Commentary
A call to pastor your pastor
By Carmen Fowler LaBerge, The Layman, December 20, 2011
Even as we acknowledge the priesthood of all believers, the calling of every Christian to use the gifting of the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord and the parity of Christian leadership between ruling and teaching elders in the life of the church, there remains a sacred space for those called to pastoral ministry.
Pastors live and breathe the faith throughout the warp and woof of life. Even as we all recognize that pastors are flawed, fractured human beings just as prone to sin as the rest of us, we still hold them in high esteem with great expectation and hope.
Pastors who are worthy of the calling have a spirit of under-shepherds. They live in humble service to the Good Shepherd, whom alone they emulate and serve. They do not bow to the sheep, but to Christ. They do not serve a human institution but a sovereign, revealed and holy Lord. They do not conform to the world, but by their own demonstration of grace and truth, lead others to be transformed by the power of the Word and Spirit of the living God. All of which makes them odd ducks in the world.
Holiness is an oddity. If it were not, it would not by definition be holy. To be holy is to be set apart. That does not mean that pastors are aloof, distant, hard to reach, nor above the fray. It means that God has intentionally set them apart from the world in order that they might speak truth, demonstrate grace and equip the saints for the work of ministry.
The joy of pastoral ministry is in caring for the world without the proverbial cares of the world. In order to do that, pastors must be supported by a fully empowered and mobilized laity. That support comes prayerfully and personally.
Encourage your pastor through prayer. Pray for them and pray with them. If your pastor is a good shepherd, he or she is:
· praying daily by name for you and all the members of the flock entrusted to their care. Are you praying by name every day for your pastor?
· praying for the needs, anxieties, stresses, troubles, illnesses and losses of the people of your faith family and community. Are you praying for your pastor’s family, their challenges, and with your pastor for others?
· praying that the Word of God would be communicated with veracity, power and effectiveness. Are you praying for your pastor as he or she prepares to preach and for them as they preach?
· Your pastor physically feels the weight of the health and future of the church. Are you prayerfully helping to relieve that burden by holding them up in prayer before God?
Encourage your pastor as a person. Be their friend. Offer your advice and counsel when it comes to things that you know more about than they do. Pastors have a tendency to serve others to the neglect of their own health and family.
· When you need to talk with your pastor, don’t ask them to lunch. Ask them to take a walk with you or prayer walk the church campus together.
· Hold them accountable to take their day off (their Sabbath belongs to God and it is worthy to be honored by the entire church).
· Provide all the support that is necessary for them to take their continuing education and vacation weeks each year. And don’t use the challenge of filling the pulpit as an excuse. Every ordained elder in the church bears the responsibility of preaching. Or, if you need a guest preacher, just ask. I’m available.
Don’t complain; just do it. Pastors are trained in the Bible, not the books. Expecting a pastor who does not have a business degree and no business experience to run the business of the church is foolish. Finances, personnel, building maintenance, non-profit tax law, etc. are not areas of expertise or even training for most pastors. These are the purview of the session and trustees of the church. Ruling elders must bear the load the Lord has assigned to them and not place unrealistic expectations upon the pastors whose primary responsibility is one of shepherding.
Uphold your pastor in prayer and uplift your pastor in life that your days together might be long and your shared ministry abundantly fruitful, to the glory of God whom alone we worship and serve.
Carmen Fowler LaBerge is president of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and executive editor of its publications.