In seminary we learned many noble ideals about our life's work. Occasionally, however, these goals and well-intentioned pieces of advice need a bit of, er, refinement when we reach the parish. Here are a few young-pastor's visions (and how they often get translated later on).
Never take a church unless it extends you a unanimous call. (Never take a church unless it extends you a call.)
Never take a church unless you're willing to stay there the rest of your life. (Don't bail out unless you've stuck it out for at least three years.)
Only you are being hired, not your spouse, so the congregation has no right to place expectations on your spouse. (Make sure your spouse attends all interviews and never misses worship or church school.)
Your salary is unimportant; your compensation is to serve the Lord. (Your salary is public knowledge; your compensation is discussed at annual meetings.)
Immerse your ministry in prayer. (Immerse your ministry in prayer and administration.)
When recruiting, find a gift match between, say, a person who loves kids and a need for a second-grade teacher. (When recruiting, find a gift match between, say, a warm adult body and an abandoned second-grade class.)
Recruit only dedicated, visionary Christians to serve on the church board. (Recruit only Christians to serve on the board.)
The pastor is the coach, the members are the players. (The pastor is the player, the members are general managers.)
Spend an hour in study for each minute in the pulpit. (Spend at least an hour preparing your sermon.)
Don't wait until Saturday night to prepare your sermon. (Don't wait until Sunday morning to prepare your sermon.)
Always preach your convictions without regard for the consequences. (Poll the elders on controversial matters to know what convictions to preach.)
Delegate. (Delegate-until you discover it takes twice as much time to recruit, train, and supervise people, and once they become proficient, their company will transfer them to Florida. Then go back to doing things yourself.)
Refer difficult counseling cases to skilled professionals. (Refer as many counseling cases as possible to anyone else you can.)
Don't neglect your family. (Don't neglect the elders.)
Take a day off every week. (Take a day off every month.)
Don't mess with the women's group. (Don't mess with the women's group.)
-Kevin Miller, Mark Galli, Jim Berkley, and Richard Doebler
Carol Stream, Illinois
Copyright © 1991 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal. Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.
