For a couple of years now, Tom Russell and I have had an ongoing conversation about leadership. He contends that pastors get a really bad rap for not being able to serve up the magic potion that will cure all congregational ills. They are pilloried for not having enough expertise, for not earning a Doctorate, for not preaching like an all-star, for not administrating like the church version of a Donald Trump. Tom suggests (and I concur) that all the legitimate efforts to help pastors be all that they are called to be, required to be by God tell only part of the story. At some point members of congregations have to own their own callings, their own ministries (and some of these ministries are also their primary occupations).
Tom's observations come into sharp relief for me as I consider the 80%+ approval ratings for the new president and I wonder if we - common citizens - have a transition team to help support our own plans for stepping up in huge ways to the challenges that can only be met by the whole Unite States. I suspect that most of us have neither a plan nor a transition team to support our taking on more civic responsibility. Is it too far a stretch to wonder if this is also the case with most disciples in the care of articulate, prophetic pastors?
Elders, deacons, and pastors who met in Waverly two weeks ago offered some hope in this regard. There seems to be an emerging consensus among elders and deacons that they are no longer content to be liturgical functionaries or fixtures in congregational boardrooms. They want to do more of the spiritual formation work that is desperately needed by new and veteran members. They also see the value of doing that in teams - networked within but also beyond the congregation.
Some (not all) elders and deacons at the Waverly training event expressed a desire to form a grass-roots, inter-congregational network of continued training, support, and accountability. As information becomes available, we'll post that. We would also like to be able to support similar efforts around the area. In the meantime, check out Richard Foster's article "Spiritual Formation Agenda" from the January issue of Christianity Today.
What do you think? Please share your comments.
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3 comments:
I think your entire post points to a problem that has developed in the church (over the past few centuries) - the reality that pastors have been seen as the individuals in charge of the spiritual development of the congregation. In this model of church people are not responsible for their own spiritual growth.
We have had a leadership vacuum in our world for quite a while. Good leaders empower people to take responsibility for their own lives. Unfortunately we are not taught how to do this.
In a culture of blame (not a new concept - see Adam and Eve) and shifting responsibility, how do leaders teach people how to take responsibility of their own spiritual growth, development, and service? How do we change the image of "ministry" to include everything all christians do? And how do we change worship so that it encompasses all of life?
I'm glad we have such small tasks to think about :)
Well, this may sound a little odd coming from a pastor, but I think many pastors are more worried about their jobs than serving Christ. As pastors we need to show transparency and be vulnerable, even if some in our congregations are not accepting of that. We may have a better theological education than those in our congregations but we are all on the same journey of discovering God and finding out what He would have us do with our lives.
Both comments make great points. Thanks!
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