You love your work. You love the people--most of the time. They respect you, most of the time. You work together with colleagues, staff, and laity, with energy and enthusiasm, most of the time. But then something goes wrong: a word spoken in anger, a misunderstanding, and things turn sour. What do you do? How do you deal with conflict, whether it be long or short-term, low or high intensity?

Conflict is a part of the human predicament, yet it need not define or control your ministry. This book is designed to help the reader ask certain key questions about the nature and scope of...

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Norma Cook Everist contends that it is meaningful to say that in ministries of administration, outreach, and pastoral care, the church is functioning as a learning community. Whenever and wherever Christians are being formed into the image of Jesus Christ through ministry, there Christian education is taking place. Christian education is the name we give to that process of formation.

Building on this central insight, Everist has written a major new introduction to the tasks and practices of Christian education. Part 1...

One of the difficulties women clergy face is the lack of mentors. Although women make up a sizable percentage of parish clergy, once out of seminary they often experience isolation and lack of contact with other women in professional ministry. This situation is especially problematic as women's experience of the tasks and roles of ministry differ from those of men, sometimes subtly, sometimes more so. Where do they turn for help in figuring out the ups and downs of following God's call into ministry as a woman? How can the men with whom they work understand the challenges their female...