Finishing Well: Pastoral Care in the Twenty-First Century

This study of the integrative lives of pastors (Christian leaders) is meant to illuminate the normal difficulties they face so that my readers may understand and navigate the pitfalls of ministry. The study uses personal experiences in leadership, insights by accomplished leaders, and the insight provided through surveys of pastors. Chapter 1 will identify and clearly state the problem, the audience to whom I write, as well as the contribution this writing makes towards transformational leadership. Chapter 2 will provide solutions provided by various experts using literary reviews while chapter 3 through 4 will frame the problem from a historical, world, and theological perspective. I will again reframe the problem within the confines of chapter 5 by identifying the paradigm shifts, the obstacles and challenges that the emerging church is facing and, then, utilize chapters 6 through 7 to unveil biblical, traditional, and emergent models for pastoring and Christian leadership, highlighting the demands that they face in transitioning culture. Chapter 8 will surmise the need for the mentoring of young leaders
by looking at their environment by examining the Christian, political, and social culture they find themselves living in. While chapter 9 will provide concluding thoughts and insight to the project, chapter 10 will provide a personal look at the alteration that has taken place in my life while at Bakke Graduate University, as well as surmising some of the tensions that allowed this transformation to happen to me. The postscript in this section will identify what work remains to be done in this area of study, how this work contributes to transformational leadership, as well as how I will use this learning experience in future ministry.