Pilgrimage

(Another Unrevised Piece of the Prospectus)

Various types of pastoral leadership are found in most every community of Christian believers.  Thomas Schreiner suggests that while titles and descriptions of church leaders vary in the New Testament, the presence of structured leadership is evident in the first century church (Scheiner 2008, 735).  A further examination of the pastor and his role in succession planning will be provided through an exploration of the Scriptures and contemporary literature.

Biblical Terminology

The Bible articulates several distinct terms relating to church leadership.  James Stitzinger, associate professor of historical theology at The Master’s Seminary, identifies five biblical terms that are helpful to more fully understand church leadership.  These terms are:

1. elder (presbyteros), a title highlighting the administration and spiritual guidance of the church (Acts 15:6; 1Tim, 5:17; James 5:14; 1 Pet. 5:1-4) (Stitzinger 1995, 39).
2. bishop or overseer (episkopos), which emphasizes guidance, oversight, and leadership in the church (Acts 20:28; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:2-5; Titus 1:7) (Stitzinger 1995, 39).
3. shepherd or pastor (poimen), a position denoting leadership and authority (Acts 20:28-31; Eph. 4:11) as well as guidance and provision (1 Pet. 2:25; 5:2-3) (Stitzinger 1995, 39).
4. preacher (kerux), which points to public proclamation of the gospel and teaching of the flock (Rom. 10:14; 1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim 1:11) (Stitzinger 1995, 39).
5. teacher (didaskalos), one responsible for instruction and exposition of the Scriptures whose teaching is both instructive (1 Tim. 2:7) and corrective (1 Cor. 12:28-29) (Stitzinger 1995, 39).

In consideration of these five terms, one should note that while the terminology varies in different scriptural passages, these meanings generally refer to a function of the pastoral role (MacArthur 1995, 39-41; Merkle 2007, 46).

Of the terms Stitzinger identifies, “overseer” (episkopos)  and “elder” (presbyteros) seem to be most closely associated with formal pastoral leadership.  In his letters to Timothy and Titus, Paul emphasizes teaching and leading as characteristic traits of the overseer (1 Tim 3:2; 1 Tim 4-5; Titus 1:9).  Schreiner suggests that as used in the Pastoral Epistles, overseer and elder refer to one whose function is to care for and guide local communities of believers through teaching and leading.  The elder’s and overseer’s  “primary calling is to pass on the tradition and truth of the gospel…overseers/elders exert their leadership through their teaching ministry, by their adherence to the gospel” (Schreiner 2008, 737-738).

The Apostle Paul articulates that the office of pastor is a spiritual gift.  Ephesians 4:11-13 states,

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

The emphasis from the Apostle Paul as well as from scholars in the field is that the pastor has an essential role in strengthening and maturing the local body of Christ (Clinton 1989, 36; Schreiner 2008, 735-738).  Part of this process is leading a congregation to plan for future ministry endeavors (Blackaby and Blakaby 2002, 278; Park 2005, 16).

Definitions

Contemporary definitions, coupled together with the aforementioned biblical terminology, will prove helpful to better appreciate the role of the pastor in light of relay succession.  Thomas Oden defines the pastoral office as “a member of the body of Christ who is called by God and the church and set apart by ordination representatively to proclaim the Word, to administer the sacraments, and to guide and nurture the Christian community toward full response to God’s self disclosure” (Oden 1983, 50).  Keith Bailey also gives a valuable definition, stating that the pastor is a member of the Body of Christ and “is one of the gifted men the church needs for the equipping of the saints and for the building up of the body” (Bailey 1979, 20).  Both definitions suggest that a portion of the pastoral role is to equip the congregation for ministry and adherence to the gospel precepts in the present and in the future.

Peter Wagner further suggests that the role of the pastor is an equipper of the congregation.  He shares that the pastor should lead the congregation to set and accomplish goals.  In addition, the pastor is to see that each member of the body is “properly motivated and equipped to do their part” in fulfilling the mission of the local church (Wagner 1984, 78-79). As with the previous definitions, Wagner suggests the pastor is forward thinking in terms of congregational leadership.  The pastor not only tends to immediate needs; he is also concerned about the ability of the congregation to minister in the future (Rainer 1993, 188).

Pastoral Leadership

As the scriptures and definitions have pointed out, pastors are responsible to lead a local congregation as they follow God’s will together.  While principles of secular leadership may be helpful at times, the pastor’s leadership role is different from leadership in a secular context.  In Table 1, J. Oswald Sanders identifies characteristics of natural leadership and spiritual leadership.  Natural leadership rests in one’s own strengths and abilities. Spiritual leadership, conversely, seeks to be God-centered.  This God-centered leadership is tangibly expressed through self-sacrifice, humility and seeking “the mind of God” (Barna 1992, 68).

Sanders’ schema is helpful to this study through its comparison of these two distinct, yet common methods of leading.  In Christian leadership, ambition and motivation is fundamentally Christ-centered (Lawrence 1987, 328).  Pastoral leaders that embrace and practice the qualities of spiritual leadership tend to be more effective in their calling.  In essence, “Good pastors keep building up the Christian community, keep wondering what it takes for this conglomeration of individuals to become the Body of Christ” (Willimon 2002, 277).

Table 1. Natural versus spiritual leadership (Sanders 2007, 29)

Sanders’ suggestion that natural leadership tends to be focused on one’s own desires and ambitions and spiritual leadership tends to be focused on God’s desires and ambitions seems accurate.  Godly pastoral leaders forsake personal legacy building in favor of building Christ’s kingdom.  In reflecting on his pastorate at Fellowship Community Church, Gene Getz states, “When my ego needs are more important than the needs of the people in the church, I have stepped over the line and I’m reflecting carnality rather than spirituality” (Getz 2003, 324).

Summary

As the terminology and definitions have pointed out, the pastoral office seeks to provide physical and spiritual care for the local congregation while also helping to move the church closer to its future destiny.  As a spiritual leader, the pastor is uniquely charged with seeking God to help create an environment of growth and learning whereby parishioners can fulfill their calling and destiny in Christ (Dever 2004, 205-206).