Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. (NIV)
The work of a pastor/elder/overseer is a noble task. Always has been. Is now. Always will be.
Better paying and more prestigious clergy and church related tasks may abound.
We have coaches, consultants, marketing experts, catalysts, specialists, and strategists.
There are church-targeting authors who sell a lot of books, social media church specialists who have huge followings, and ugh, bloggers you have lots of page views.
We have layer-upon-layer of denominational employees: CEOs, DOMs/AMs/AMSs, executives of every stripe, presidents, Executive Secretary Treasurers, and more.
To be candid, more prestige, power, income, visibility, honor, and praise may abound in greater measure to all of these than the pastor (megapastors excepted because they aren’t like ordinary, retail pastors). That is the life and society we have these days and who am I to argue with it?
But I will argue that the guy who is the pastor of a congregation is the one who is doing the noble work and that according to God.
So why is it that it seems more pastors want to leave their church for a nice denominational job than stay and serve?
Why is it that the flow from the pastorate to ancillary ministry jobs always seems to be greater than the flow from the consultants, experts, specialists, and denominational workers to the pastorate? I have no data, just conjecture.
And why is it that life-sized portraits of administrators adorn denominational headquarters and not those of pastors?
“Pastors are our heroes,” sayeth denominational workers. Let’s see it.
I thought the stained glass windows were a royal Baptist fiasco at Southwestern but I’ll give credit to this part of the thinking that was represented by the colored panes: pastors were the driving force, the authentic heroes of that grand movement, The Conservative Resurgence. It wouldn’t have happened without them.
If Southern Baptists are to return to years of increasing baptisms and authentic church expansion and growth, will denominational leaders lead it? Will denomination slogans motivate it? Will denominational programs be the catalyst for it?
I think not.
Every time the real, retail pastor of a real, authentic congregation of people is unjustly criticized or heavily discouraged, I’d like to buy them a meal and say, “You’re the one who is doing a good job. It’s a noble job. Press on with it.”
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William, I have observed the same thing. I’ve known lots of men who wanted to be in the ministry but not serve as a pastor. Yet, good and godly pastors are what we need the most. Perhaps, the demands and expectations of congregations wear on (and wear out) men who originally planned to spend their entire career as a pastor. I hope our Voices readers can shed light on this.
William
I have no noble role, but I am far enough along that I try to support the pastor and the work of the church when I can. There are times that I can’t for one reason or another, so I just try to love and pray for him in those times. God bless you and tonight I will pray for you as well.
“Press on,” those words from Paul, are words I find myself thinking more everyday. Stay faithful, try to run the race well, persevere.
It’s rewarding, frustrating, discouraging and joyous all at the same time. The highs and lows are a continual test. No matter how you define calling, it is one. Simple stats on the attrition rate in ministry show that. Thankfully, many press on in the obscurity of of this noble service. The labor is not obscure in heaven.
William Thornton:
You wrote, “If Southern Baptists are to return to years of increasing baptisms and authentic church expansion and growth, will denominational leaders lead it? Will denomination slogans motivate it? Will denominational programs be the catalyst for it? I think not.”
TRUER WORDS WERE NEVER SPOKEN! The sad fact is that denominational leaders over the past 10-15 years or more have been, and currently are, wrapped up in covering up the soteriological differences within the convention that are the main cause of the continuous slide to oblivion for the SBC. Their goal is to do anything and everything to foster a false sense of unity within the SBC and nothing else matters. That attitude may appear to achieve peace but it will never achieve unity.
As Jesus so wisely articulated in Mark 3;25, “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” ; in Luke 11:17 “. . .and a house divided against a house falleth”, and in Matthew 12:25, “… and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.”
I realize that is a bitter pill to swallow but the emphatic, calamitous words Jesus used in these verses to describe the fate of a divided house leave little to the imagination.
Taking it a bit farther, I remember reading about one theologian who stated that as much as we think God will forever bless the USA it should be noted that in the end times the Bible never mentions the USA. He went on to explain that is an indication that this nation will not be in existence in the end times. Who knows whether he is right or wrong but if the USA will not last forever, neither will the SBC.
Is there any hope for the SBC? Yes! But it will require a wholesale change in the current denominational leadership or at least a drastic change in the attitude of those current leaders which will renew and continue the efforts of the Conservative Resurgence.
I wish I could figure out a way to get those pastors you mentioned to aggressively pursue the matter and return the convention to its former glory. Unfortunately, I cannot. So, earnest prayer to seek God to intercede in SBC’s life seems to be the only avenue for success in attempting to convince those pastors to whom you gave credit for the CR to once again rise to the occasion and drop any fears they have of not bowing to political correctness and vigorously promote the truth of the gospel.