FOR PASTORS
Professional Development
All persons accredited with Baptist Churches of South Australia should have a current Professional Development Plan, which is reviewed every three years. The following documents and links might be useful in completing and updating this plan.
Professional Development Ideas
Various professional development opportunities, resources, and ideas for pastors
Invisible
Study
Tabor Courses:
- Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction
- Graduate Diploma in Counselling
- Graduate Diploma in Leadership
- Graduate Certificate in Biblical Preaching
- Graduate Certificate in Counselling
- Graduate Certificate in Divinity
Bible College SA Courses:
- Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma of Ministry
- Master of Arts (Ministry or Theology)
- Master of Theology
Other SA 2023 Intensives:
Online courses:
- SENT (Church Planting Certificate), Morling College
- Israel Bible Center, Jewish backgrounds to the Bible
- Fuller Seminary (US), Master of Arts (Theology) online
- Zondervan MasterLectures, Biblical and Ministry video lectures from leading scholars
Conferences
Retreats
- Prayer Retreat at Sevenhill: 30 May – 2 June, 2023
- Renewal Retreat groups
- Sevenhill, Clare Valley, 3-7 Day retreats
- Wellspring Centre (VIC), 1-6 day retreats
Seminars and Workshops
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- Elijah Brown – Baptist World Alliance Seminar, Tuesday 21 March 2023, Enfield Baptist Church
Practical courses run by community organisations:
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
- Mental Health First Aid Courses, Holdfast Training, Red Cross, St Johns
- First Aid Courses, Holdfast Training
- Not-for-profit finances for managers and board members, Our Community
Online preaching resources
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- Sermonsmith podcast – interviews with preachers on their preparation and practice
- Preaching Today podcast – preaching tools explored using a well-known preacher’s sermon
- Something to Say, Rob Bell on how to communicate effectively (donation of $1+ required)
- The Craft of Preaching, online videos from Luther Seminary US conferences
Recommended reading (recommended by fellow pastors)
- Big Yes, Little Yes, Healthy Maybe, Mark Greenwood (2020)
- Reappearing Church: The Hope for Renewal in the Rise of Our Post-Christian Culture, Mark Sayers (2019)
- Becoming Dallas Willard: The Formation of a Philosopher, Teacher and Christ Follower, Gary Moon (2018)
- Evangelism in a Skeptical World, Sam Chan (2018)
- The Culturally Intelligent Leader: Developing Multi-ethnic Communities in a Multicultural Age, Hirpo Kumbi (2017)
- You are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit, James K. A. Smith (2016)
- Faithful Presence: Seven Disciplines That Shape the Church for Mission, David E. Fitch (2016)
- Planting Missional Churches: Your Guide to Starting Churches that Multiply, Ed Stetzer and Daniel Im (2016)
- Strange Days: Life in the Spirit in a World of Upheaval, Mark Sayers (2016)
- The Listening Life: Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction, Adam McHugh (2015)
- Surprise the World: The Five Habits of Highly Missional People, Michael Frost (2015)
- The Suburban Captivity of the Church, Tim Foster (2014)
- Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now, Walter Brueggemann (2014)
- Surprised by Scripture: Engaging Contemporary Issues, NT Wright (2014)
- Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City, Tim Keller (2012)
- The Great Giveaway: Reclaiming the Mission of the Church from Big Business, Parachurch Organizations, Psychotherapy, Consumer Capitalism and other Modern Maladies (2012)
- Sticky Faith: Everyday Ideas to Build Lasting Faith in Your Kids, Kara E. Powell and Chap Clark (2011)
- You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving the Church … and Rethinking Faith, David Kinnaman (2011)
- Redescribing Reality: What we Do When we Read the Bible, Walter Brueggemann (2009)
- Christian Mission in the Modern World, John Stott (2009)
- Ten Most Common Mistakes Made by Church Starts, Jim Griffith and Bill Easum (2008)
- Communicating for a Change: Seven Keys to Irresistible Communication, Andy Stanley and Lane Jones (2008)
- We Become What we Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry, G. K. Beale (2008)
- Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation, Ruth Haley Barton (2006)
- Evangelism in the Early Church, Michael Green (2004)
- Know and Tell the Gospel, John Chapman (2002)
- Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult, Nick Pollard (1997)
- Finally Comes the Poet: Daring Speech for Proclamation, Walter Brueggemann (1989)
- Living Proof: Sharing the Gospel Naturally, Jim Peterson (1988)