Practical Wisdom for Trying Times: A Conversation with Clergy Coach Laura Jackson

Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash

How are you navigating these difficult preaching days?

The election may be decided but the hard work of reconciliation, humanizing members of the opposite political party, and working toward a common vision of justice for all is just starting.

Plus, we still have a pandemic to mitigate, which competes with people’s desires to gather for the holidays and be back in church, especially as Christmas Eve approaches.

When we’re overwhelmed, it helps to talk to someone who “gets it” but also stands just enough outside the situation to see the bigger picture and help us strategize how best to proceed.

I had the privilege speaking with just such a person: Clergy Coach Laura Jackson. (You can find Laura at holygroundcoaching.com.)

In three separate conversations we talked about these three questions:

  1. How do we lead effectively during constant change?

  2. How do we find respite during constant change?

  3. When we feel caught in the middle, how do we move out?

I recorded our three conversations and shared them below so you could enjoy these insights, too.

I hope our conversations will inspire you with practical suggestions to give you hope and direction for the days ahead—so you feel equipped to persevere in your call.

How can you lead effectively when nothing is settled and everything is still in flux?

Leadership is challenging under the best of conditions. But when uncertainty abounds, it’s even more demanding. How do you lead your congregation through the long, complicated unknown?

Download transcript here.

How are you finding respite?

Many of us feel barraged by needs when we’re already feeling tapped out. Our souls and spirits need to recover. We need to be replenished so we have something to offer those we serve. Where can you find respite from demands that have no end in site?

Download transcript here.

If you’re feeing caught in the middle, how do you just plain move out?

Many preachers are feeling caught in the middle between competing needs, like those who want to worship in person and those who want to avoid it at all costs. How do you extract yourself from the tug of war?

Download transcript here.


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