A Real World naivet can and does send these church leaders into a world unprepared to deal with real people and real issues. Ministers, often the focal congregational spiritual leaders, may lack individual spirituality necessary for such critical leadership. This critical issue may leave ministers wondering where they can find a Safe Environment in which to be sustained spiritually. Complexity is often used to define ministry today. Culture, organizations, relationships, and the world in general have grown significantly in complexity.
Ministers are often ill equipped to lead congregations with such perplexity.
An analogy of this dilemma might be a dot to dot book which never has any of the dots connected. Offering supportive relationships from experienced minister couples with the passion, skills, and commitment to minister to ministers. Facilitating networking among ministers as a result of relationships formed or strengthened at sabbatical retreats. Assisting ministers in severe crisis with emergency intervention by qualified resource persons. Providing telephone coaching to ministers struggling with personal or professional issues.