for ministry at this time, what do you consider your strongest points and what do you feel to be the aspects most needing development?
At this point in my ministry, I believe my strengths are based in worship leadership and the articulating of faith and mystery. Theology is not simply a system of ideas, but a tool for shaping souls and guiding believers. I endeavor to preach my theology and live it. This demands rigorous honesty. I try my best to live honestly as a minister. I believe I am a good preacher and could be even better.
I am personable. I am compassionate. Pastoral work is a skill set I am developing beyond my seminary training through participation in another year of Clinical Pastoral Education. My hope is that this training will be a great asset to my ministry. I wish to be a pastoral leader and not simply an intellectual one.
I think that my weak points can be put in one category: administration. I am not a particularly organized person. The meticulous work of managing a congregation is tiresome for me. As important as it is, I have never felt a great desire to do it. Thus far, when I have been placed in positions of leadership where I may have some administrative duties, I do my best to delegate those duties to someone more capable than myself. I realize that this may not always be an option and I will have to develop skills to compensate, but as of this writing, this has not been the case.
Posted by tripp at September 11, 2004 11:33 PM