Question Thursday
Each Thursday, I devote a post to question asking. Please feel free to comment, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Something that has been on my mind for the past few weeks is how to best understand what it is I do. If you need a refresher on who I am, read the About section of my blog.
I hate it when I get asked, “So, what is it that you actually do day to day?” It is an innocent enough question but always makes me feel uneasy, largely because I have no idea where to start. How do I describe my job in ministry? It is so multifaceted and it changes from day to day.
One of the ways some people use to describe pastoral ministry is to use metaphor. Even the word “pastor” is a metaphor for the “shepherding” aspect of my role. Another metaphor I heard recently is that ministry is analogous to “sales.” Other metaphors that are often used are guide, mentor, scholar, prophet, theologian, evangelist, sage, chaplain, missionary, CEO, preacher, etc.
When you think of pastors in your life (either past or present) what images come to your mind? What imagery would you use to describe their role in your life? If you are a pastor (in any form), how do you see your role in the church and the world?
Just read from Seth Godin another metaphor: pastors are marketers.
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/05/marketing-intolerance.html
Some of the words you used to describe pastors do a fair job for me. Some of the pastors, or pastoral figures in my life, have served as guides– helping to point me in the right direction as I try to follow Christ. They’ve also been prophets– not in the foretelling, but in the forth-telling sense, being able to pierce through my words and appearance and speak the truth of God to me. They’ve also been motivators– inspiring me with the reminder that in following Christ I am joining in with saints through the centuries who have lived and died for Christ, who have pursued the already & not-yet Kingdom of God on earth. They’ve helped me see my walk with Christ as a small part of the bigger picture. I also think that pastors can represent hope, or a sense of constant encouragement. The pastoral figures in my life have been to me people that help me keep moving forward, to not lose heart. Those are some of my thoughts.
guide, prophet (forth-telling), motivator, encourager.
That’s really good, thanks.
don’t forget pastor as salesman
What does Spencer Smith do all day?
“Listen, those mines aren’t going to sweep themselves.”
Pastors have always been to me all of those things you mention – but in the past two years, I can add one more thing – friend.
Jason and I really value our friendship with you and abby… and we’re so glad ya’ll are in Tulsa.
Thanks, Emily. Your reply is quite profound. At Perkins, professors of pastoral care often speak against “dual-relationships.” Clergy should have professional relationships with the laity and not cross the line into personal relationships. I didn’t buy that when I was in class, and I certainly don’t buy into that now. Christian community is required for us to go forward with God’s mission, and to think that for the pastor to remain separate relationally from the congregation is counter-productive. I value serving God with my friends. I can be real. I can be honest. So, I love your reply because it flies right in the face of some thinking.
Hi Spencer. Oooh, I know I’m late on this one, but felt compelled to comment. Pastoring is one of those roles that is difficult to define, much like “Stay at home Mom”… I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “So what do you do all day?” It’s one of those jobs that goes largely unnoticed until someone’s not there to do it, or someone drops the proverbial ball, so to speak. Erica Logan posted a beautiful blog a few weeks back about a Mom, who at times was only hands that did something, or was only needed for what she could find, clean, etc. Go look it up, because it does a supreme job of validating the role of Mom, and in parallel, it validates the many similar roles of Pastor as completely essential. I’m sure being a pastor is full of thankless days and unreasonable expectations. I’m sure being a pastor lets you see the absolute best and worst of others, and yourself. I’ve had the unusual experience of having several pastors who had complete moral breakdowns, and thus I have learned that pastors are signs along the road of life pointing you in the direction of the Almighty, and that they themselves aren’t the Almighty. And that’s OK. Because any time we rely on a person to be God for us (Pastor or whoever) we will most certainly be disappointed. I love my Pastors. I love that they give a rip, when most parishioners would just like to be unilaterally served, thank you very much. We are incredibly blessed to have you (and Abby for that matter, even though she’s not on staff, I know, blah blah blah). I think most people hold pastors to too high a standard of personal and spiritual perfection. Thank goodness you don’t hold us to that! So I guess what I’m saying, is that Pastoring is a terribly unfair, occasionally exasperating, utterly inspired profession, and there’s really no way to list every role, because as the hands and heart of Jesus, you don’t fit in a box. I’d prefer you to bust out of its seams… just don’t leave Asbury quite yet! P.S. re: discouraging Pastor-Laity friendships. Pretty sure Jesus chuckles at that one!