New Shepherds Orientation Workshop, Smyrna, Tennessee

The fifth New Shepherds Orientation Workshop was conducted with the elders, ministers, and spouses of the Smyrna Church of Christ, Smyrna, Tennessee, February 23-25. We met at NHC in Murfreesboro Friday night and Saturday. We enjoyed a delicious meal together at The Chop House Saturday night after closing the workshop at 5:00.

I stayed over Saturday night, taught the Bible class and preached at worship on Sunday.

Thanks to Chad Landman for his work in the layout and design of the workshop book.

The topics:
Bible class: Leadership in the Lord’s Church Is a Gift — Not a Grind
Worship: What Do You Say in Your Last Elders’ Meeting? This is graduation from the workshop for the shepherds.

I was encouraged by the training these leaders had in the past, the focus they maintained wanting to improve in being shepherds, and their enthusiastic participation during the entire workshop.

The elders, ministers, and spouses of the Smyrna Church of Christ: Bill and Shirley Cato, Todd and Nina Foutch, David and Lynette Henderson, Gary and Lisa Hickerson, Bill and Pam Jordan, Tim and Sally Lavender, Paul and Pam Lewis, Rob and Jen Hartman, Bill and Sue Townes, Aaron and Chelsea Tremblay, Kristie and Jason Waldron, James and Jane Watson.

The Trash Can is always available for any suggestion you don’t want to take home.

Topics we discussed:

• How can elders shepherd each other?
• How will we grow together as a group?
• How will we handle criticism?
• What is a good plan to be sure we’re caring for all sheep?
• How can we relate to deacons and encourage them?
• How will we develop as overseers as well as shepherds?
• How will we oversee each other?
• What can we do to keep important things from falling through the cracks?
• Will we function as deacons and be called elders?
• When there isn’t unanimous consent on an issue, will we have minority or majority rule?
• How can we prevent the development of a toxic “head elder”?
• What’s one thing we can do to prevent conflict and promote peace?
• How will we evaluate, encourage, and build up deacons, preachers, and each other?
• How should an elder’s wife respond to criticism of her husband?
• What should she do when people want her to deliver messages to her husband?
• How can the shepherd’s wife and other Christians minimize gossip in the congregation?
• What will we do to develop dedicated disciples of Jesus who will serve as shepherds and deacons in the future?
• What are some ways we can have good communication with the congregation?
• What are different kinds of meetings we should have to lead and shepherd this church?
• Who should select additional leaders in this congregation?
• What’s a good way to facilitate selection?
• How will we encourage and express gratitude to members of the congregation?

Eating together adds a dimenstion we don’t get in our regular meetings.

My Recommendations for a New Shepherds Orientation Workshop

1. Involve all elders, preachers, and wives.
2. Meet offsite — away from the church building.
3. Work twelve hours together.
4. Sunday morning Bible study.
5. Sunday sermon.

I have time for a limited number of workshops in 2018. If you have an interest or would like to ask questions, please contact me:

Cell: (615) 584-0512

Email: jerrie@barberclippings.com

What would you like to see included in an orientation workshop for new shepherds and encouragement for seasoned shepherds?