It is a recognized fact in the business world today that every corporation and institution, from a vast army to a country club, from a great factory to a village church, must have a single directing head. As Christ is at the head of the church throughout the earth (Matt. 16 :18), and the chief cornerstone of the household of God (Eph. 2:19, 20), so the pastor, as shepherd of the flock, is the only logical one to bear the responsibility of the progress or the failure of the church both financially and spiritually. (Ezekiel 34.)
The pastor devotes his life and time to the interests involved and the problems to be solved. No one else comes into complete and constant touch with the policies and needs and attitudes of all the organizations and individuals concerned. No one else has opportunity to see the entire work of the congregation without partiality, as does the pastor. He is the one to be at the head of all the affairs of the church, and accordingly, "If a church is hampered at any point by its finances, the officers usually blame the pastor."—ALBERT F. MCGARRAH, Modern Church Finance, p. 210.
There are those who feel like the pastor who remarked, "The money business of my church is no concern of mine. I am a spiritual minister and have nothing to do with its business."Ibid., p. 208. Those who take this attitude, will probably experience a setback in the progress of their church. After relating this experience, Mr. McGarrah states that "while the minister should be very tactful, he should share largely in the management of the church finances. Like every institution, and like the human body to which it is constantly likened, a church is a unity. Disease in any member affects the whole body."—Ibid., p. 209.
As pastor of the flock, the minister should shepherd his people to greater pastures of sacrifice and blessing. It is his duty to see that there is not gendered a spirit of selfishness on the part of any of his members. As shepherd, he must organize the church for effectual work for the Lord. Responsible officers should be chosen to carry out the different activities and businesses of the church. "It is his responsibility to foster and carry forward all the lines of spiritual work in the church."-O. MONTGOMERY, Principles of Church Organization, p. 161. He is at the head, and should see that the many branches of the organized church move smoothly and properly. It is not his duty to shoulder all the responsibility, but he should share it with the local elder and other officers. He is not to become so engrossed in the business of the church that he neglects the spiritual need. This is his chief work. On the other hand, he should be in such close touch with the business end of the church that is being carried forward by properly appointed officers, that he can guide it in the right way.
Boyd M. McKeown, in his book Achieving Results in Church Finance, states that "because a minister has a knowledge of church finance is no reason why he should allow himself to become inmeshed in the detailed responsibilities of the business operations of the church."—Page 32. The church board should give this detailed responsibility to others in the church who have abilities to carry out the program under the supervision of the pastor.
As to the business of the church, the pastor is not the one to lay down the rules or decide the business. This work is the business of the church and is to be decided by the church board or an officially appointed committee. The pas-. tor should either be a member of the committee or be invited to sit with it to give counsel, but the desire of the committee in the matter and the actions taken should be adhered to and followed by all concerned. The pastor, in this sense, is the servant of the church, and it is his responsibility to see that the action of the board or committee is carried out by those who are delegated for the business. (Claude Conard, Seventh-day Adventists Business and Finance [Manuscript], p. 374.)
This also applies to action taken by the General Conference, union conference, or the local conference, affecting the work in the church that the pastor is serving. He should see to it "when policies have been formulated and adopted as a course of action," that "all concerned should regard them as binding upon themselves and their constituencies."—Ibid.
In the matter of building a church the minister is not to act upon his own judgment but rather in accordance with the counsel of the other members of the church who can carry responsibility. Cooperation must be sought. There should be a working together between the pastor and the church. It is the pastor's duty to see that this spirit of cooperation exists, and that the desires of the church are carried out. Not that he is the one to do all the work, but it is his responsibility to see that proper officers are delegated for the work, and that they do the work that has been appointed to them. (Counsels on Stewardship, p. 262.)
In the matter of paying tithe and giving liberal offerings, it is the duty of the minister to instruct and educate his church to faithfulness.
"Those who go forth as ministers have a solemn responsibility devolving upon them which is strangely neglected. . . . There is great need of instruction concerning the obligations and duties to God, especially in regard to paying an honest tithe."—/bid., p. 104.
"It is part of the minister's work to teach those who accept the truth through his efforts, to bring the tithe to the storehouse, as an acknowledgment of their dependence upon God."—Ibid., p. 105.
"Some fail to educate the people to do their whole duty. . . . His people do not give Him in tithes and offerings that which is His own. This robbery of God, which is practiced by both rich and poor, brings darkness into the churches ; and the minister who labors with them, and who does not show them the plainly revealed will of God, is brought under condemnation with the people, because he neglects his duty."—Ibid., P. 87.
McGarrah says that the pastor "must give at least one annual sermon along the lines of stewardship and finance."—Modern Church Finance, p. 214. A faithful pastor, in caring for the spiritual needs of his flock, will not neglect this solemn responsibility. The church will not grow and prosper unless a well-rounded program of education is kept before them, in a tactful, loving way.
The apostle Paul, in speaking of Apollos, Cephas, and himself, said, "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." 1 Cor. 4:1. Here the apostle Paul makes it clear that a minister is a steward, and goes on to say in verse 2 that "it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." Webster defines faithful as firm in adherence to promises, firm and thorough in the observance of duty. A faithful pastor must not, cannot, and will not neglect these many responsibilities as he cares for the spiritual needs of his flock.
