Sharpening our focus

Suddenly everything was out of focus. I rubbed my eyes, but it did not help. Then I closed one eye—I could see clearly. I closed the other eye, and everything was blurred again. I had lost a contact lens and, with it, my ability to see clearly.

Sometimes we lose our ability to see clearly in ministry, affecting not only our short-term but also our longer-term service to God and the church. We need something to restore our focus.

Careful policies, caring processes

We live in an age of hurry. Everything must be done now, preferably yesterday! Reading policies and following all the steps in the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual may seem unnecessary—until things go wrong. Here is an example:

Robert sat facing the conference president, treasurer, and ministerial secretary. The growing silence was overwhelming as they waited for an explanation. He did not know what to say. Nothing, he realized, would justify his actions or make things right.

The local church had grown under his leadership to the extent that they needed to expand their building. He had talked in general terms with the conference president and treasurer. When the church board voted to take out a $2 million loan, he negotiated a good interest rate with the bank. Unfortunately the church went ahead without further conversations with the conference. Now they were over budget, and the church was disunited. The main backers had not redeemed their pledges, and given the conflict, it seemed unlikely they would. It was a mess, one that could easily have been avoided. If only . . .

Ignore policy, expect confusion

We all follow rules—rules of the road when we drive, rules when we join any club or association. So why is there a reluctance to follow the church “rules” set out in the Church Manual? Developed over years, taking best practices from around the globe, it provides a standard for the local church wherever you are. It provides consistency and clarity.

These standards are important. Issues can arise when pastors and churches approach a problem using personal perspectives. For example, a young couple is not living up to the church’s moral standards. After discussions, the church board decides they have no option but to remove them from membership. However, a neighboring congregation invites them to be members. The result is confusion over standards and hurt to the individuals and their families and friends.

In addition, administrators have Working Policy manuals tailored to every church level, from mission to General Conference. They, too, are designed to safeguard administrators and the organization.

Ignoring policies and processes results in inconsistencies, creating hurt, confusion, and damage, not least to you as the pastor. Some aspects can be especially damaging, especially in the area of pastoral moral integrity.

Man’s fall, God’s grace

When news of a high-profile moral fall breaks, a common response among pastors is a sense of relief if it is not their denomination in the headlines and perhaps, for some, a sense of “there but by the grace of God go I.”¹ It is all too easy to take the moral high ground and think it could never happen to me.

The reality that even pastors are susceptible to temptation is reflected in policies relating to pastoral discipline.² The greater the responsibility that we are called to, the greater the challenges we will face. Following the Church Manual, church policies, and church processes protects both the pastor and members. Furthermore, looking to Jesus, studying His example, and bringing our challenges to Him provide clarity and consistency as we face our own shortcomings and the realities of ministry in a sin-tarnished world.