Gifts for excellence

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For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes Jones's current Living by the Word column as well as past magazine and online-only content. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

For several years, I directed the Center for Pastoral Excellence at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. The center hosts five initiatives that together address and support the long arc of ministry through a variety of resources and research projects. Its name--the Center for Pastoral Excellence--has been somewhat controversial. “Excellence” is a tricky word that might suggest elitist expectations for pastors who follow a savior with revolutionary ideas. Why use a word with so much baggage to describe ministry?