Tag Archives: church leadership

What the vicar did for the past six months (timesheets)

Posted on March 11, 2014 by neilrobbie

So I’ve run Timerecorder App on my phone for six months now and the graph below shows where my time has been spent. In order from most time spent to least, the work of organisation and communication (which includes meetings) … Continue reading →

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Why are we all so piggin’ tired?

Posted on December 3, 2013 by neilrobbie

I get quite tired being a vicar (that’s classic British understatement for often suffering exhaustion).  I’ve noticed others talking about being tired or stressed in ministry, (see Mez McConnel’s post from last week, 15 ways to avoid burn out when … Continue reading →

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Dave Harvey “Am I called” – a review

Posted on October 17, 2012 by neilrobbie

I’ve been a pastor for three and a half years. Dave Harvey has been a pastor and church planter for 30 years and has served on the leadership team of Sovereign Grace Ministries for 17 years.  His book “Am I … Continue reading →

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Getting things done. How do vicars do it?

Posted on September 11, 2012 by neilrobbie

I’ve always been a big picture thinker. When I was an engineer, in my previous life, I loved designing steel frames for buildings but I hated detailing the connections. I moved from design to marketing and sales, and there I … Continue reading →

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On making it alright to crumble sometimes

Posted on February 9, 2012 by neilrobbie

I’ve had a pretty rough six months or so in ministry such that by Christmas I was clinging on by my fingernails.  I had lost sight of God and wondered if he’d forgotten to be merciful (Ps 77:1-9).  I clung … Continue reading →

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Leadership 1.0.1: Don’t focus on church life but on Christ

Posted on February 6, 2012 by neilrobbie

A couple of articles I’ve read recently have combined to help me think about church leadership and the gospel.  The first comes from the current issue of The Briefing and the second from Church Unique by Will Mancini.  Here’s the … Continue reading →

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Leadership and growth by appraisal

Posted on June 28, 2011 by neilrobbie

I’ve been a vicar for just over two years and have recently completed my MDR (Ministry Development Review) and am now in an 18-month leadership training programme both of which involve feedback and appraisal from key members of the church. … Continue reading →

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Curates. Beware of the step!

Posted on June 20, 2011 by neilrobbie

I’m interested to know what advice new incumbents [or pastors] might give to curates [or assistant ministers] whilst the experience of stepping up from the number two position to number one in church life is still fresh. I have been … Continue reading →

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Developing leadership in a changing church

Posted on June 9, 2011 by neilrobbie

I am one of 12 new incumbents (vicars) on an 18-month training programme called “developing leadership in a changing church.”  The programme has been run for ten years by four Church of England dioceses; Lichfield, Coventry, Birmingham and Worcester.  The … Continue reading →

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Effectiveness = creativity x order

Posted on April 11, 2011 by neilrobbie

At a time management course last week, the following equation was thrown in to encourage the creative to be more orderly and the orderly to be more creative. Effectiveness = creativity x order The equation presses a biblical button as … Continue reading →

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