Professional Dissertations DMin

Date of Award

2008

Document Type

Project Report

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Doctor of Ministry DMin

First Advisor

Walton A. Williams

Second Advisor

Philip Samaan

Third Advisor

James J. North, Jr.

Abstract

Problem

During my first ten years of ministry I discovered that I was in a lonely work with little peer-interaction or stimulation. Sporadic attempts to find peer- support and friendship among other pastors left me feeling only slightly encouraged. I was concerned that I was not being challenged by another peer or group of peers or held accountable to any particular goals personally or professionally.

Method

This research presents a model where pastors came together from various churches and denominations in a small town setting, and developed peer-coaching relationships for the purpose of improving their personal and ministry goals. Peer coaching is a relation based process through which two or more professional colleagues work together to assess current challenges. Through collaboratively learned coaching skills they apply goal setting, action steps and accountability exercises in order to help each other experience greater fruitfulness and fulfillment in their lives. In order to determine if the participating pastors also desired a collaborative and accountable relationship with other pastors I administered a questionnaire at the beginning of the process. Another questionnaire was administered at the end of the four month experimentation time. Next I explored what the Bible said about accountability and peer relationships to determine that what we were doing was according to Scripture. I also researched any guidelines from Adventist theology of the church and Ellen White counsel to find support for interfaith collaboration.

Results

The six participants of the Interfaith Pastors’ Peer Coaching Group were very positive about their experience and indicated that they would like to continue similar peer-coaching accountable relationships for the sake of experiencing greater fruitfulness and fulfillment in their professional and personal lives.

Conclusion

In my opinion pastors of all Protestant denominations would benefit from developing peer-coaching relationships with other pastors in their local vicinity. Whether the pastor would be in a one-on-one peer partnering or in a peer-coaching group with several pastors, the result would be a clearer understanding of what God has called the individual to do in their life and perish. There would be a safety net of support and accountability that would sustain continued positive, healthy growth both personally and professionally.

Subject Area

Seventh-day Adventists--Arkansas--Gentry; Clergy--Professional relationships; Clergy--Arkansas--Gentry; Seventh-day Adventists--Clergy--Professional relationships; Seventh-day Adventists--Clergy--Arkansas--Gentry; Career development; Professional associations

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

DOI

https:dx.doi.org/10.32597/dmin/664

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