Pastors As The Last Generalists

Hats off to the last generalists. The pastor is the last true generalist of the professions. I know others will disagree. I respect teachers, physicians in “general practice,” attorneys, and dentists. These are all honorable professions that do not require specialization. Pastors are not specialists. People that specialize in Biblical Interpretation, for example, are not very useful communicating that interpretation to lay people on Sunday mornings.

The Job Description Of Pastors

The job description for a pastor is interesting. Every congregation and denomination in America writes a job description for the pastor. The United Methodist Book of Discipline devotes entire pages to the job description of the pastor. Yet, the written description does not cover what the job requires.

Pastors are expected to lead worship, preach sermons, offer public prayers, fulfill the role of chaplain, teach, inspire, cajole, comfort, administer, serve, and lead the ministry teams. Congregations differ on whether a pastor is “in charge” of the church. And denominations have a difficult time defining “pastoral authority” when defining “pastoral responsibility.” Who oversees the work of the pastor? Is it a church hierarch? Is it a certain committee of the congregation? Or is responsibility merely a matter between the pastor and God?

The Recent Situation For Pastors

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, pastors have been concerned about many issues. Should we suspend worship gatherings? Can I visit a sick parishioner in the hospital or nursing home? How do we “put on” virtual worship services? All of my colleagues who were not already presenting worship online, took crash courses in how to do that. Most of these pastors were in small to midsize congregations with very limited resources. People were losing their jobs or taking pay cuts. At the same time, churches needed to invest in electronic equipment to have a worship experience for their churches. The equipment was important to do more than enhance the worship experience.

The authorities in government and the churches urged people to remain at home. Pastors were needed to provide soft-landings for church people whose anxieties were more pronounced than ever. Churches needed guidance. Pastors were called on to provide it.

I have not served as a Pastor yet in this pandemic. But that is soon going to change. I have sat back and watched and learned from my colleagues and friends. I share the desire many have to please God by speaking the truth in love and equipping the saints for ministry. It is impressive how so many have switch gears into crisis action and tried to speak in love and redefine ministry.

And There Is More

A global pandemic wasn’t enough to deal with it seems. Racial tensions in The United States erupted again. Pastors are required to speak truth and minister when the solutions are not easy. The pastor’s continued to do the job! Church websites and social media accounts carried messages meant to heal and reconcile. The pastors did it again. Without denying the tragedies, they spoke of hope in the midst of fear.

My hat is off to you my brothers and sisters. You may have frayed nerves and wonder where God went. But you are pushing forward. You have shown me, your colleagues, and the churches the meaning of faithfulness.