Ten Commandments for Pastors New to a Congregation

The opening months of a new pastorate are decisive for how that ministry will unfold, so great care should be taken to begin wisely and well. Simply transplanting programs and habits that worked elsewhere, ignoring the specific dynamics of the new congregation and its people, making too few significant changes or making too many insignificant changes will create problems for the new pastor that may never be overcome. Ten Commandments for Pastors New to a Congregation offers specific, down-to-earth principles, and guidance on how to make a good beginning, one that will lay the foundation for years of fruitful ministry.

Lawrence W. Farris, who has served three pastorates in Maryland and Michigan, is a consultant on preaching, spirituality and ministry, and he teaches comparative religion at Glen Oaks Community College, Centreville, Michigan