Since the 1977 release of Gail Sheehy’s book Passages, people are aware of the phases of adult life. The pastor’s life also has its phases. The following books deal with various stages of the ministry.
Arnold, Oren. Guide Yourself through Old Age. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1976. Step-by-step help to making the most of the senior years.
Bolles, Richard Nelson. The Three Boxes of Life. Berkeley, Calif.: Ten Speed Press, 1978. Making the transition from one stage of life to another without getting boxed in.
Brister, C. W., James L. Cooper, and J. David Fite. Beginning Your Ministry. Nashville: Abingdon, 1981. Designed to help new pastors with the adjustments and tensions.
Calian, Carnegie Samuel. Today’s Pastor in Tomorrow’s World. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1982. How pastors can adapt themselves and their ministries to changing times.
Carlson, Dwight L. Run and Not Be Weary. Old Tappan, N.J.: Revell, 1974. Helpful reading for the rundown leader who wants to quit and move on to greener grass.
Clifford, Paul Rowntree. The Pastoral Calling. Great Neck, N.Y.: Channel 1961. One of the few books available on the subject of the initial call to ministry.
Clinebell, Howard J. Growth Counseling for Mid-Years Couples. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1977. Thought-provoking for the middle-aged minister and spouse to read together.
Conway, Jim. Men in Mid-Life Crisis. Elgin, Ill.: Cook, 1978. A Christian perspective on issues facing men aged thirty-five to sixty.
Engstrom, Ted. The Pursuit of Excellence. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982. Overview of the process of being all God wants us to be. Especially useful in rebounding from failure.
Gillaspie, Gerald Whiteman. The Restless Pastor. Chicago: Moody, 1974. The pros and cons of longevity, when to resign, and how to start fresh.
Green, Michael. Called to Serve. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981. A frank discussion of the servant orientation needed for effective church ministry.
Grider, Edgar M. Can I Make It One More Year? Atlanta: Knox, 1980. A penetrating look at the issues that make ministers want to leave their churches.
Hahn, Celia A. The Minister Is Leaving. New York: Seabury, 1974. The effect of pastoral termination upon the parish and the minister.
Harris, John C. The Minister Looks for a Job. Washington: Alban Institute, 1977. Covers the special factors a pastor must take into account in a job search.
Kemper, Robert G. Beginning a New Pastorate. Nashville: Abingdon, 1978. Discusses termination from one pastorate and the interviewing, candidating, deciding, and planning involved in starting a new one.
Kirk, Richard J. The Pastor and Church Face Retirement. Washington: Alban Institute, 1979. Planning for the final passage out of full-time ministry.
Miller, Arthur F. and Ralph T. Mattson, eds. The Truth about You. Old Tappan, N.J.: Revell, 1977. “What you should be doing with your life.” Helpful resource regarding career changes.
Ortlund, Raymond C. Intersections. Waco, Texas: Word, 1979. Meeting Christ at all of life’s junctions.
Oswald, Roy M. The Pastor as Newcomer. Washington: Alban Institute, 1977. Discusses the stages of enthusiasm, frustration, and stability experienced by pastor and parish.
Paul, Cecil R. Passages of a Pastor. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981. “Coping with yourself and God’s people” from initial ministry to retirement.
Ragsdale, Ray W. The Mid-Life Crisis of a Minister. Waco, Texas: Word, 1978. Covers stages of various crises with a positive emphasis on making the most of the middle years.
Rand, William J. Jr. The Probationers Handbook. Burlingame, Calif.: Burlingame Press, 1981. Forty-eight questions often asked by United Methodist ministers in their first appointments.
Sanford, John A. Ministry Burnout. New York: Paulist, 1982. Help for the minister who feels ready to wear out.
Segler, Franklin M. Alive and Past Sixty-Five. Nashville: Broadman, 1975. Aging as it confronts the church.
Sheehy, Gail. Passages. New York: Bantam, 1977. The popular work on predictable crises of the adult life.
Smith, Oswald J. The Man God Uses. London: Marshall, Morgan, and Scott, 1932. A classic regarding the call to the Christian ministry.
Tournier, Paul. The Adventure of Living. New York: Harper & Row, 1976. Perspectives on facing challenges of life directed by God.
Tournier, Paul. Learn to Grow Old. New York: Harper & Row, 1973. A candid look at the ways to age with grace.
Whiston, Lionel A. Enjoy the Journey. Waco, Texas: Word, 1972. Learning to live life to the fullest amid all its transitions.
Zeluff, Daniel. There’s Algae in the Baptismal ‘Fount.’ Nashville: Abingdon, 1978. A counselor of pastors identifies and discusses the most common syndromes that discourage ministers.
Copyright © 1983 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal. Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.
