- These are churches filled with older people
- These are small churches
- They want finished seminarians to be their pastors because that's how they always did it before
- They can't pay enough to attract anyone with big student loans from seminary
- They are using all kinds of clever strategies to find and share pastors
- Mostly these churches end up closing
I have a solution to this problem:
- There are young people in the community, they just aren't reaching them.
- These small churches can become bigger and self supporting
- I like eating lobster, but I can't afford it all the time - they can't afford a pastor they can't afford
- Seminaries cost too much to attend
- Sharing pastors in the long run fails
- Churches that close are never opened again.
The truth is there are tens of thousands of ready pastor shepherds willing to come and take those Churches today. They might even take the small amount of money those churches can afford to pay. They would love the people. They might even grow the church. BUT. They don't wear the union label of the particular denomination. They didn't spend the zillions to go to seminary.
They are able, vetted, qualified, ready and willing. I know many personally looking for a church to pastor.
How do we get the two together? First break the back of pride. These churches need to recognize the reality of the situation.
I had a friend, not a seminarian, who took one of these dying country churches in northern Minnesota that had dribbled off to a few dozen people on a Sunday. He built it back up in a small town. Eventually this church was running a few hundred on a Sunday. They even did a building program. He was loved by his parish. It was so successful that the denomination (ELCA) came in and replaced him with a tepid seminarian who the congregation could then afford. This wasn't the local body's decision. It was the synods.
That church has now drifted back to near oblivion.
Give me a man or woman with a heart of passion for Jesus and lost Souls over a professional trained church worker any day of the week. If they are both it is better.
That friend now has a ministry in which he travels the world. He would have loved to stay and pastor that church. I can tell you this, he will never take that kind of thing on again and wait for the inevitable slap in the face.
It breaks my heart, but the Pastor's union is like the UAW. If you belong to the denomination they will destroy the local church body to further the economics of their boys.
If I sound just a little angry about all this, I am.
Souls are un shepherded because of the avarice and denominational protectionism of a few higher ups. This is an abomination unto the Lord. I don't even have to be a prophet to know that.
1 comment:
Yep. And you dont need a denomination to be a bad pastor either. I wonder why seminary doesnt spend more time teaching people skills. Mayeb more classes on compassion and forgiveness rather than spending time on disecting greek would help. Some of the smartest people are also some of the dumbest (and most uncaring) as well. But dont most churches most of the time vote to get a pastor? If thats the case, then put blame on the congregations calling them. Also those boards or committees that bend over and say yes to everything. That reminds me of our current situation in Washington. That doesnt work either. Beware of people who give themselves raises and forget about the little guy. Goes for pastors as well as Washington.
Another heart issue. Just because someone calls themselves pastor doesn't mean they are. I wonder if there's any in heaven...?
We'll see.
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