Conference Helps the Helpers

Pastors and their spouses from a range of denominations are struggling with many of the same personal issues, such as use of pornography, substance abuse, and economic hardships, says Rev. Norm Thomasma, director of the Christian Reformed Church’s office of Pastor-Church Relations.

At the same time, however, pastors and their spouses, in the Christian Reformed Church and in many other denominations, are unwilling or seemingly unable to confront and seek help for those problems causing tension in marriages and sometimes heartbreak.

Thomasma said he was reminded of this when he attended an annual multi-denominational conference this summer in Colorado, Springs, Colo., for caregivers and pastoral counselors.

“Even though we come from such different theological traditions and address these issues differently through our different church polities, the pastoral care and other related issues are so similar,” says Thomasma.

“We come away from this conference realizing that we aren’t the only ones dealing with these issues. We also hear about different strategies that denominations use to help pastors and their spouses.”

Thomasma, and Cecil Van Niejenhuis, pastor/congregation consultant for Pastor-Church Relations, represented the CRC at the two-day gathering.

The gathering, says Thomasma, helps the Pastor-Church Relations office in its many tasks, including advocating for healthy  relationships between congregations, pastors and staff, and providing direct consultation in times of transition or crisis, Thomasma says.

Besides the CRC, this year’s meeting at the headquarters of the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination in Colorado Springs included representatives from several other denominations, including the Evangelical Free Church of America, the Evangelical Covenant Church, the FourSquare Church, the  Wesleyan Church, the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, and the Church of the Nazarene.

“This meeting gives us a chance to experience being part of the broader church world,” says Thomasma.

The annual meeting was started several years ago by Northern Baptist Seminary.

“We learn some things at this meeting, but we are also affirmed that we are doing some good ministry,” says Thomasma.