In recent months I have been writing a series of essays about pastoral ministry--primarily from the perspective of a guy who has been preaching since he was nineteen and who has been engaged in the work, now, for over thirty years. Some of these essays have been published, or are forthcoming, in preaching and ministry magazines . . . and I'm still producing them.
Not that we need other thoughts about pastoral work. There are many titles out there. More than enough to fill most pastor's shelves. But there is no doubt that pastoral ministry continues to evolve, as each generation adds new expectations, needs, hopes, demands, and difficulties to the ecclesiastical plate.
And as we continue to engage in our size-transitional work at Calvary, much of the conversation eventually comes round again to the role of pastor(s) in the congregation and, in our more lucid moments, reminds us that this role is, and has always been, adapting and morphing into new approaches and, well . . . transitions.
I believe the church in America is experiencing another such transition currently, and the role of pastor is changing yet again (while, of course, keeping the appearance and vestigial function of the old appendix and gall bladder). Pastoral work is still about the gospel of Jesus, leading and comforting, challenging and envisioning . . . but there is no doubt many of the old methodologies will not work well in the new world.
I am aware of this even more as I do research on Calvary's past. Reading the journals of the early pastors (the circuit riders) who established Calvary back in the late 1820's, I see that their lives were marked by many of the same charges: preaching the gospel (good news!), creating a vision of God's future, organizing the church for ministry, and raising funds.
Pastors still do all of these things (and much more), but the tools we use and the expectations of the church are now far more varied and broad. Calvary is no where near the same congregation she was in 1828. I am not Joseph Tarkington. I do not ride a horse. (Though I do drive a car that is just as sluggish and undependable as his borrowed mare.)
There are more than 120 pastors who have served Calvary over the years. Most stayed a year or less. But now we are engaged in a much different conversation as a people: How are we doing God's work together as a congregation of 1000 members (and supporting ministry with time, talent and treasure) . . . and how committed are we to this work of God?
What do you think?
Not that we need other thoughts about pastoral work. There are many titles out there. More than enough to fill most pastor's shelves. But there is no doubt that pastoral ministry continues to evolve, as each generation adds new expectations, needs, hopes, demands, and difficulties to the ecclesiastical plate.
And as we continue to engage in our size-transitional work at Calvary, much of the conversation eventually comes round again to the role of pastor(s) in the congregation and, in our more lucid moments, reminds us that this role is, and has always been, adapting and morphing into new approaches and, well . . . transitions.
I believe the church in America is experiencing another such transition currently, and the role of pastor is changing yet again (while, of course, keeping the appearance and vestigial function of the old appendix and gall bladder). Pastoral work is still about the gospel of Jesus, leading and comforting, challenging and envisioning . . . but there is no doubt many of the old methodologies will not work well in the new world.
I am aware of this even more as I do research on Calvary's past. Reading the journals of the early pastors (the circuit riders) who established Calvary back in the late 1820's, I see that their lives were marked by many of the same charges: preaching the gospel (good news!), creating a vision of God's future, organizing the church for ministry, and raising funds.
Pastors still do all of these things (and much more), but the tools we use and the expectations of the church are now far more varied and broad. Calvary is no where near the same congregation she was in 1828. I am not Joseph Tarkington. I do not ride a horse. (Though I do drive a car that is just as sluggish and undependable as his borrowed mare.)
There are more than 120 pastors who have served Calvary over the years. Most stayed a year or less. But now we are engaged in a much different conversation as a people: How are we doing God's work together as a congregation of 1000 members (and supporting ministry with time, talent and treasure) . . . and how committed are we to this work of God?
What do you think?
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