· I desire to be a Pastor to our Pastors.
The
job expectations for a pastor today are impossible for any human to fulfill. He is to be an evangelist, discipler, manager,
counselor, comforter, prayer warrior, theologian, philosopher, caretaker, administrator,
manager, supervisor, C.F.O., C.E.O., M.F.C.C., C.P.A. and a dozen other descriptors, all
on any given day of the week. In addition he
is to be a role model of a family man, while being on call 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. While most families enjoy three-day
holidays which the American culture provides occasionally, a pastor only enjoys these if
he takes his vacation time concurrent with a Memorial Day or Labor Day weekend. Though he may get an extra day off in a holiday
week, it is unlikely that he will find time to take it.
If he does, it cannot be a Saturday through Monday, because Sunday always
fall in between.
A pastor has many friends, but no friends. He
is expected to be a friend to everyone in the congregation, but few are friends to him. Most of the friendships are not naturally
developed, but based upon the office and professional position of the pastor. He is to be a professional and a pastor to the
congregation. He is a professional pastoral
friend. Most, if not all, of his significant
interaction and relationships are within the context of the local church, for he has
little time for any others.
Where does he go when he is hurting, when he needs someone just to listen, when he
needs to bounce ideas off of another human? It
is dangerous and sometimes unwelcome if not threatening to leaders or friends within the
flock for which is to be leading, having vision, and being the spiritual guide.
Before becoming District
Superintendent, I was a pastor for 23 years. I know that when the districts in
which I served were looking for a District Superintendent, I, along with many other
pastors, desired that he first and foremost be a pastor for the pastors. We needed someone who could listen with empathy,
identify with experiential understanding, and counsel with love and care. He did not need always to agree, but he did need
to be agreeable. Though administration is an
expected role of the District Superintendent, we were more interested in his concern for
our ministry, our families, and holding us to an accountable and ongoing love relationship
with the Lord.
Though I will not be any more perfect a pastor to our pastors than they are perfect
men as they serve their congregations, it is my desire to make these choice servants of
God who are on the front lines of the spiritual battlefield a priority of the RMD
ministry. If we take good care of our pastors, they will take care of the ministries
entrusted to them.
