It is very much in the interests of churches and sessions in the CRCA to ensure that pastors are spiritually and emotionally healthy and that they are continuing to sharpen their skills for ministry. We would, therefore, like to encourage sessions to fully support the Professional Development Process and to also take an active interest in the participation of their local pastor in the process. This is not envisaged as primarily a supervisory involvement, rather as part and parcel of the fulfilment of the mandate that local sessions have to ‘look after’ their pastor in different areas of his personal and professional life.
These questions could be asked regularly at Church council/session meetings, Classis meetings, and/or during church visitation:
- What is your church council/ session doing to ensure your minister has developed a plan for ongoing learning, both personally and professionally, and is progressing in that plan? What resources could you make available to assist with that (e.g. time, finances, coaching etc.)?
- What are you doing, as a minister, in terms of your personal and professional development? What would you need to do to further fulfil your PDP plan? What has provided you with the greatest spiritual growth/ learning/ skill development that may be of value for your colleagues in Classis?
The process for developing a Professional Development Plan (PDP) for CRCA pastors is available for download below. PDP participants will more than likely develop their plans in consultation with their families, sessions, colleagues, mentors, church leaders or members, or whatever combination may apply best to their situation.
 Professional Development Process |
