Even though the world is In a state of confusion and misunderstanding, and human relations are greatly strained, we find a united group of workers in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We cheerfully help one another in every department of the work and press together for a better understanding of mutual problems. Those not of our faith point to our wonderful brotherhood and unity as a miracle.
Paul speaks of this unity. "Labourers together" (1 Cor. 3:9), "workers together" (2 Cor. 6:1). We have one aim, one purpose in life, we are workers together to save and to be saved.
Are we to conclude from this that our relations one with the other cannot be improved? No. Human relations among us should continue to improve until probation closes.
In this connection an important question for study is, How may a conference department secretary maintain good relations with the local church pastor? We shall endeavor to answer this by listing ten commandments for department secretaries.
COMMANDMENT I. Thou shalt cooperate with the pastor in every possible way. Do we talk of how we wish the pastor would cooperate with us? Perhaps we should concentrate the emphasis on how we may cooperate with him. Not only should we help him in our conference-sponsored programs, but we should be willing to go the second mile and help him in his church program. For instance, we may help him in his building program or in his evangelistic program. We may give him relief by taking some of his prayer meetings or other services. Going out of our way a bit to help a pastor is sure to result in good fellowship and improved human relations.
COMMANDMENT II. Thou shalt be charitable with the pastor at all times. Manifest confidence in him. Believe that he is doing his best. Perhaps sometimes a pastor is considered a slacker if in the midst of a nerve-straining experience he overlooks some detail and is slow in a campaign. Mr. Department Secretary, have you ever been a pastor? Do you know what it means to have from ten to thirty pastoral problems all clamoring for immediate attention? Do you know what it means to crowd the members through one campaign so that you can quickly lead them through another? If you do, then you won't find it difficult to be charitable toward the pastor. We must be sympathetic, tender, patient, tolerant, understanding at all times. Try to see his viewpoint. Be bighearted. Don't jump to conclusions. Avoid suspicion. Our human nature is so frail and liable to misconception, that we must be careful in the estimate we place upon another.
Don't be bossy and self-assertive. Never scold, complain, ridicule, belittle, embarrass, or threaten him. Avoid using pressure. Don't put him on the spot. Don't give vent to your ill feelings. Avoid being too sensitive. If you manifest any of these traits, a pastor may lose confidence in you and strained relations result.
Don't look for faults in a pastor. If you are looking for faults in him, he will certainly find them in you. If you think you see ways in which you may improve the pastor's methods, he doubtless sees even more ways in which he can improve yours. Hold to an armistice—if you do not criticize the pastor, it is likely he will not criticize you. Once criticism starts, it is difficult to stop. If you act in a perfectly normal and human manner in dealing with the pastor, the chances are much better that he will treat you the same way.
Talk over what you expect of him. Discover together how to supplement each other's work. In counsel there is understanding. Pray together, for prayer changes attitudes.
COMMANDMENT III. Thou shalt not give the pastor the idea that you know it all or that you are above him. Be humble. He knows something, too. Be teachable. You can learn many things from the pastor. Ask him questions. He'll like you for it.
Avoid making a pastor feel inferior. Don't be guilty of a superhuman air. Great men are humble men. If you are tempted to look down on a brother, you must put your foot right down on self and look up to God.
COMMANDMENT IV. Thou shalt always allow the pastor to be the big man in his district. Do not steal the hearts of his members like an Absalom—"Oh, that I were pastor of this church, how I would improve this situation." Don't take sides with any of the members against him. Don't allow anyone to tear down the pastor to you; uphold him in the face of opposition. When someone talks him down, you talk him up. Refuse to be a party to any alien spirit or misguided effort that will weaken the pastor's work.
Resist all separating wedges. Refrain from making the most casual remark to any church member regarding his inability. Always speak highly of the pastor to his congregation. Build their confidence in his leadership. Say nothing that will weaken his influence before them. Don't identify yourself with a clique, especially if you are a former pastor. The people's attachment to him is far more important than their love for you.
When his members come to you for counsel on personal matters, refer them kindly to the pastor, for he will have to deal with them ultimately. You might give a brief word of admonition, have a word of prayer, and then direct them to the pastor for detailed counsel.
COMMANDMENT V. Thou shalt show a personal interest in the pastor and his family problems. Be a pastor to him. When he confides in you, do not betray his confidence. Be loyal. Pray with him and his family for wisdom and victory. Take time to fellowship with them. Never pass by their house without stopping if you can possibly help it.
COMMANDMENT VI. Thou shalt never criticize a pastor to a fellow minister. Don't peddle abroad his weaknesses, failures, and oddities. This not only weakens his influence, but it weakens yours, too. None of us are perfect—if we were, we'd be where Enoch is.
If it becomes necessary to point out some weakness in a worker, do it with kindness. It is much better to to it privately than in a bulletin. When weaknesses are pointed out with love and tact, the worker will be strengthened and the work will advance.
Be careful not to carry tales to the conference president. Do not fit into the role of "accuser of the brethren." Avoid building up yourself before the president at the expense of some worker.
Don't depreciate one man before another. Always stay on the positive side. Avoid building one man up by tearing another down. Be careful of comparisons. We must recognize that not all pastors have the same abilities and talents. Don't pit one against another. Be careful not to foster strong competition.
COMMANDMENT VII. Thou shalt represent Christ in your deportment, word, and dress. Don't jest and joke with the pastors to the extent that they will evaluate you as a fool. Do not give them the occasion to criticize you for your lightness and insincerity. Be dignified, yet friendly. Be serious. Your earnestness will command their respect.
COMMANDMENT VIII. Thou shalt be fair at all times. Don't make a man in a large district look small because a man in a district with a limited area reaches his goal first. Recognize a man's accomplishments for what they really are. Avoid playing favorites.
COMMANDMENT IX. Thou shalt be prompt in all of your appointments. If you know that you will be late, or must break an appointment, by all means inform the pastor in time, so that he may make other arrangements. Such a program will build up the pastor's confidence in you and give him the assurance that he can depend on you.
COMMANDMENT X. Thou shalt be unselfish. Take time to encourage a pastor with sincere praise and honest words of commendation. If you appreciate the work he is doing, tell him so. It will lighten his burdens. Speak of his virtues, abilities, good judgment, and other strong points. Avoid jealousy. Be big enough to work for and delight in his success. His success is yours.
We are the' "thinker-uppers." We dig out ideas, devise methods, lay plans, and then pass them on to him. Perhaps he will get credit for some of our ideas, but he will always like us better for it. After all, our goal is the finishing of the work and not credit. How much would any of us be able to accomplish without the help of the faithful, devoted pastor? He is a valuable leader, and we may make him more valuable. Unselfishly give him all the credit you can, even though some of it rightfully belongs to you.
Many years ago pipe organs had to be pumped by hand. The boy who did the pumping was never seen, but his work was hard and very necessary. In one particular church the organ boy took great pride in his job. At the close of a certain Sunday morning service, when the music had gone particularly well, the boy stepped over to the organist and said, "We did pretty well today, didn't we?"
"We—we—what do you mean by 'we'? If you want to say that I did well, that's all right, but don't put yourself in it!"
Well, the boy felt a bit hurt, but he didn't sulk. He had a sense of humor, and the next Sunday morning at the very moment when the organist reached the climax in his music, the blower boy just sat down and quit. The organist called to him frantically, "More air! More air!" But the boy just sat back and said, "Go ahead yourself; you're doing it today."
Brethren, let us be careful not to make our pastors feel that way. We must always remember that we are workers together with the pastor. Let us be unselfish men, big enough to share the credit with him. If he gets credit that is rightfully ours, we'll come in for our share in due time.
Keeping the foregoing commandments the best we can will most certainly develop a more satisfactory relationship with, and foster a stronger spirit of good will toward, our good friend and brother, the pastor.
