Category Archives: Ministry

Just Whose Idea Was It?

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

Will Willimon notes: Ministry, in any of its forms, is always God’s idea before it is ours. While we may eventually enjoy our clerical vocation, we do it first of all not because it causes us bliss but rather because … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Discipleship, Ministry, United Methodism, Will Willimon | Leave a comment

A Baptism of Repentance

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

John the Baptist is described in the Gospels as preaching a “baptism of repentance.” In the descriptions of his ministry in the Gospels we see people coming to him, confessing their sins. Matthew tells us that when Jesus comes to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Ecclesiology, Ministry, Theology | Leave a comment

Strange

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

I feel strange. Tomorrow morning is the first Sunday since early July 1991 that I will wake up without feeling primary responsibility for a congregation. This week I’ve taken up a new job, a non-pastoral job. I’m now part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ministry | 3 Comments

Temporary Beauty

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

In the mid-1950s First Methodist and First Baptist Churches in my town both had 50 year old buildings that were showing their age. Ministry styles had changed over that time and the buildings that suited the congregations at the turn … Continue reading →

Posted in Local church, Ministry | 1 Comment

Honor and Respect

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

One of my ministry principles is to give as much honor and respect as possible to everyone. Some people happen to deserve it. Others, because they are given honor and respect, will come to deserve it. This honor and respect … Continue reading →

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Making a Difference

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

I haven’t been very regular in my posting lately. I observe that just as my last post begins with a quote from Stanley (Hauerwas), while this one will draw – partly – from a quote from another Stanley (Fish). In … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, Ministry, Politics | 2 Comments

Care or Cure?

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

Stanley Hauerwas: “One of the demonic things that has happened to medicine is to change its purpose from care to cure, and that puts an unbelievable burden on doctors. It gives them a lot of power, but they break apart … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care, Local church, Ministry, Stanley Hauerwas | Leave a comment

Mission Field Appointments

Posted on August 26, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

The Texas Annual Conference is now implementing a policy of making “mission field appointments (document is a pdf).” Here’s a key part of the document: In a series of conversations around the question “who is our client,” the cabinet (center … Continue reading →

Posted in Ministry, Missions, Texas Annual Conference, United Methodism | 4 Comments

The Best Measure

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

What’s the best measure of effective ministry? What do we look for if we want to figure out whether effective ministry is happening or not? Our first tendency is to look at the numbers. The bigger the numbers, the higher … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Local church, Ministry | Leave a comment

The problem of technology

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

I read a fair number of books. When they grab me, I’ll apply myself and read them quickly. When they don’t,  I’ll work more slowly. Albert Borgman’s Power Failure: Christianity in the Culture of Technology is one of the latter. … Continue reading →

Posted in Albert Borgmann, church growth, Max Weber, Ministry, United Methodism | 1 Comment