Interpersonal Relationship Skills for Ministers

Front Cover
Pelican Publishing, Oct 31, 2004 - Religion - 246 pages

"This book addresses a major need."-Christian Standard

Reports from churches indicate that poor interpersonal relationships are the primary reasons for minister failure. Though they are taught the important skills of how to interpret the Bible, how to discern and articulate doctrine, how to direct worship services, and more, ministers are eventually faced with a congregation. While they may frequently call on some skills and others not at all, interpersonal relationship skills are vital to any ministry.

This book is designed to aid ministers, seminary students, denominational leaders, and church members nurture their relationships with one another and with God, and to help the understanding of oneself and of others that is part of the minister's task.

These essays, from the faculty of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, focus on four areas of concern: relationship with oneself, with family, in the church, and in the community. Above all, these lessons are devised to aid in nurturing a secure setting for effectiveness in the ministry and in service to God.

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Contents

Nurturing a Healthy SelfConcept
25
Developing Communication Skills
33
Learning to Listen
41
Being Assertive
51
Forgiving
59
Your Relationship with Your Family
69
Rewriting Your Family Story
71
Examining Messages from Our Families
83
Your Relationships in Your Church
145
Emotional Intelligence and Spiritual Maturity
147
Learning to Relate to Difficult People
157
Building a Culture for Managing Church Conflict
165
Relating to the Church Staff
175
Relationships at Church A Testimony
183
Your Relationships in Your Community
191
The Importance of Community Ministry and Interpersonal Relationships
193

Receiving the Blessing
91
Getting Dads Approval A Testimony
99
Your Relationships in Your Home
107
Sharing the Joys and Sorrows in Ministry
109
Dining Etiquette
119
Singleness and Ministry
129
Being a Ministers Wife A Testimony
137
How to Work with Other Helping Professionals
205
Decision Making
213
A Church Touching the Community A Testimony
219
Strengthening Your Interpersonal Relationship Skills
229
Notes
233
Recommended Reading
247
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About the author (2004)

Jeanine Bozeman is a licensed clinical social worker who organizes conferences for couples, youth, and family enrichment in the southeast. She is currently the chair of the Division of Education Ministries and a professor of social work at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Mrs. Bozeman has published articles on a number of relationship issues in national publications.

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