Real Life Rev: A clergy survival guide

For anyone being ordained, taking up their first post or moving to a new church, this realistic and entertaining guide of what you are likely to run into (which you learned nothing about in your training) will be the friend you need. It recounts real-life happenings and offers friendly advice on dealing with the realities of parish life. Clergy life is full of surprises – and many of them don’t come up in theological college. From tricky PCC meetings to unexpected pastoral situations to the quirks of church buildings, this honest and humorous guide dives into the messy, holy, and often unpredictable realities of parish ministry. With warmth and wit, Real Life Rev offers practical wisdom for navigating the everyday challenges of church leadership. Whether it’s managing conflicting opinions, opening the church to a wider community, or simply deciding what to do when a lorry arrives with two tons of yogurt drink for your food bank, Martin Poole offers encouragement for those discovering that ministry is rarely tidy – but always full of grace.