If you’re wondering what the pastor’s role is, here are the best sources published by the publications of Christianity Today clarifying who you are and what you do as a pastor. What do we mean by “pastor”? We’re using the biblical definition, meaning shepherd of a flock, one responsible for the spiritual health of a group or congregation. If you’re looking for a more entrepreneurial or visionary or organizational emphasis, check out the resources under “Lead” or “Leadership Styles.” For resources on the task of preaching, look under “Preach.”
“Hard Job, High Calling” by Heidi Hall. We’ve all seen the supposed statistics on pastors fired, fatigued, or morally failed. While reports of clergy attrition are often exaggerated, pastors still face daunting challenges. This article documents the current realities.
“ABCs of a Pastor’s Role” by Marshall Shelley. This article includes Augustine’s exhausting and exhilarating list, from A.D. 400, of the roles a pastor is called to play, and it then light-heartedly adds some things squarely from the 21st-century pastorate.
“Leading By Example.” This 21-page downloadable training pack focuses not on the pastoral tasks to be done, but rather the life to be lived that reflects the power and love of Jesus Christ. It equips you to set an inspiring example in your ministry.
Eugene Peterson’s articles and interviews in Leadership Journal. Over the years, Eugene Peterson has embodied the clear and undistracted role of pastoring. It wasn’t about running a church and making people feel better about themselves. It was about recognizing the presence of God in all of life, and worshiping him. Some of the essential Peterson pieces include “The Relationally Grounded Pastor: an interview with Eugene Peterson,” and “Pastor in the Present Tense: Your place and essential identity,” and “The Subversive Shepherd: Why and how to return to the hard work of making saints,” and “Haphazardly Intent,” and “Lashed to the Mast: With so many voices wooing us away, it's not easy to cling to our essential task.”
“How I Got a Rhino Hide. Legally” by Mark Buchanan. A vivid glimpse of the interior world of a pastor doing what pastors do.
“In It for the Long Haul” by Lee Eclov. Forget metrics. The pastor's job is to find success when it's invisible, and this piece gives you the eyes to do that.
“I Like Change!” by Stephen Brucker. Lots of pastors see their role as changing one thing after another, because change means movement and movement means progress, right? But as a church planter, was that attitude what needed to change?
“What Gets People to Want What’s Right?” by Mandy Smith. Pastors are in it to see people’s lives transformed into godliness. How does one do that? The default setting is “telling the truth,” but there are better ways to do that than with should, ought, and must.
“My Two Days with Eugene and Jan Peterson” by Glenn Packiam. We’ve already recommended several pieces by Eugene Peterson. Here’s one pastor’s story of visiting the Peterson cabin in Montana and what’s still taking root five years after that transformational visit.
“I Have No Right to Be Here’’ by Mandy Smith. Lots of pastors have questions about their worthiness for the task. And that just might be a sign that you’re called to ministry.
Marshall Shelley is director of the Doctor of Ministry program at Denver Seminary and contributing editor of CTpastors.com
