Every year is important in the life of the pastor, but 1993 will be an even more important year if the church has its way. The Seventh-day Adventist Church, in an Annual Council action, has designated 1993 as the Year of the Pastor, with the following objectives:
"(1) Reaffirm the importance of the pastorate in the mind of each church leader, pastor, and member as the pivotal function of ministerial endeavor; (2) up date and strengthen communication and understanding between pastor and administrator; (3) establish a global theology of ministry that defines the role of the pastor as watchman, shepherd, and preacher in modern society; (4) address the issues threatening the church's mission; (5) structure, with broad input from pastors, systems of evaluation, communication, and accountability for all levels of church organization that will assist in improving effectiveness in achieving church ministry."
Seven pastors and one local conference ministerial secretary currently serve on the General Conference Executive Committee. These individuals also serve as a pastoral advisory to Ministry. The editors of Ministry met with these pastors during the 1992 Annual Council and received much helpful advice. In addition, these pastors agreed to contribute a para graph outlining their expectations concerning this special Year of the Pastor. We have also asked Nancy Canwell, one of our new special assistant editors, to add her reflections on the Year of the Pastor.
Dwight Nelson
I'm excited about the church setting aside a year for corporate and global affirmation of the ministry of the Adventist pastor. As one who has responded to Christ's call to radical discipleship in pastoral ministry, I want to join the men and women of the pastorate in renewing my vows to serve the Master in parish ministry.
If ever there was a time when the church should be calling the brightest and best of its young to the pastorate, it is now. With human society in escalating disintegration, now more than ever, the Seventh-day Adventist Church needs to enable and equip men and women for an end-time mission of redemption and reconciliation. For that critical task God continues to call pastors to live His life and lead His people through the bloodied up trenches of human survival.
Pastoral ministry is the incarnation of Jesus' life of service in the midst of a suffering world. "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21, NRS V). To follow in the steps of the Chief Shepherd and Pastor--is there a greater joy or honor? In this Year of the Pastor, let us who are pastors make it the Year of the Master. --Dwight Nelson, senior pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Denis Fortin
In the fast-paced ever-changing world in which we live, the pastoral ministry has become diversified and multifaceted. It is not uncommon for a pastor during a day's work to be a shepherd, an administrator, a teacher, a counselor, and a preacher. Few vocations require a working knowledge in so many fields. How ever, as pastors we can easily become entangled in our various tasks. Thus we need to be reminded of the meaning of our calling. To me, this Year of the Pastor means that our church will emphasize three major aspects of pastoral ministry.
First, that it is a spiritual ministry calling our pastors to deepen their relationship with Jesus through prayer and Bible study. Second, that it is a professional ministry encouraging our pastors to enhance their pastoral skills through continuing education and professional growth. Third, that pastoral ministry is a valuable asset to our church, asking both membership and conference leaders to tangibly care for their pastors and their families. --Denis Fortin, pastor of the Quebec City church in Quebec.
Desmond Francis
The work of the minister is a constant day by day activity. It is one where pastors find themselves giving more and more of themselves. As plans are made for celebrating the Year of the Pastor, emphasis should be placed on the fact that the pastor should also receive as he or she gives.
Ministers are required to give of their time as teachers, counselors, trainers, nurturers, and shapers of the lives of church members-- especially new believers. Pastors must use his or her talents to help each parishioner achieve their goals and be better equipped for service. The pastor must be one who is a lover of people, ensuring that his or her life will positively touch the lives of children, senior citizens, and all age groups in between.
For the Year of the Pastor to be meaningful, special emphasis needs to be placed on each area of the pastor's involvement. Although pastors may not be asking any thing in return for their service, they appreciate it if both employer and congregation would affirm and love them in return. The Year of the Pastor should be a time for improved fellowship between pastor and members and pastor and ad ministration. It should be a year when each group would appreciate the other more and build up trust and understanding that the gospel might go to all the world. --Desmond Francis, pastor of the Mount Vernon Church in New York City.
Charles Ferguson
Encouragement for pastors is more imminent than I had imagined before attending the North American Division year-end meeting. Action taken should bring hope to all ministers. Having personally participated in the process of designating 1993 the Year of the Pastor, I am satisfied that this initiative is not an administrative strategy to patronize those of us engaged in grass- roots ministry.
Opportunities are ripe on all levels of our church structure to affirm the worth of the pastor. Perhaps the most promising is that of clarifying our identity as pas tors. We, as well as our members, need a consensus regarding the biblical basis of ministry and our unique role as pastors. The year ahead offers much potential. --Charles Ferguson, pastor of the Spokane Valley church in Spokane, Washington.
Peter Campbell
The Year of the Pastor is a good idea, but seems an attempt by the powers that be to placate those on the front line rather than truly help them. We are constantly reminded that we are the most important part of the church organization, yet as soon as we leave for a "higher" level we are "rewarded" with higher pay.
If the church is really interested in improving pastoral morale, the single most important action it can take is to implement pay equity between pastors and the other levels of the church. I do not need another plaque to hang on the wall. I would like recognition from my church that pastors need to be given a truly living wage. Help me live in the nineties by unshackling the Depression mentality and relieving me where it hurts most in my pocketbook.
I love this church and will continue to give my life for it, regardless of whether the brethren give us adequate recognition. --Peter Campbell, pastor of the Dupont Park church in Washington, D.C.
Eric Ward
I would like to see a clarification and strengthening of the servant-leader role that the pastor plays in the church. I would also like to see the building of greater relationships between: the pastor and conference administration, the pas tor and church members, the pastor and his or her family.
The Year of the Pastor should also help strengthen the pastor in three important areas: biblical preaching, nurturing of the church family, and evangelism. Evangelism includes: personal, public, converting, conserving, training, and nurturing of the flock. --Eric Calvin Ward, senior pastor of the Oakwood College church in Huntsville, Alabama.
Nancy Canwell
As my plane lifts off the runway at Baltimore-Washington International Air port, I think of the 15 new friends I'm leaving behind. We came to one place from many: California, Ohio, Delaware, Washington, Illinois, North Carolina, and Maryland. Our backgrounds are different, as well as our family life, skin color, and dreams for the future. But there is one thing we all have in common, something that serves as a bond between us: we are Seventh-day Adventist women pastors.
This year marked the first North American Division Women in Ministry Committee, cosponsored by the NAD Ministerial and Women's Ministries departments. We were invited to come and meet fellow women pastors, share what God is doing through us in our various churches, and become acquainted with the NAD officers.
The most memorable experience for me was the afternoon we shared our individual calling to the ministry. I can picture the faces of the women as they shared something obviously meaningful to them. One woman at age 6 sat on her father's knee and told him of her desire to become a pastor; another responded to an academy Week of Prayer call to dedicate her life to the ministry; yet another was lovingly encouraged at age 12 by her mother's challenge, "You can be any thing you want to be just keep following God;" others were established in various careers but felt pulled continually toward the ministry until they re trained for a pastoral career.
A few of the pastors shared that their journeys had been painful at times. They had experienced some criticism and prejudice through hurtful words and letters. Yet they kept on keeping on, because they felt called and wanted to obey.
All had positive stories to share, for each pastor holds in her heart memories of how her ministry has touched lives. There was the woman pastor who was ministering to a terminally ill member; another has had the privilege of baptizing an entire family; another has organized an early-morning worship option on Sabbaths; several have prepared couples for marriage and performed their weddings; others have been invited to speak through out the division; all have been active in pastoral counseling.
Listening to their stories left me longing for our church to have a greater awareness of the contribution women pastors are making. And increased awareness could lead to opportunities for in creased involvement. During the 1993 Year of the Pastor, lay leaders and administrators have an opportunity to affirm women in pastoral ministry. They could do this in several ways: (1) encourage and support young women studying for the ministry; (2) hire those who have qualifying gifts; (3) affirm women pas tors at the local church level; and (4) invite women pastors to serve on committees, to write for our periodicals, and to speak at workers' meetings, camp meetings, and seminars.
As I fly I look out the window and think of all the people below. People who need the Lord. People who could benefit from the ministry of women pastors. But there are so few of us. In a world where broken homes, hearts, and minds need the healing touch of a pastor, God needs the gifts of both men and women in ministry. Both are called to be servants. --Nancy Canwell, associate pastor of the Walla Walla College church in College Place, Washington
Ministerial Association
The General Conference Ministerial Association has produced a number of items of special relevance for the Year of the Pastor. The How to Love Your Pastoral Family video, available from the Ministerial Association, should be shown in every church. Church Ministries is also developing a number of strategies to en courage church members to recognize their pastors. Pastors usually do not want to toot their own horn, but they could casually mention to their local leaders that this video is available.
A new and completely rewritten Minister's Manual is now available for all pastors. A new Elder's Manual will soon be available. Projects to be completed in 1993 include an Ellen G. White compilation on pastoral ministry and a book on Adventist worship.
The Ministerial Association will continue to educate church leaders regarding the needs and interests of pastors. It is not that church leaders are unsympathetic toward pastoral needs, but sometimes they have been away from the pastorate so long that it is hard for them to really appreciate what it is like to be a pastor. When Ken Wade joined the Ministerial Association a few years back he added a dimension, having come straight from the local parish. He would remind us at certain times that we had forgotten what it was really like at the grass roots.
This need to keep in touch drove me back to pastoring a local church for the past two years. The press of work and other obligations have caused me to give this up for the time being. But during those two years I gained a new appreciation for the joys and sorrows that come with pastoring.
The arrival of Jim and Sharon Cress to head up our association adds another dimension. They come straight from the parish. They know from personal experience what it is like. Be sure to read the Pastor's Pastor in this issue. We want to keep in touch. We bear the same burden that you have that of ministering to men and women, boys and girls, the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Let us continue to remember the words of Jesus:
"Ye know that they which are ac counted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:42-45).
