5 comments:

  Anonymous

9:26 am

Being happy with who you are is a good lesson to be learning I think. I have learnt (slowly) that the opinions that count most are God's, your family and those friends you are closest to.

With being a Pastor and peoples opinions - it reminds me of that great cartoon with pie graphs you put up on Ra'ah a while back. That said it all!

  Anonymous

7:09 pm

I agree with you, but find it hard to do in real life: not worry about what others are expecting or saying about you.

  Mark (under construction)

4:12 pm

Mark ... this is not a stupid dum question and a shot at you - but you say - the only opinion that matters about what a Pastor should be is God's .. this is true but from the New Testament I come across only 1 referance re Pastor (Eph 4:11) - I liked to know your understanding of God's opinon of Pastor (in the plural) from this text ..

I do struggle with the modern interpretation of this word - pastor.

  Mark Edwards

4:31 pm

I think you may be asking a far bigger question that what I have given scope for in my post....
But I appreciate the question and its intent none the less.

I dont continue my ministry as a 'minister/pastor' unthinkingly. I often reflect on what it means.

Part of the struggle for me has been moving from operating and seeing myself as a shepherd...with emphasis on chaplain type role...to seeing myself in the context of someone who is there to 'equip the saints for the work of ministry'....all the saints are ministers...to minister Gods grace according to the grace and gifts extended to them.

I believe my role is one of leadership, discernenment and releasing of people into ministry.

I have come to believe that life is too short to not have some sense that we need to do what works.
Leadership works.
I dont think you can hold a committee responsible.
I believe in accountability matched with responsibility and autority.
I am not an authoritarian, or a dictator.
I seek to see people be creative. People are not creative if you tell them what to do, or how to do it.

I seek to give vision, yes, and provide some sense of direction and cohesion. I believe in the church, I believe that the body of believers need to see themselves as an army, not a 'love boat' cruise.

Too many people dont know the joy of the presense of Jesus in their life...for us to not do what needs to be done.

woo....hope that answers your question...on the biblical thing...I reckon you can justify any church model/governance model biblically....so I dont hold to my view of it dogmatically...rather pragmatically.

  Anonymous

8:13 pm

Mork, I would really struggle with my local bank if they weren't able to have people employed there to help make all the complexities work. Likewise my doctor, dentist, grocer, etc, etc.

The people who belong to our particular part of the body of Christ [our church] appreciate that there are various roles that can be carried out by staff and full time pastors [as well as part time, interns and an army of volunteers].

They appreciate that I have taken a few years out of my life to train and develop key skills and a particular knowledge base. They appreciate that I have availability, competence, experience, etc.

Many in our local community appreciate that as well. Recently, after marrying a couple from our community, they tried to give me money.

They found it hard to believe that I wasn't going to add to the bottom line of their wedding costs despite the 8 evenings I had spent helping them prepare for a life together and for the costs involved in travelling to the wedding and the time involved.

I took great delight in telling them that the people of our church contribute out of their pockets to make my availability possible, for people including them - so no money was necessary. They couldn't work that out. I am very happy that I can be available for ministry in a way that tent-making would not allow.

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