Many apologies to our regular readers, this is the article that should have appeared last Thursday, but due to illness I was unable to finish it in time for publication. I’m on the rebound now, so without further ado… How should the role of pastor change when viewed as a type of patriarchal father or even a king? The pastor is the last office of leadership before the return of Jesus; should that impact the way a congregation responds to their pastor? So there are two issues, what is the role of the pastor and how should a congregation respond as a result?

Let’s look at the role of the pastor first. Currently, the church is organized much like a business. The Senior pastor is akin to the CEO, the elder board like a stockholder’s board, and various other pastors that are like directors. It is an efficient system that allows the church to function is an orderly manner and to accomplish ministry objectives much like a corporation fulfills its objectives. I’m not saying we should abandon this model, it has worked well, but it seems to reduce the role of pastor when comparing their role to the patriarchs or the kings of Israel. Is that okay?

There is no guiding rule or principle to follow, and certainly the role of patriarch looks different than that of a king, so it is likely that the role of pastor will also look different. Like the patriarchs, pastors are more accessible than kings, and I see that as a positive. Both patriarchs and kings, however, appear to enjoy a greater level of authority than pastors do. Perhaps we should empower pastors more, and elders should act more like a king’s advisors than a board of directors. I can hear pastors cheering already, but they need to remember that with greater power comes greater responsibility (thank you Stan Lee).

Turning now, how should a congregation respond to, or treat, their pastor in light of this comparison? I mentioned already that pastors are more available to their people than kings, and that is a good thing. But some take advantage of that availability and, unintentionally I’m sure, are discrediting their pastor in the process. The pastor is there to help every member of their congregation grow spiritually, and if one or two people call the pastor frequently for help with their problems then it takes time away from the pastor’s ability to care for others.

• I have a few suggestions for a congregant that may aid us.
• Viewing the pastor as a king helps us keep perspective and (hopefully) allows us to respect their time appropriately.
• Let your pastor reach out to you, rather than calling them.
• If you need more support than they can provide, seek help from others in the church, or even a professional counselor if appropriate.
• Deacons and deaconesses are a there to help tend to such needs, so look there for additional help and support.
• If you are not a “needy” person, help protect your pastors time from those who would try to monopolize it.

If pastors can successfully rule their ministry, and the people can successfully respect their pastor, the church will become more like a family than a business. That, I believe, is a worthwhile goal.