The greatest need of the contemporary church is the strengthening of the local pulpits." This sobering statement by Ralph W. Sockman, nationally known Methodist Episcopal pastor in New York, contains real thought for reflection. It was part of an answer he gave to the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in its quadrennial session in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Sockman had been approached to accept the office of bishop. He said that though he had a "very high regard for the episcopal office and the men who hold it," yet he declined the offer. "There is a tragic lag," he said, "between pronouncements of general church conventions and the practices of local church congregations." Then concluding, he said, "We can never exalt the pulpit properly as long as we regard it as a stepping-stone to administrative positions."
Those who know Dr. Sockman will -agree that the last thing he would knowingly do would be to cast aspersion on any administrative office, and neither would we. Such offices have their place. Because he is a man of wide experience, Dr. Sockman's influence is felt throughout the nation and the whole English-speaking world, and yet as a faithful pastor he is also well aware that a minister's greatest influence is exerted from be hind a pulpit rather than from behind a desk. Having served as pastor in the same church for thirty-seven years, he is well qualified to speak on this great point.
"The strengthening of the local pulpits" is indeed a great need, not only in the Methodist Church, but also in the Adventist Church. Where there is a strong preaching ministry there is always a lessening of the problems of the congregation. It is lamentable when, as the poet Milton said,
"The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed." And yet such is all too often the tragic truth. To be called of God to feed His flock is a tremendous responsibility, and only he who is willing to pay the price can measure up to it. But it is a responsibility that is most rewarding to the one who looks at it through the eyes of an apostle.
Some time ago it was reported to us that two of our most successful pastor-evangelists had been approached by their respective conferences to accept executive responsibility. Recognizing that every service for God is important, and knowing these men well, we awaited their decision with particular interest. Each of them sensed the honor represented by such a call and appreciated the expression of confidence by their brethren. Although both of these brethren would have graced the position, yet they declined to accept the invitation. Like Dr. Sockman, they too felt that they had been called to a definite practical ministry in the local church, and so made their decision to remain in the work of direct shepherding. It was not office but service that they were seeking.
Is there any work in all the world so spiritually satisfying as that of a shepherd evangelist? How true it is that the closer one lives to the people, the greater can be his influence for good! It has been well said that "God had only one Son and He made Him a preacher." We too have been called of God to the great work of preaching. Let us pray the Great Shepherd of the sheep to help and inspire us so to "strengthen our local pulpits," that our dear members, hearing their pastors deliver the message of God week by week, will come to realize more and more that those pastors are indeed men sent from God.
