After wrestling with the call to join the General Conference (GC) Ministerial Association in 2005, I shared my decision with my Introduction to Pastoral Ministry students. I recall their shock that I was leaving university life. More than that, I remember the question one of my students asked. After I shared with him how conflicted I was while making my decision, he said to me, “What was there to struggle with? The GC is the pinnacle of success!”
Many times I have thought about that question and its ramifications for ministry; more so recently as the time has come for me to move to Berrien Springs, Michigan, where I will serve as a professor in the Christian Ministry Department at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary.
Three questions
My thought process while contemplating this call did not differ from that of thousands of you who are reading this editorial. I can summarize my prayerful approach with three questions:
Is this God’s will? Admittedly while asking that question, I cannot ignore the potential impact on family, finances, and the future. My wife and two adult children fully participated in the nightly discussions. While those three factors played a role, the answer to those queries must not ultimately determine the path to take. That which supersedes the aforementioned is “What does God want me to do?”
Will God be glorified throughHis gifts in me? Dating back to my undergraduate years, I felt God’s call to a teaching ministry. And during the more than 30 years since I graduated, the Holy Spirit has nurtured His gifts within me. After I ran away from this most recent call for a short spell, the Lord placed several people in my path who confirmed divine impressions upon me that years of service have suited me for this next challenge in life.
Does God desire a greater faith walk for me? Sometimes the journey requires that my faith be challenged more than it could be in my present circumstances. Moving from Texas to Maryland provided plenty of challenges that the Lord proved He was much bigger than. But I find that I need a refresher course—a reminder of God’s greatness. Addressing this question redirects the discussion from professional or personal considerations to spiritual realities. And spirituality and personal growth remain the greatest weapons in the ministerial arsenal, regardless of the role of the minister.
Three words of counsel
The student to whom I alluded in the introduction isn’t the only one who thinks as he did. There are some who delight in titles and accolades (“I am the senior pastor of . . .” “I was privileged to baptize hundreds of souls last year.”). Many deem such accomplishments worthy of promotion. And for many, disappointment, hurt, embarrassment, and anger result when one is overlooked for a cherished position. But for us, as ministers of the gospel, the focus must remain on the call to serve. When we started in ministry, and definitely when we were ordained or commissioned to ministry, we vowed to serve wherever God placed us. Maintaining a focus on the call and not the job creates a healthy environment to bless God’s people
Closely associated with the first point, one should not strive to seek a “higher call.” One can know they are gifted to fill a position that many covet. But faith demands that we allow God to be God—allowing the Holy Spirit to move through the enlightened souls of decision-makers. The gifts He places in us will be recognized, acknowledged, and employed—not for our glory, but for God’s glory and the blessing of countless others.
Finally, in speaking with many men who have served as conference presidents, it became clear to me that there is life after holding a position of major responsibility. While it has been a distinct honor to serve in this capacity for a decade, I don’t see life in the GC as the ultimate ministerial experience. The office in which I sit, even as I’m typing, is not my office; rather, it is merely the work space that I have occupied for a season. The same will apply in the seminary building at Andrews University.
The last word
There are too many people to acknowledge and thank in just a paragraph or two. But I must express my gratitude to all the hardworking ministerial secretaries throughout all 13 of our world-church divisions, their associates and staff, as well as countless pastors and professors that I have met over these last ten-and-a-half years. Your people are blessed because of you, and God will continue to bless you and bless through you.
And my undying gratitude belongs to Sheryl Beck, John Feezer, Clayton Kinney, John Fowler, Cliff Goldstein, Myrna Tetz, and the team at Pacific Press. We have worked together since my arrival here, and you have made me look better than I truly deserve. May God bless you all as you continue to faithfully serve Him.