Praise for Wind and Whirlwind
This is truly an inspirational and immensely helpful book. David Moffett- Moore lived through one of the most difficult experiences a pastor can possibly endure. By reflecting deeply on his own personal crisis in ministry, he has written a wonderful guide for other pastors as well as for those who care about them. While this book will benefit clergy immensely, it will also serve as a great resource for members of congregations as well. In this relatively short book, he provides a cogent analysis of current ecclesiastical realities and their impact upon clergy. However, this book does not stop with analysis. Through the simple meditations he suggests and the questions he provides, David Moffett- Moore offers all of his readers useful tools for personal growth and understanding. In doing so, he makes a major contribution to clergy-congregation relationships. This is a significant book!
Rev. Dr. Robert R. LaRochelle
Pastor, Second Congregational Church, UCC, Manchester, CT
For clergy who have time to read only one book on congregational conflict, it should be Wind and Whirlwind. After providing a concise, but thorough, summary of cultural changes and their impact on congregational life, Moffett-Moore offers wise counsel on practices congregations and their leaders can adopt to manage any conflict that may emerge, from its inception. Couched within a description of Moffett-Moore’s own personal experience of finding himself at the center of congregational conflict as a pastor, and peppered with the illustrations one would expect of a good preacher, Wind and Whirlwind is thoroughly engaging and readable. An excellent resource both for clergy and for use with congregational leaders.
Rev. Lolly Dominski
President, Academy of Parish Clergy
Morton Grove Community Church, Presbyterian, Morton Grove, Illinois
PhD Candidate in Liturgical Studies,
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
David Moffett-Moore’s book, Wind and Whirlwind is a thoughtful and inspiring manuscript. The questions at the end for reflection and meditation offer an important spiritual grounding consistent with kinds of practices that allow clergy to cope with these types of challenges. At some point in their careers, most clergy hit a snag in their ministries and become the focus of their congregation’s angst. David does an excellent job of describing this overwhelming and devastating experience with candor and grace. But the most important thing he does is to role model how to get grounded when this happens, how to find support, how to take responsibility for the growth opportunity this presents and how to continue to lead in the midst of managing one’s own feelings. This should be required reading for all clergy early in their careers.
Susan Nienaber
Senior Consultant
The Alban Institute
No mere armchair advice. As a pastor who has survived the storms of conflict, David Moffett-Moore provides bearings and invites you to celebrate. “Most jobs have a ‘to do’ list. Ministry has a ‘to be’ list.” Moffett-Moore models authentic “spiritual calisthenics”—practices to reorient your own body, mind and spirit for serving well.
Rev. Dr. Kent Ira Groff, APC
retreat leader, spiritual companion
and author of Clergy Table Talk and Honest to God Prayer
WIND AND WHIRLWIND
Being a Pastor
in a Storm of Change
By David Moffett-Moore, APC
Conversations in Ministry Series
Robert D. Cornwall, APC, Editor
Energion Publications
Gonzalez, FL
2013
Copyright © 2013, David Moffett-Moore
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (NRSV), copyright © 1989 by the Division of the Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.
Cover Design: Nick May
EPub Edition
Print ISBNs:
ISBN10: 1-938434-55-2
ISBN13: 978-1-938434-55-6
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013932756
Energion Publications
P. O. Box 847
Gonzalez, FL 32560
850-525-3916
energionpubs.com
Acknowledgements
Every play has a cast and every story has its characters. This book was inspired by the true story of our life together at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, Frankfort Illinois. I am grateful to the congregation and their willingness to work together with me as their pastor. Together, we found a way to become a glad and resilient church, as described later. I am grateful for their trust, determination and especially their friendship.
This book would not exist without the members of the Academy of Parish Clergy, their sponsorship of this series and the advice and encouragement they have offered. This is especially true for Rev. Dr. Bob Cornwall, series editor, and Rev. Dr. Kent Ira Groff, author of the first volume. I’ve long dreamed of being an author. They harnessed that dream and made it a reality.
My father, Rev. John Moore, continues to be my mentor who guides and inspires me. My wife, Becki, has been more than companion and friend through these years. Her listening ear and supporting spirit have been more nourishing than food or drink.
Every play needs an audience and every book a reader, so I acknowledge you, the reader. Without you, this would only be an exercise in self-examination and reflection. I hope this sharing of my story will inspire you to be more than a reader, motivate you to actively participate in your congregation’s story and encourage you to stay the course and finish the task.
Series Preface
Parish ministry can be an exciting and challenging vocation. This has always been the case, but it is perhaps even truer today. At least in the European and North American contexts, institutional forms of religion are finding themselves pushed to the sidelines. Their purpose and value has been questioned, and with these questions come further questions about the professional status of those who are called to serve these congregations.
A generation ago, congregational ministers might see themselves as members of a professional class, similar to that of medical doctors and attorneys. The Academy of Parish Clergy, the sponsor of this book series, was founded with just that vision – to encourage and enhance the professional practice of parish ministry. This was to be accomplished by setting professional standards, including the encouragement to engage in regular continuing education, and then providing a means of accountability to those standards. Although the broader culture
