One of the questions bouncing around my head lately as I try and figure out what the future looks like has to do with my identity as a “pastor.” Is a pastor really a pastor without a church to pastor? Is a minister without a place to minister really a minister at all? If a tree falls in a woods and no one is there to hear it… oh, sorry.
Really, this is something I’ve been mulling over for several years now. I’ve wondered if the whole idea that some people are called and set aside for this special, weird assignment of being a 40-50/hour a week paid staff person in a local church is as much a biblical construct as it is one born of convenience and tradition. That’s not to say it’s wrong, just that maybe it’s not grounded in scripture.
As someone who has had the great privilege of having his livelihood provided for by the generosity and sacrifice of people in local churches, it may sound weird to say, but allow me to suggest that I am no more called than you are. We are ALL called to follow Jesus and live our lives as fully, radically devoted followers of Christ, and I think it’s tragic that we reserve that language of call for the “professionals” in “full-time ministry.” It seems to me that our work (whatever that happens to be), our kids sports leagues and school activities, and our every day comings and goings are to be our full-time ministry, done for the glory of God and the growth of the Kingdom. Certainly God calls individuals to do certain things, but that’s just it. God calls more than just some of us; he calls all of us, and he calls all of us to ministry full-time.
It’s at least partially because of that conviction that I’ve never been much for having some ministry-related title affixed to my name. I get some crazy looks when I tell people this, but I have never liked for people to call me Reverend Bunting or Pastor Geoff or anything of the sort. I have been and will always be just Geoff, no title needed. My identity is follower of Jesus. My occupation is pastor… or was… or… I don’t know. But my point is, we don’t typically go around referring to everyone else by their occupation. “Hey there, Banker Bob! How’s it going, Construction Worker Carl? Nice day, isn’t it, Wal-Mart Greeter Wilma? How’s life, Unemployed… Uma?” And even as I’m preaching or teaching or doing whatever it is that pastors do, I’m likely no more serving God out of the calling he’s given me than many of the other people I see on Sunday mornings; it may just look different. Up until a month ago I have been serving as a pastor. That is certainly a part of who I am. But there is more that identifies me than the fact that I draw a paycheck from a church… especially since I no longer draw a paycheck from a church… or any place else. Minor detail.
As I’ve been thinking and praying and reading over the past few weeks I’ve been realizing that sometimes I get so caught up in what God has called me to DO (whatever that might just happen to be) that I forget who he has called me to BE. Feel free to disagree, but my identity has never been as a pastor, a student, a whatever. For the past 14 years of my life I have been a follower of Jesus first and foremost. That is my identity. That is who I am. Everything else is secondary.
So whatever I do for a career and however I draw a paycheck, I will be serving in ministry, and I will be serving in a church; I may just not be drawing a paycheck from a career of serving in a church. And if that is what God leads me to do, I’m okay with that. Because regardless of what I do, my identity is as a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ. And beyond that, no title is needed.
P.S. I've included links here and here to a couple of blog posts that really hit home with me about this same issue.
2 comments:
I haven't had time to really digest this all yet, Geoff, but I just wanted to say a couple of things (I may come back later with more...you never know about me!)
This is one of the things I've struggled with as well over the years...I've questioned (and still question) the paid church staff roles vs. scripture. I also question (and my questions have been tinged with hurt and anger and a lot of ugly-colored words) the whole elder-choosing system I've witnessed the past few years.
Suffice it to say: You are a pastor. I've looked to you for pastoral wisdom and guidance on more than one occasion and you were never my "official" pastor, even when you were in that paid church staff position. I will continue to see you in that light, no matter what your "official" title ends up being, because God has given you that name in my world.
I was never asked to serve as an "official" elder in the church I served (not just attended) faithfully for...13-ish years. I allowed that to color my attitude in not-so-pretty colors for awhile, until my very wise friend Misty told me that GOD had appointed me as an elder and I didn't need the title to do what He called me to do. I hold that title in the worlds of the people who see me in that light...and that's all that matters.
You are wise, my brother and fellow follower of Jesus. Please keep sharing.
Dena, thanks for posting. For some reason I wasn't alerted that you have left a comment, so I just saw it when I checked my Dashboard.
I share your concern over the way most churches I know of select elders, at least as much as I think it tends to get botched pretty bad. Believe me when I say that's not a topic you want to get me started on unless you have a lot of time!
I think the statement you made about seeing me as a pastor, or you as an elder, or whoever as a whatever, regardless of career or title really is at the heart of the point I was trying to make. Maybe I should just tell you what I'm thinking and let you write it next time!
Seriously, thanks for the comments. Sorry it took me a couple of days to respond.
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