That Kind of Pastor
David Fitch from “Reclaiming the Mission” has written a thought-provoking post called “The Kinds of Pastors We Need and the Future of Evangelicalism in N America.”
In the post, David suggests that American churches are growing bigger (toward megachurches – he calls them “what is left of the Christendom populations”), disappearing (churches around 200), or birthed as/becoming small, missional communities. (He adds much more to this, but I want to jump to the next point.)
He then lists the characteristics of leaders these small, missional communities will need:
1.)BE RESOURCEFUL – OFTEN ABLE TO EARN THEIR OWN LIVING
2.) COMMUNAL SHEPHERDS – CULTIVATORS OF COMMUNITY IDENTITY IN MISSION
3.) INTERPRETIVE LEADERS -Â FUNDERS OFÂ IMAGINATION THRU SCRIPTURE FOR WHAT GOD IS DOING AMONG US AND AROUND US
4.) DIRECTORS OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION – SHAPERS OF PLACES THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES INTO CHRIST AND HIS MISSION
5.) LEADERS WHO GIVE AWAY POWER – DISPERSERS OF AUTHORITY AND LEADERSHIP INTO THE NIEGHBORHOODS
What do you think of David’s list? Do you think “that kind of pastor” would be helpful? What would you add to, remove from, or change about his list?
Alan,
My immediate thought would be to make some changes to the list, as follows:
1. EARNING THEIR OWN LIVING
2. EVERY MEMBER UNDER THE ONE SHEPHERD, JESUS CHRIST – EVERY MEMBER MAKING DISCIPLES, FULFILLING THEIR MISSION
3. ELDERS – ENCOURAGERS OF MEMBERS TO SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD IS DOING AMONG US AND AROUND US, AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AS HIS SERVANTS.
4.) ENCOURAGERS (NEVER DIRECTORS) OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH – INTO CHRIST HONORING OBEDIENCE TO HIS GREAT COMMISSION
5.) ELDERS WHO DON’T HAVE ANY THOUGHT OF HAVING POWER TO GIVE AWAY OR OF ANY ABILITY TO BE DISPERSERS OF AUTHORITY AND LEADERSHIP.
Aussie John,
I think I like your list even more!
-Alan