| Pastors: Not a Savior for Every Floundering Effort Click here to return to the Church Innovations web site. One of the difficult lessons I had to learn during Partnership for Missional Church was to not be Jesus. Yeah, I know that sounds weird, but it’s true. I had to learn how to not be the one in the congregation who would save every floundering project, plan, and priority. I had to learn how to let the congregation make decisions that didn’t depend on me. No congregation can make the missional move if the pastor continues to function as the safety net for all projects, plans, and priorities. In truth, a much more challenging role must be learned: how to help the congregation to reflect on the projects, plans, and priorities which fail, seeking to make them into excellent failures. I know my fellow pastors are thinking that the last thing they need is one more thing to do—and you’re right! Many pastors are doing way too much right now. But a second reality is also in place. Most congregations are not ready to function differently. Most congregations unconsciously expect their pastor to be like Jesus—to give up your life to save them. But this is not faithful leadership. Seminary does not teach most pastors how to lead faithfully. Some teach acquiescence, some teach leading from the edges, and some teach the expected self-sacrifice. What we pastors need to learn about leadership is that faithful pastoral leadership inspires responsible lay leadership. Ultimately the congregation leads itself while the pastor continually helps the congregation reflect questions like: “What God is doing with us?” “What is God up to here…in our church…in our community…in our world?” Don’t worry about putting yourself out of a job. Our common human condition guarantees that pastors who can help congregations reflect on what God is up to within the congregation and out in the community will always be needed. Instead of seeking to prove you’re essential to the functioning of the congregation, learn how your role is to help the congregation function more faithfully within the community context in which they are located. Partnership for Missional Church does not teach pastors how to become burnt out ex-super-pastors. PMC teaches the pastor how to pay attention to what God is already doing in the congregation and in the world. PMC teaches the pastor how and when to ask the God questions. PMC teaches the pastor how to be a faithful servant leader in a time of rapid change and adaptive challenge. |
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