Should pastors be entrepreneurial leaders or servants of souls?
Why We Need More ‘Chaplains’ and Fewer Leaders “ ‘Chaplain pastors eschew change and value status quo. They don’t want to stir the waters; rather, they want to bring healing to hurting souls.’”
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There are many good thoughts contained in this article. Early in my ministry I “lost” a family over a funeral where I didn’t serve them well enough in their hour of need. Jesus spoke The Truth when He said, “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Yet the same Savior commanded His followers to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing… and teaching…” Paul commanded Timothy, “Do the work of an evangelist” as well as “fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). This suggests a balance of functions. A pastor is not an evangelist or a chaplain but both an evangelist and a chaplain. Similarly, there is much more to ministry than preaching and teaching.
It is easy for a small church pastor to become enamored with study and reading books. One of my seminary profs told me that we should spend 30 hours of language study per week. I quickly found that standard to be unrealistic. But it is also easy for the small church pastor to become intimidated by the local culture and the stubborn resistance of the town folk to outreach. That is where “chaplain” becomes the “default” position of a pastor.
Yet the same Savior commanded His followers to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing… and teaching…” Paul commanded Timothy, “Do the work of an evangelist” as well as “fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). This suggests a balance of functions. A pastor is not an evangelist or a chaplain but both an evangelist and a chaplain. Similarly, there is much more to ministry than preaching and teaching.
It is easy for a small church pastor to become enamored with study and reading books. One of my seminary profs told me that we should spend 30 hours of language study per week. I quickly found that standard to be unrealistic. But it is also easy for the small church pastor to become intimidated by the local culture and the stubborn resistance of the town folk to outreach. That is where “chaplain” becomes the “default” position of a pastor.
Some years ago, “Leadership Magazine” ran a two column article asking if the pastor was to be a Shepherd or a CEO. I do not remember who wrote the column on CEO, but HB London wrote the shepherd part.
We are called to teach and preach the Word, equip the saints, and provide accountable oversight over God’s work. In a smaller, rural community, the chaplain, shepherd role will build bridges to those outside the church. In my present ministry, I am in a suburban setting, and find that I primarily seek to shepherd my people, but that, on some decisions, I must move forward with “executive decisions,” and say, “This is where I beleive the Lord wants us”
I have heard it said that, when we lead, we must be in front, but not so far in front that our people cannot see us.
In our suburban setting, we have intentionally worked to create contact with the world outside our walls. We are members of the Chamber of Commerce, and I serve as police chaplain. We are seeing this giving our ministry increasing credibility in the wider world.
In this increasingly number driven and impersonal world, the chaplain, personal touch role is to be fostered and treasured. When people have given us positive comments, they focus upon how they have grown in Biblical understanding, and how we came along side of them in times of personal crisis.
We are called to teach and preach the Word, equip the saints, and provide accountable oversight over God’s work. In a smaller, rural community, the chaplain, shepherd role will build bridges to those outside the church. In my present ministry, I am in a suburban setting, and find that I primarily seek to shepherd my people, but that, on some decisions, I must move forward with “executive decisions,” and say, “This is where I beleive the Lord wants us”
I have heard it said that, when we lead, we must be in front, but not so far in front that our people cannot see us.
In our suburban setting, we have intentionally worked to create contact with the world outside our walls. We are members of the Chamber of Commerce, and I serve as police chaplain. We are seeing this giving our ministry increasing credibility in the wider world.
In this increasingly number driven and impersonal world, the chaplain, personal touch role is to be fostered and treasured. When people have given us positive comments, they focus upon how they have grown in Biblical understanding, and how we came along side of them in times of personal crisis.
Dick Dayton
Discussion