Ramey, Robert H., Jr. The Pastor's Start-Up Manual: Beginning a New Pastorate. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995.
Here are the quotes I wrote down in a composition notebook I've been keeping of good ministry truths since 2005.
The first job for every pastor is to accurately define reality in his or her congregation and community. The second job is to exhibit a person behavior pattern that fits the church's needs at this time in its history. The third job is to help people set an energizing vision for the future regarding what God calls this congregation to be and do. The fourth job is to patiently keep on keeping on while people cross the Red Sea of obstacles that always lies between today and tomorrow (Herb Miller, foreword, 9)
the goal for any minister in beginning a new pastorate is to lead the church as the people of God to be a sign, foretaste, and instrument of God's reign. (16)
A collaborative leadership style will result in greater mission accomplishment and also in better personal relationships. (27)
no one ever said that a meaningful ministry could be developed overnight. (36)
Pastoral care is the most important skill ministers need in the context of the small membership church. (40)
Your congregation is an open system. In other words, it has permeable boundaries so that there is a flow between the environment and the congregation. (52)
Particularly in a small church, members will embrace a new proposal if they conclude that the proposal really grows out of who they are rather than constituting a new project. (75)
It is usually prudent to delay major recommendations for change for six months to a year. (77)
The primary key to time management, then, is self-management. If you cannot manage your self, you will never manage time. (84)
Vilfredo Pareto said that 20 percent of the activities you engage in--the "Vital Few" situations or problems--will produce 80 percent of your achievable results. By the same token 80 percent of the activities you engage in--the "Token Many" situations or problems--produce 20 percent of your achievable results.
Whether your dreams ever come true in ministry you need to keep four aspects of ministry in tight focus: a guiding image, an evolving plan, a strengthening fellowship, and a nourishing Center. Focusing on these four aspects of ministry will help you stay the course. More than that, you will become increasingly faithful and effective. (113-114)
Without new learning, however, any professional person soon becomes incompetent. (115)
This is a great, little book. I would especially recommend it for my colleagues still in seminary that are headed out into the pastorate for the very first time, though it is also helpful for those who are leaving one assignment for a new calling.
If anyone wants to buy me Scott Daniels' The First 100 Days, I'd more than gladly read it, review it, and compare it to this book as well.
