Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Schools of Thought...
There are two schools of thought (probably more but I am going to run with two) when it comes to being a Pastor. One is that you show the world how much you know. Show them how strong a leader you are, that you can provide answers and are always certain. The other school of thought says struggle with your people. Show them your desire to lead, your willingness to go where you feel God is calling you but you don't need to act as though you have it "all figured out.". You let them know that you too get frustrated with the church and sometimes with God. You lead with your passion, not your intellect. Both models are successful. Both models work. A Pastor just needs to know which one he or she is. If you are ready to struggle with God and your faith and your Pastor who doesn't have all the answers...I look forward to seeing you at AfterHours.
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5 comments:
And don't you think we have to be both for different folks at different times. It's when we should be leading passion and are instead leading with our intellect that we fail, and vice versa. And some people require one out of us, while others require the other. It is important to remember that we can't be all things to all people, but wow...isn't that what we all expect of each other?
Good point, Pam. I sometimes think the expectation is that we have to try to be BOTH so we can touch as many people as possible. But I wonder what it means when I can't simply be myself. I am flawed. I am broken. I am on this journey with you. My participation as a leader in ministry only means that I am willing to use the gifts that God has given me to help us BOTH along the way.
Perhaps, more church leaders should deliberately AVOID trying to be BOTH, and just BE. Perhaps we, as church members, can come to see our church leaders as frail, broken, flawed, imperfect; and, yet, striving toward the perfection of Christ.
This is why you are my pastor and why AfterHours is my church!!
Many times "I don't know but I'm here for you and with you though this" is the most credible, comforting answer.
I think when we choose to be a professional anything (teacher, doctor, social worker, therapist--especially one who deals with people problems/issues/needs) then we commit to fully engaging with BOTH head and heart (intellect AND passion). There should be no conflict--this should be what it MEANS for such persons to "just BE." There is no either/or, it has to be both/and. So we were created, and so we continue to be, as we pursue learning and personal growth in our respective chosen fields. That choice to pursue "getting better/ learning more" in a given field does not in any way negate our forever condition of imperfection. We never "arrive" at perfection--maybe not even mastery-- but we differ from our followers/ congregants/ clients/ patients, etc., in that we do focus our time and energies in this chosen field, and so we should be expected to have more of some things to offer/share as we travel this earthly journey with them.
Each of us may have preferences, and/or talents, more in one direction (head vs. heart)than the other, and so we have to work harder in the opposite (relatively weak) area...and so what? That, too,is something we share with all others. Building on our strengths is sensible, but it doesn't let us completely off the hook from addressing our weaker areas.
All that said, we still have to protect ourselves from the unrealistic expectations of those among us who have inordinate and unhealthy needs to be led, cared for,and directed. Compassionately helping such folks to be self-empowered and self-directed, accepting personal responsibility for their own spiritual journey/growth, is imperative. Among other things, we must model such responsibility in our own lives, acknowledging our own struggles even while we continue to "grow ourselves," with God's help.
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