What about the Pastor's power... (CLM 526)

From: "James W. Aubuchon"

Tue, 2 Dec 1997

This is all very well, but fails to deal with two major issues in my opinion. First, it fails to deal with the fact that the pastors themselves can act as the powerful, and bring the same baggage, agendas, inflated egos, and even monetary influence into a church situation...we must examine our own hearts... Second, it fails to deal with what I consider to be a major problem in the churches of today, especially the evangelical churches, and that is an over-emphasis on the role of the pastor in the first place. The pastor is seen as some sort of corporate boss spiritual icon who can only really ultimately disappoint his congregation. When you go in to pastor a church in this day and age, you are being set up for a fall from the get go....the reason is the unhealthy media-based images of pastors as saintly miracle workers or scheming wicked deceivers. I will not go into the psycho-sexual implications of the evangelical minister, but suffice it to say that a radical re-thinking of the role of the minister in contemporary society is needed....desperately needed. I can think of nothing more desperate for the church right now than to get clear on what a minister is, and do away forever with the sacerdotalism that defines the minister as a mediator between God and man, instead of merely a member of the congregation with a job to do...namely...equipping the saints... From my experience, most of the problems bewteen a minister and the congregation do not directly stem from sin in the congregation, or in the minister. Most problems stem from the fact that the minister is trained in seminary or wherever to spiritualize his calling, while in reality, his calling becomes a professional paid position with all of the politics, frustrations, and expectations of anyone who is receiving payment for any service....but the difference is that the minister is not expected to be doing this for money, he is expected to be spiritual...thus you get people in the church with money who see themselves as "hiring" the pastor, yet the pastor is supposed to be in charge, yet he is not supposed to be doing it for money, yet he needs to support his family....this whole concept I believe is the cause for about 90% of problems with power in the church... The church NEEDS to rethink this if we want to be effective in the 21st century... - James W. Aubuchon ____________________________ Clergy/Leaders' Mailing List (Moderated) This mailing list is open to all Christians via Internet e-mail and most fax destinations. Submissions welcome: clergy@pastornet.net.au To unsubscribe, e-mail to: clergy-request@pastornet.net.au with SUBJECT reading UNSUBSCRIBE Copyright: Postings may be re-sent ONLY with all copyright notifications intact. A PastorNET ministry: manager@pastornet.net.au

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