The pastor is the spiritual leader and adviser of the church, appointed to this position by the conference committee and responsible to that committee in all his work. He ranks above all local church officers and is chairman of the church board by virtue of his appointment as pastor. (See Church Manual, pp. 99, 163.)
It is the duty of the pastor to "instruct the church officers in their duties and plan with them for all lines of church work and activity."—Church Manual, pp. 162, 163. This makes it imperative that the pastor meet with the various councils and committees of the church at regular intervals, as well as with the church board. The pastor must delegate responsibility and at the same time maintain general supervision. This can best be done first by clear, detailed instructions as to responsibilities; second, by asking for regular reports at councils and committees.
Never be afraid to ask questions to secure the infolination you need. Do not take anything for granted. Be explicit in instructions. Be enthusiastic; be optimistic; be courageous; be loyal to the denomination, to its campaigns and projects; give sympathetic, kind, but positive leadership.
If the pastor doesn't have plans and a program of missionary endeavor to suggest, it is not likely to come from the church, though this sometimes happens. When it does, the slow-moving pastor should have the good grace to step aside and not hinder progress, for his leadership has been nullified:
"The best help that ministers can give the members of our churches is not sermonizing, but planning work for them. Give each one something to do for others. Help all to see that as receivers of the grace of Christ they are under obligation to work for Him. And let all be taught how to work."—Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 82. (Italics supplied.)
"Many pastors fail in not knowing how, or in not trying, to get the full membership of the church actively engaged in the various departments of church work. If pastors would give more attention to getting and keeping their flock actively engaged at work, they would accomplish more good, have more time for study and religious visiting, and also avoid many causes of friction."--Gospel Workers, p. 198.
Let ministers teach church-members that in order to grow in spirituality, they must carry the burden that the Lord has laid upon them,—the burden of leading souls into the truth. Those who are not fulfilling their responsibility should be visited, prayed with, labored for.—Ibid., p. 200. (Italics supplied.)
Ministers, preach the truths that will lead to personal labor for those who are out of Christ. Encourage personal effort in every possible way.—Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 124.
In order for these principles to be applied effectively there must be thorough organization on the part of the pastor. Detailed plans must be laid and enthusiastically "sold" to the church membership. Thorough instruction of individual duty and responsibility must be given. A prepared How-to-do-it kit may be helpful, but there is no substitute for personal instruction enthusiastically given.
The best way to gain acceptance of a plan is to let the appropriate council or committee help formulate the plan—the Sabbath school council when considering branch Sabbath schools; the missionary committee, the young people's executive committee, or whatever group is appropriate to consider the activity involved.
Success is the successful follow-through of a well-laid plan of action. Everything depends on follow-through. Perhaps that is why the servant of the Lord said, "God has no use for lazy men in His cause; He wants thoughtful, kind, affectionate, earnest workers."—Ibid., vol. 4, p. 411. When plans are in action it is the pastor's job to keep abreast of all developments, to counsel, advise, encourage, and guide, but never to give up or appear disinterested. Careful organization of work and time facilitates this part of the task.
Pastoral Organization
The Spirit of Prophecy writings indicate that the early morning hours are best for study. "The early morning often found Him [Jesus] in some secluded place, meditating, searching the Scriptures, or in prayer. From these quiet hours He would return to His home to take up His duties again, and to give an example of patient toil."—The Desire of Ages, p. 90. A time and place for study are essential to the successful minister. It is also essential that it be a "quiet" place. If the place is a home study, it should be understood that no unnecessary interruptions disturb the study hours. From the study time the pastor also is to go forth to set "an example of patient toil." There are calls to be made!
A card file or loose-leaf notebook containing an alphabetized, comprehensive information sheet on every church member and every prospective member is essential for the pastor who would conserve time and organize his work successfully. In addition to this, calling lists may be prepared by geographical location, with a view to conserving both time and gasoline. The date, along with other pertinent information, should be listed on the information sheet following each call.
Remember that when you call you do so as the spiritual leader of the church. Do not mix pastoral and social calls. Save the social call for special occasions. Many pastors have lost their effectiveness by encouraging a first-name relationship that made it difficult to distinguish between pastoral and social relationships. The pastoral call need not be long. One of the most efficient ministers I have known makes calls that often last only five minutes and rarely last longer than fifteen minutes. In order to do this the pastor must take the lead in the conversation. A few brief statements or well-directed questions can lead directly to the purpose of the call. Appropriate verses of Scripture or counsel from the Spirit of Prophecy writings may be read or quoted. Earnest prayer should be offered, remembering in a special way the problems of the individual or the home. Remember especially any unsaved members of the family. In city territory, four or more such calls may be made in an hour--twelve to sixteen a day, with ample time left for Bible studies, council meetings, and other duties. More time should be spent in personal evangelism than in pastoral calling. Evangelism is our work.
By personal labor reach those around you. Become acquainted with them. Preaching will not do the work that needs to be done. Angels of God attend you to the dwellings of those you visit. This work cannot be done by proxy.... Sermons will not do it. By visiting the people, talking, praying, sympathizing with them, you will win hearts. This is the highest missionary work that you can do. To do it, you will need resolute, persevering faith, no-wearying patience, and a deep love for souls.—Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 41.
Your church members will be more responsive and will work better when they know you are at work. They soon learn whether they can reach you at home by telephone any hour of the day.
To further conserve time, prepare a church calendar of council and committee meetings. If these appointments are met regularly, the items for consideration carefully prepared, and the discussion directed to the business of the hour, these meetings need not be unnecessarily frequent or long. Here again thorough organization is essential.
Ministers should love order and should discipline themselves, and then they can successfully discipline the church of God and teach them to work harmoniously like a well-drilled company of soldiers. . . . Angels work harmoniously. Perfect order characterizes all their movements. The more closely we imitate the harmony and order of the angelic host, the more successful will be the efforts of these heavenly agents in our behalf. If we see no necessity for harmonious action, and are disorderly, undisciplined, and disorganized in our course of action, angels, who are thoroughly organized and move in perfect order, cannot work for us successfully. They turn away in grief, for they are not authorized to bless confusion, distraction, and disorganization.— Ibid ., vol. 1, p. 649.
Our next question might well be, Do the angels join in the church services for which we are responsible or do they turn away in grief?
The Sabbath school and the Sabbath worship service should be the high light of the spiritual experience of the church. Whether this is true depends on the consecration, organization, and orderly procedures of those responsible for conducting these services. All distracting influences should be eliminated. Neatness, cleanliness, and order in the physical appointments of the sanctuary itself are of utmost importance. Careful coaching of all participants in the service, including instruction on how to fulfil their assigned duty, is essential.
The pastor is responsible for the order of service and the church bulletin. He may delegate the actual work of mimeographing to another, but he is responsible for the content and organization. The bulletin should be neat, concise, well arranged.
Visitors attending any service of the church should be impressed with the quiet dignity, the reverence, and the spiritual atmosphere that prevails. This impression will be conveyed in large part by the mien of those who take part in the service. No matter how small the membership or attendance, every service should be conducted with reverence, order, and a sense of spiritual awe, for unless we drive them away by uncouth carelessness, the Holy Spirit and the angels of God are present at every service.
As ministers of God's last message we dare not lower the standards of the remnant church by a slovenly example in labor or in worship. We must each give an account of our leadership and its results.
"True success in any line of work is not the result of chance or accident or destiny. It is the outworking of God's providences, the reward of faith and discretion, of virtue and perseverance. Fine mental qualities and a high moral tone are not the result of accident. God gives opportunities; success depends upon the use made of them."—Prophets and Kings, p. 486.
