He’s found a senior pastor
My friend Eric at “A Pilgrim’s Progress” has gone off the deep end with his post “What Do I Think of the Senior Pastor.”
If you remember, Eric is the former vocational pastor (but continuing “pastor”) who voluntarily left his paid church position and is now working in manufacturing.
But, has Eric had a change of heart? I mean, over the last few months he has been writing about “house church.” But, now, he’s supporting and cheerleading for senior pastors?
This is the way his post starts:
I believe the senior pastor of the church is extremely important. He is the focus. He is in charge. He provides both key leadership and direction.
The senior pastor gives the vision for the church, provides all the important teachings for the church, and has the right to unquestioned following of his flock.
I almost stopped reading. But, I’m glad that I didn’t stop. Eric has now convinced me of the importance of the senior pastor. Read it and tell me what you think.
Alan,
Eric had me going for a few seconds! I actually checked if I was on the right blog.
Whew! Still good!
I thought that’s where he might be going, and I’m glad it was.
Great perspective!
Great discourse. I knew a pastor of a small congregation who was the only “staffer” on the payroll. He wanted to be called the “Sr. Pastor”. Since we had no Jr Pastor, it seemed somewhat asinine. This was all on top of being founded on the basis of “Plurality of Elder-ship”. When one foolishly believes it all rides on your own shoulders, then the outcome is dismal.
Aussie John, Fred, and Esther,
Yeah, Eric’s getting sneaky.
Duchessdad,
I would be concerned about anyone who required people call him by a certain title – whatever that title might be.
-Alan
I’ve gotten to where I take it even further than titles. I’ve tried to express in management classes the need to make someone “responsible for” as opposed to putting one “in charge of”. I can’t help but think that our usage of words can effectively express what our core feels, as well as our misuse of words can in effect “dumb-down” our core beliefs. Argh! Even though I wrote it it sounds a little legalistic to me.
Duchessdad,
Yes, the way we use words affects our beliefs and how we live.
-Alan