With permission, I had to go to next weeks topic, I will come back to this topic in a few days once the person I contacted gets back with me (had a death in the family)

For NOW....

11. Mistakes Ministers Make

Interviewed Tammy Dunn on 3/16/09.

3 mistakes new staffers should avoid making.

1. Don't connect (align youself) with anyone in particular for the first 6 months. Unfortuneately, there are people in churches who do not have your best interest at heart, but their own. Make sure you know the political layout of a church before you spend more than one meal with an individual person/couple/family.

2. Don't make any changes the first 3-6 months. See it as only a learning experience and understanding the layout of the land before you make any changes.

3. Don't ask for any additional time that wasn't already agreed upon you being hired for the first 3 months and if at all possible the first 6 months. Those first 6 months is when the pastor, staff and congregation will make their impression upon who you are, what type of person, worker, minister, etc... you are. Do not let them jump to any unnecessary conclustions. In fact if you spend the first 3 months coming early and staying late you will have set an impression on people that you are a real worker and after that 6 months they will tell you that you need to take time off, which is much better than them complaining because you don't work.