What We Do

The Consulting Pastor leads the congregation in assessing its identity, vision, and mission.

The congregation will examine its purpose - naming goals, outlining strategies, performing analysis and finding its mission. The church must know 'who' it is, what direction it is headed, and why it is going there. It must also have signposts to let it know where it is along the path. And leadership must be identified, developed, and trained in specific tasks. The Consulting Pastor will offer counsel in each of these areas.

Congregational leaders and members will also be called upon for their ideas. Fresh thinking, updated worldviews and new ways to look at old problems are requisite. As God calls us to a task, the creativity is provided to accomplish it. New ideas spring from the energy we give to the work. A commitment of energy by each and every member is vital to the process.

The Consulting Pastor:

"He spoke frankly. And that's what we needed."
- Harold K.

Facilitates a dialogue in the congregation concerning corporate identity, community calling, future focus, and ideology
Develops, in conjunction with congregational leaders, a Vision Team for the purpose of discerning the future mission of the church
Identifies, with the Vision Team, the programming, promotion, and facility needs to implement mission and ministry
Advises and gives guidance on identifying new structures—ministry teams—to undergird congregational renewal
When appropriate, preaches on the Sundays he is on-site to share the vision or new direction with the entire membership

Dr. Robert Martin of St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri adds: “the Consulting Pastor emphasizes key theological and organizational principles to help the congregation orient themselves appropriately.”

How Does It Work?

The consultation includes four on-site visits. Once per quarter over the course of a year, the Consulting Pastor will spend the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) with congregational leaders. He is continually available by telephone and email throughout the year.

Each visit consists, for the most part, of conversation. The Consulting Pastor will ask probing questions about the history and current life of the congregation, helping leaders to gain a clear picture of current circumstances. Often it is helpful for the Consulting Pastor to preach on the Sundays that he is on-site, so that the congregation as a whole has a better understanding of the process.

At the conclusion of each visit, leaders are given assignments to carry out over the weeks between visits. Through conversation and written materials, congregational leaders will determine the best option for their church and learn how to implement the option.

Once a church decides to call the Consulting Pastor, every member of the congregation must understand that her/his time is needed for the task. And she/he must understand that this is a process that will unfold over time. There are no quick fixes. And all along the way each member must remain on board with the tasks at hand. Time is the foremost component of the energy required.

At every stage of life, a congregation exhibits particular characteristics that describe its condition. The Consulting Pastor looks at the uniqueness of a church and makes recommendations suited for its situation. The Consulting Pastor does not tell a congregation what to do. He leads a discussion about the options for the church at its particular stage of life.

How Much Does It Cost?

Fees are determined on a case-by-case basis. Once a fee is agreed upon, the church pays half the amount to begin the consultation with the remaining balance due at the conclusion.

Important Points:

The Consulting Pastor is not a member of the staff, but purely a consultant
The Consulting Pastor focuses energy in specified areas that lead the congregation to a new level of revitalization and ministry or helps the congregation see that its life as a community of faith remains in the past
The Consulting Pastor is a person with a calling and standing as a minister of the Gospel
The Consulting Pastor is able to clearly state the overall vision of the church as it is discerned by the congregation
The Consulting Pastor works with congregational leaders in the process of contemplation about the future