Don’t Fight the Pastor’s Battles – Future 1

The primary mission for the church wile without a pastor is to find one. However, a lot of what goes on in searching for a pastor and persevering in ministry without a pastor doesn’t take in consideration what will need to take place after a pastor is found. We, as humans, tend to fix problems with the easiest and most available solution. This is a process most apply described by the term Occam’s Razor which, at its most basic definition, indicates that the simplest explanation for a particular result or hypothesis is the most probable. The same type of mentality is used in churches when presented with a problem, especially when there is no pastor.

Vision is the fundamental element of the role of the pastor. The pastor is the one who searches the word, spirit, and hearts of the people for ministry that is effective both inside and outside the church. The role of focusing a church on a particular ministry, activity, or issue is something that is the unique duty of the pastor; as is preparation of the church for the future. Many programs, ministries, and other aspects of the church tend to be cyclical and contain many steps prior to completion. With this in mind, it is understandable that the pastor must be capable and willing to address future issues now to ensure the survival of their particular church.

When other individuals, namely you, are attempting to provide leadership to a church throughout the searching process, it is critical that you understand that a pastor will be found and that what you do now will have to be overcome when the new pastor takes office.

I say overcome for a reason. It is likely that some of the things that are needed as a group while the pastor is out will not be necessary after a pastor is found. Search Committees, Interim Pastors, Some Lay Leadership, and other programs may not survive the natural transition from pastor to pastor.

However, if your plan for the future supersedes that of your new pastor, you rob pastoral leadership and impede his vision for the future of your church.

We must remember that the solution for a particular situation without a pastor is most likely not the same solution with the pastor.

One of the most detrimental activities that can happen before the pastor takes office is that the future will be so constricted by the actions of the church that the pastor’s vision is rendered useless.

See Value in the Timeline

One of the most valuable aspects to having a real understanding of the timeline involved in the pursuit of a pastor, as well as the time spent without a pastor in a church is the active involvement of the membership and leadership of the church while there is a noticeable need for such involvement. A properly formed timeline can help the entire church prepare for a pastor because they begin to see needs for activity as they are associated with marked goals and agendas for the production of a church that is ready for a pastor.

Sadly, pastors leave churches under a cloud of turmoil far too often. These are times when the leadership of that particular church must produce a timeline that is concrete, concise, and goal oriented. Such a timeline will help those ready to work know what is most important at that particular moment, as well as those who are not yet ready to work but are being developed into future leaders and workers for you church. Keeping in mind that the timeline must be able to change at any time will help you to maintain a living nature to your church instead of falling into the trap of a one size fits all approach to this critical time in the life of your church.