This conference will address issues directly related to how to avoid circumstances similar to those being experienced by Pastor McWeary as described below.
Pastor McWeary is a mid-career pastor whose family responsibilities now include the demands of four teen-aged children; whose pastoral presbyterial and denominational responsibilities are steadily increasing; and whose middle-age health is beginnig to show the signs of constant stress. His family has had to be content with "vactaions" limited to annual summer Presbytery conferences, each of which has "required" Pastor McWeary and his wife, Patience, to be prepared to conduct the annual youth program.
Economic pressures are constant. The congregation has done its best to provide a salary that keeps up with inflation, but it is barely adequate for routine needs. His salary certainly does not provide for the constantly increasing cost of health insurance, and the soon-to-be-received bills for his children's higher education.
Patience McWeary has remained at home with their children ever since they were born; thus, there has been no opportunity for her to help supplement her husband's income. In addition to her three full-time jobs (caring for her home and husband, raising their children, and being their home school teacher), Patience has served the congregation well, assuming the numerous supporting roles expected of a pastor's wife.
Pastor McWeary, now 51 years old, has only been able to attend one professional conference. He has had neither the time nor the funds to adequately keep up on professional reading or to engage in continuing theological studies. After 25 years, the congregation's reward is a weekly sermon that gives futher testimony to the reality of professional burnout. Not surprisingly, the congregation finds itself in a state of malaise with widespread feelings of just "going through the motions", and having no excitement about the local ministry.
This conference has been designed specifically so that elders, their pastors and other congregational leaders of Reformed churches will be better able to understand their responsibilities to their pastors, and thus, to their congregations.
Attendance will assure that elders can acquire a greater understanding of issues related to the personal and professional needs of active pastors in all stages of ministry. Some selected topics to be addressed include: analysis of the pastorate today, including premature resignations of many younger pastors; negligence in providing the necessary resources so pastors may serve to the best of their abilities; the pastor's wife and family; Reformed and Presbyterian views of elder responsibilities; planning and locating resources for pastoral study, leaves and travel; real-world testimonies of renewal; and some proposed solutions to difficult issues.
