The Urgent Need for Reformation in Pastoral Ministry # 2

The Urgent Need for Reformation in Pastoral Ministry # 2

6. Traditional pastoral ministry views elders as separate from the pastoral function. It is common for us to think that while "the pastor" devotes himself to "spiritual" matters, the elders are to do the "non-spiritual" work. This is, however, clearly misguided and shows how we have allowed false traditions to influence our pastoral practice. The truth is that such terms as "pastor", "elder", and "overseer" are used interchangeably within the New Testament. Thus, all elders have the responsibility of teaching and shepherding the flock, as opposed to simply sitting on an executive board and making administrative decisions (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim. 5:17; Titus 1:5-9; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4). Moreover, the contemporary distinctions between elders and "lay" elders has no biblical basis. The same could be said for "teaching" elders and "ruling" elders. The New Testament only speaks of "elders."

7. Traditional pastoral ministry encourages local churches to look for pastors outside of their immediate congregations. Thus, there is always the need to form a "pastoral search committee." In contrast, the New Testament teaches that church shepherds are to arise from the church's own rank and assembly where they have already proven their spiritual maturity and demonstrated their ability to pastor the saints (Acts 14:23; 2 Tim. 2:2; Titus 1:5). Sadly, most evangelical churches do not raise and train their own men pastoral leadership and, often, the qualifications for oversight listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 are either ignored or down-played when evaluating potential candidates. 

8. Traditional pastoral ministry teaches that only those who have been properly "ordained" have the authority to "administer the elements" within the Lord's Supper. The New Testament, however, never once teaches or even suggests this. To say that only the "ordained minister" has the right to preside over the bread and cup is to deny, in practice, the priesthood right of the believer. We must never forget that the Lord's Supper is a community meal, not a clergy meal.

9. Traditional pastoral ministry promotes a training system (i.e. seminary) for its pastors which has numerous inherent defects and limitations. To mention but a few, modern seminary training: takes the potential pastor-elders away from the life and concerns of the local church, and places them in an academic environment of abstract scholasticism - much of which has no real bearing upon their pastoral responsibilities; because of the numerous classes required, the nature of the subjects studied, the seminarian is allowed very little time for deep reflection upon what he learns; leadership training and spiritual accountability is usually very poor within the seminary context. But then, it is not so surprising when one considers that the seminary is merely a product of the institutional church, which has its own problems with accountability and intimacy; and many, perhaps most, of the professors withing our seminaries have never served as pastors They might know about systematic theology, church history, or apologetics, but they are not going to be much help to an elder in need of a mentor.

10. Traditional pastoral ministry places great importance on a professional "sermon" without recognizing its inherent problems and limitations. To question the "sermon" concept should not be equated with questioning the need for teachers or teaching within the assembly. Nevertheless, the following truths must be squarely faced by pastors wishing to be biblical - the very notion of a polished and eloquent sermon comes NOT from the New Testament. The early church had an open system of communication which permitted questions or even differing viewpoints, but we, have preferred a closed one. The zero feedback of a sermon contributes to being dull of hearing and helps to foster a spectator mentality. The sermon in most instances, does not go far enough. It is information-oriented, but that's all. Most pulpiteers fail to go beyond the bounds of pure information and insight into the realm of actually equipping believers for implementing the truths communicated. Thus, they are pastor-tellers, not pastor-teachers; and the New Testament never suggests that one man alone, week after week, is to do the corporate teaching (Acts 23:1; 1 Thess. 5:12-13; 1 Tim. 5:17). We should never seek to make any church expositionally-dependent upon one man for its instruction - and yet, this is what many evangelical churches do. See my articles "Problems and Limitations of the Traditional Sermon Concept" and "Should One Man be the Dominant Focal-Point of a Church Service" available from Church in Focus.

~Darryl M. Erkel~

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