Continuing efforts that began with the South African Consultation on Mentoring in 2004, TOPIC SA is launching the Pastoring of Pastors Network (POPnet), including the POPnet Clinic and Consultation in August.

In recent years pastoral and training leaders have been giving increasing attention to the need for mentoring within our churches.  Leaders are recognizing that the healthy, wholistic development of church leaders requires more than just classroom-oriented training and education.  They are affirming the importance of mentoring in the development of leaders.  The TOPIC SA Research Project has, so far, identified that 59% of church leaders believe that being mentored is important or very important.

But there is still room for more and better mentoring in churches.  The same research indicates that 42% of leaders are not mentoring anyone.

When one talks of mentoring, typically the idea of ‘skills transfer’ comes to mind...the mentor imparting particular ministry skills to the mentee.  Overlooked in that thought is the deep need for shepherding and pastoral care.

More specifically, when it comes to being shepherded and receiving pastoral care, most pastors do not have anyone to watch over them, providing care, support, encouragement and nurturing.  As pastors continually expend themselves in caring for their congregations, they find themselves running towards empty from always giving and never receiving.

With that concern in mind, POPnet is being formed—a network of pastors gathered in peer shepherding relationships to provide peer support to fellow pastors.

To help launch the network, the first POPnet Clinic and Consultation will be held 12-15 August at Woord in Aksie Camp outside Pretoria.  Facilitated by Dr David Kornfield (MAPI Ministry, Brazil), the Clinic will train pastors in relational leadership, with a special focus on peer shepherding.  Mentoring models will be demonstrated by instructors, following which all participants will have opportunities to experience being mentored, mentoring and coaching/supporting a mentor.

The POPnet Consultation will include equipping and joint planning to launch pastoring-of-pastors efforts across the region.