1. Why are some pastors more effective and passionate than others?

  2. How can pastors renew their sense of calling?

  3. Why do some pastors who begin well seem unable to sustain?

  4. How can a pastor provide the key that will unlock a congregation's vision?

These questions and others are being answered in a new series of retreats and seminars being offered by The Pastors Institute of Anderson, IN.

If you are responsible for providing resources that will make a difference in the climate and effectiveness of congregations, The Pastors Institute can help.  you offer to your pastors the opportunities that will allow them to consider the patterns and relationships that are critical for developing effective and sustainable leadership.

One hundred percent of the participants in a recent pastor/spouse retreat rated The Pastors Institute’s presentation either as very good (67%) or good (33%). The relevance of the retreat’s content also was rated highly effective, (64%--very good and 36%--good).

The Pastors Institute can provide a retreat or seminar that will help your pastors focus on values, character and their call to ministry. We also believe that our presentations will raise the level of attendance and participation at such events.

Read below the summaries of some our resources, and contact us if you would like more information.

RETREATS

(click any topic for more information)

The Pastors Relational Web

The Pastor's Spouse--Roles and Types

Hearing Your call Speak Again

What Former Pastors Want You to Know

The Pastors Institute recommends that pastors' retreats be preceded by participants completing the SPEI. Aggregate results can be used to customize the retreat for greater effectiveness. Click here, SPEI, for more information.
SEMINARS

The Pastors Institute offers seminars that focus on issues relevant to 21st Century pastoring. Some are described below. Also, the retreats noted above can be segmented into stand-alone seminars.

The Pastor's Call and the Congregation's Vision: The pastor is the key in most churches to the development of a congregational vision. A pastor may have a call, but healthy congregations share a corporate calling. This seminar focuses on how a collective vision can form and grow when the pastor develops a climate of servanthood and community.

A Primer for New Pastors: Having a good start is important to building and maintaining effective pastoring. This seminar focuses on establishing early healthy patterns and concepts.

The Stages of Pastoring: It is a fact of life that there are stages of faith and moral development. Pastoral ministry also has stages that normally are experienced by healthy pastors. This seminar helps pastors to expect and understand the value of the four stages of pastoral development.
WHY OUR RESOURCES ARE DIFFERENT

They focus on process.

They are based on research and feedback.

They are relevant to 21st Century pastoring.

They feature self-discovery and group dynamics.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

One of The Pastors Institute's core values is to partner with denominations and other organizations to provide tools that will help pastors effectively fulfill their call. Much of our success has been the result of our commitment to focus on issues that are pertinent to 21st century pastoring.

We do not train pastors. We help them center on their call and its implications to character, relationships and roles. We provide seminars and retreats, often described as fun and relaxed, which focus on the issues that define, build and sustain pastoral excellence.

Please contact us if you want more information about our resources.

One last thing. If you know  others who might be interested in our resources, email them a link to this page.

Michael B. Ross

Executive Director

Note: Michael formed the Pastors Institute in 1999 to provide research-based resources for pastors and their families. He is ordained by the Church of the Nazarene and has pastored numerous churches, mostly in the South and Midwest.

He has a Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University's School of Theology. Diana Ross, Michael's wife, is the Dean of the School of Education at Anderson University where Michael also teaches part-time. They have two adult children.