The Pandemic Pastor

In this book, you will explore practical tools for worship in the virtual space, the necessity of self-care to maintain your mental health, and the prioritization of family. Essentially, leadership matters, and pandemic pastors must lead with integrity. This attribute is non- negotiable in ministry.

The coronavirus pandemic has challenged leaders in every facet of society. This crisis has called into question the policies and practices of corporations and civic organizations. It has exposed the inequities within our nation and within our world, especially in terms of access to health care and support for healthcare professionals. And, of course, the church is not exempt. The pandemic has shined a light on and in the local church. It has called into question the relevance of traditions and religious practices. As a result, pastors and other church leaders have also come under evaluation. The pandemic has uncovered and unmasked leadership. Additionally, it has given pastors and church leaders opportunities to pivot from an outdated approach to ministry to one that makes sense and is relevant for the current time. In this book, you will explore practical tools for worship in the virtual space, the necessity of self-care to maintain your mental health, and the prioritization of family. Essentially, leadership matters, and pandemic pastors must lead with integrity. This attribute is non- negotiable in ministry.

Doctor Taft Quincey Heatley is an author with two published books, National Speaker, and soon to be Certified Life Coach. Dr. Heatley also serves as the twelfth senior pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church, Alexandria, VA. Shiloh is a historic church in the Old Town Community of Alexandria founded by former enslaved African Americans in 1863. In April 2014, Dr. Heatley released his first book, God Is the Goal: The Chase for Intimacy with God. Dr. Heatley is a 1998 graduate Morehouse College where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with a Minor in Physics. In 2007, Rev. Heatley completed his Master of Divinity Degree at the Princeton Theological Seminary. At Princeton, Dr. Heatley was recognized for both homiletical and scholastic excellence, receiving the Jagow Prize for preaching; the John T. Galloway Prize in Expository Preaching as well as the Elder Garnett Hawkins award for Scholastic Excellence. In 2020, Dr. Heatley received the Doctor of Ministry degree from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA with a concentration in Biblical Interpretation and Proclamation. At Candler, he received the Festival of Learning Excellence Award for the written and digital component of his project "Pastoral Prophetic Preaching: A Spiritual and Cultural Hermeneutic for Prophetic Speech." Dr. Heatley is a native of Hartsville, South Carolina and currently resides in Alexandria, VA with his wife and two children.