Julie K. Aageson

The Pastor

Church Leadership & Ministry

“I want to recommend what looks like a really important new AFP publication: The Pastor: A Spirituality by Gordon Lathrop. It's a thoughtful acknowledgement of the strains and stresses of parish ministry and in true Lathrop style, a gracious invitation to pastors to find care and healing 'in the life-long task of a continuing catechumenate ... prayer, creed, and commandments ... that are to be taken in deeply rooted sacramental ways.' One of the reviewers says, 'Every pastor who reads these pages will come away with a renewed vision and hope and a deepened spirituality for the task of leading God's people.' In light of clergy stress and the overwhelming expectations especially this time of year, this may be an important book to share with your pastors.”