The Pastor's Office

The office of the pastor is a unique entity. Thought many members of the church would never set foot inside for fear that their name might be dragged through the mud for ‘needing counseling from the pastor’, a great deal of respect and focus is placed on the office itself. Such focus is never more strict than in the case where the pastor’s office is vacant. Vacation, revival, sickness, visitation, and days off are some of the many things that might remove a pastor from his desk. Any such absence is seen by the congregation as a catastrophic lack of direction for the church itself.
When a pastor resigns, or is asked to resign, the presence of such great pain is coupled with this sense of misdirection and lack of vision. Congregations begin to speak and act with brash, reactionary motions which are nothing more than vain attempts to subdue their own hopelessness and sense of vulnerability. Their pain is so great that they simply overlook a great wealth of leadership that is before them.
Deacons, Elders, Lay Leaders, Staff Members, and Teachers all possess a great many gifts that are necessary for developing and sustaining the church. Yet, we neglect such groups and people based on their ‘Call’ in life, or lack thereof. It is as though our gaze has been held hostage by this pastoral vacancy that we have overlooked the great wealth of pastors who work alongside us every day.