When current LCMS church workers were asked by What a Way who influenced them most to consider a church work career, workers said pastors, family, and teachers were the MOST influential.

     29% Pastors

     28% Family

     22% Christian Teachers

How can one address the ubiquitous problem of burnout?  1.  Listen to what your body, mind, and spirit are telling you.  2. Resist the poison of unrealistic expectations.  3. Find someone to talk to.  4. Practice progressive knowledge.  Stay in the Word – meditate on it, pray it.  This sound advice was written by Dr. John Hirsch, Director of Congregational and Worker Care, LCMS Texas District, “Burnout has no boundaries,” in October 2009 Texas Messenger.

I want to alert you to a resource “Doorways to Responsible Health.”  It is a collection of 26 health topics presented by 18 different Lutheran physicians and health professionals aimed at good preventative health and wellness for our church workers and laity.  Dr. John Eckrich, Executive Director, Grace Place, believes it is one of the best health resources ever produced in Lutheran circles.  You may preview it in its entirety by accessing our partner’s website:  www.graceplaceretreats.org  and then scroll to Health and Wellness.

If you’re a pastor, teacher, or other professional church worker who is paying off federal student loans, you might benefit from two debt-reduction programs now offered by the U.S. Department of Education.

For those who qualify, the programs can drastically lower monthly payments on student loans, and forgive the unpaid remainder after 10 years of service to a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, which may include churches, church-sponsored schools, or other entities.

For information, visit http://www.ibrinfo.org, which features an online calculator that can be used to determine eligibility.

Have you been under the impression that congregational conflict is getting worse? The National Congregations Study of conflict in congregations finds the same frequency of conflict now as 10 years ago.  Cf. LCMS E-News from the Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support “Focus on Workers of the Church” 11 Nov 09.

Pastor Smith and I had an extended conversation about church worker incentives in years past, e.g., status, growth, and addressed the question what incentives there might be to enter church work today.  He and I agreed that one near the top of the list is the mutual conversation and consolation of brothers and sisters in ministry.  What a joy it is to serve with fellow church workers, loving one another and caring for one another and engaging in fruitful conversation that edifies one another!

The level of debt one can reasonably manage is related to the level of income. Obviously, the higher your income the more debt you might reasonably expect to manage.

The Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support (CMGS) has recently added a Debt-to-income Analysis Calculator to their web site (http://www.lcms.org/ca/cmgs/debtcalc/debtcalc.asp). To get a rough idea of your own level of financial balance, click on the link, insert your financial information in the boxes and click on “calculate” to receive information about your own “financial balance.”

Check out the Consumer Purchase Payment Calculator (http://www.lcms.org/ca/cmgs/purchasecalc/01/). Click on the link, put in the information requested, and then calculate to get an idea of the monthly payments for a larger purchase. Also, find out what the total cost of the item will be when including the interest charged for the loan.
Visit the CMGS web site (cmgs.lcms.org).

If you are concerned about your debt level and desire competent counsel and assistance contact, Eustolio Gomez, Concordia Plan Services, 314.965.9000 or Eustolio.Gomez@lcms.org

Today I was working on the idea of vocation, and I read Gene Veith’s “God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life.” I recommend it. He will give you a fresh and inspiring take on your life. For anyone trying to “find” their vocation, how about asking yourself, “What is God calling me to do?” And please note, that vocation is probably multiple callings in different realms–the workplace, the family, the society, and the church. Serve God and your neighbor!

A new BLOG!  BEHOLD!  BLAST OFF!

Welcome to What a Way!

Communication is key.  And we are all about communication—email, web site, blog, Facebook, and Twitter.  Stay with us!

I will attend to the blog.  Tuesdays and Thursdays, for the most part, will be days to check in for new talk.  We’ll work hard to get your attention and keep it.

Three things encompass our conversations:

• recruitment of church workers
• retention of church workers, and
• encouragement/support of church workers.

Engage with us to stay abreast of the latest ideas and suggestions in these areas.  We’re the best to help you identify church workers, to help you encourage church workers, and to help you retain church workers!

SO, talk to me.  Write me.  Converse with me!  Turning to one another with thoughts, ideas, and actions we can flat out be the best, staying on top of this exciting adventure!  When you participate, we shout, “What a Way . . . to make a difference!”

Dean