The Perfect Pastor?

By D. Thomas Owsley

Book Overview

The Perfect Pastor? by D. Thomas Owsley, D.Min., is an engaging new book about the realistic, humorous, and poignant life experiences of a fictional pastor. More than just a wonderful story, the book... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1602666563
• ISBN13: 9781602666566
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Xulon Press
• Length: 428 Pages
• Weight: 1.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Great book for sheep and shepherds alike.

The book is drawn from the collected true-to-life experiences of a pastor and his family in a conservative denomination. What Dr. Owsley provides is a revealing look at the day-to-day struggle of a pastor who seeks the best for his family and congregation but must overcome prejudice, legalism and other un-Christian behavior from his fellow elders and congregants. One of the most humbling aspects of the book, apart from the appalling behavior of the 'christians' under the pastor's care is the fact that the pastor must, in counseling an intern warn him about the dangers of the ministry. This book is excellent for sheep as well as shepherds and I recommend it to both ministers and their flocks to provide insight into the proper care and feeding of a pastor. I too have learned much from Dr. Owsley, both from this book and from our friendship, and found this book helpful in my walk as a believer and as one under the authority of a pastor.

Perfect Pastors!

Funny I remember talking to the author before this book was in the works. I told him I was leaning towards the ministry and he said "I would not wish this on another person." I assume he was in deep research for the book at that time. I talked to him after he wrote the book and he is a new man... Years aftert the first conversation as I read this book after I made the decision to study for to be a pastor I am glad I read it. This book made me mad, made me yell and made decide there is no way I'd ever become a preacher. It also makes me laugh made my heart sing, my soul cry out in happiness and help me solidify my original decision to be a minister. It also helped know why it was I wanted to be a Pastor. This might be one of the best books for a person thinking about entering into the call who don't need the clinical list of question but need to see how it can be to be a pastor. This book not only tells a story of a fictional pastor's trials but his victories and his path to become a great not `perfect pastor'. Scripturally sound. Pray fully delivered. Well written. Fun to read and the most educational down to earth book I have read on entering into and growing within the ministry. This book should be required reading by every person investigating the call. I read many books and have met many authors. Most disappoint as they write only from an educated investigated researched place for the money. But a few write from all those things but also write from the heart and D Thomas my friend I call Don is one who live from his heart. The man who taught me my first scripture (Hebrews 4:12) and gave me my only bible I ever had most of my adult life. Don is for real, a true leader, a true writer a true Christian a true Pastor. Thanks Don for a great Book!

Helpful resource

Pastors are people too. That's the message of D. Thomas Owsley's book, The Perfect Pastor? (Understanding and Relating to the Life and Work of a Pastor). The very nature of the position means that people often expect quite a bit of a pastor. But what they expect might have nothing to do with what the Bible says a pastor should be or do and much more to do with people's (accurate or not) preconceived notions regarding the office. Those entering the pastorate also often have their own ideas of what the job will be like. Entering into the reality can be like having a bucket of cold water thrown at you. Owsley's goal in this book is to help congregants understand what it is a pastor does all week (and why it's important) and to help new pastors, or those thinking of pursuing such a position, get a more realistic picture of what might be in store for them. No Perfect Pastor? is essentially three books in one. The overall form of the book is a story -- that of a pastor, Dan, who loves what he does, but who struggles with a few members in his congregation who, through money and influence, attempt to force their own agenda upon the church. Within this overarching story is a guidebook, or textbook, that explores such things as the Biblical qualifications of a leader; the roles of the pastor, elders, and members of the church and how they work together; and the scope of a pastor's responsibilities and duties within the church. And at the end of the book is a series of appendices (A - S! I've never seen so many appendices in a book!) that essentially make up a resource handbook for a pastor or the leadership in a church. The appendices include such things as recommended questions that a pastoral search committee should ask of their candidates, a sermon evaluation form, how a congregation can work together to make corporate decisions and how to care and support your pastor. I found the overall story to be interesting, particularly because this story was written by, and somewhat follows the life of, the new pastor of our church. Though he'd mentioned some of his experiences as he was candidating with us and as we got to know him after calling him to be our pastor, reading them in a story form and seeing not only what was happening in his previous congregations, but also getting a sense of his thought processes as he dealt with these issues, was instructive as well as indicative of the kind of man he is. He openly admits that he didn't always deal well with the situations he was put in. He struggled with wanting to simply avoid the problems and the people who were causing them. But in the end he realized that he had to cop to his own faults, not just recognizing them but admitting them to those he had wronged. And he needed to seek reconciliation. The story is a good way to get a sense of the trials and tribulations of a pastor as well as to get a sense of a pastor's joys and encouragements. The guidebook, or textbook, part of the book was interspersed with

An eye-opener for pastors and their true encouragers

If the fact of conflict in the local church makes you uneasy, don't pick up this book. But if you truly care about your church, and if you intend to be a source of substantive encouragement to your pastor, The Perfect Pastor? is essential reading. I know because I am a pastor who was engulfed by some of the same conflicts portrayed in these pages. My wife and I read this book to each other aloud, and it helped us endure and gave us courage to persevere in ministry. The Perfect Pastor? is a compilation of the many details of a pastor's work held together by a narrative and supplemented with copious practical appendices and forms. The book examines not merely the tasks of pastoral work but the complex number of relationships which pastors must juggle within the context of serving as preacher, shepherd, and ministry organizer to his congregation. The author relates a variety of real ministry circumstances which would make an aspiring pastor eager to get started, and other true situations which would drive a sane man away from considering such a career. In the midst of describing how a minister's work affects himself, his family, his leaders, his followers, his admirers and his detractors, the author sets forth the work of pastoring by largely focusing on the character qualities of the pastor himself, his church officers, and the young disciples who all fall under his care. Some of the narrative seems too extreme to be true, except that the situations and people involved are taken from true-life experiences of the author and other real pastors. While purportedly written for an audience of lay people, this book could prove to be discouraging for the uninitiated and timid. Nevertheless, for those who have actually experienced the joys and tribulations of pastoral service to the kingdom of God, The Perfect Pastor? is a source of encouragement and practical application.

Unique and Informative

Pastor Owsley effectively meshes novel and textbook to open a window on the daily life of a pastor and to teach appropriate expectations for pastors and their congregations. While pastors will certainly be encouraged by this book, it is primarily designed for church members who wonder what their pastor does all week and what his job is supposed to be. The greatest strength of this book is the style. It is a compelling story of a fictional pastor Dan and his joys and struggles as he ministers to his congregation. Through Dan's learning, teaching, and reflections, the reader learns about the biblical role of a pastor and how the congregation can support and encourage their pastor. With the narrative driving the book, I learned a great deal, but was always excited to pick it up and find out how the story continued. This book is also a resource, with reflection and/or discussion questions at the end of each section and a number of appendices with handouts and checklists that would be useful for all church members, whether in positions of leadership or not.