2012 in review

WordPress.com stats engine prepared a 2012 annual report for my blog.

Overall it was a much slower year than 2011 with ess than half the number of posts. This was mainly due to a major upset that occurred in January of 2012. I wanted to allow some time to think through the events before writing about them. The problem was that I spent a lot of time thinking about that and little else. After January 16 2013, it will be a year since I received the news and I think that’s enough space to start discussing and processing my observations and learning from. I’ll be writing about ethnic ministry in Australia, church culture (not ethnic, sociological and theological), leadership and polity in independent churches (and how they recruit pastoral staff), and will also look at some things I’ve learned (and trying! to put into practice) about preaching after doing it for more than 20 years.

Here’s an excerpt of the WordPress Report:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 11,000 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 18 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

Compare it to the 2011 in review

 

Be a better pastor by attending School Career Day

I’ve just got back from a little presentation in my daughter’s primary school class on “People in our Community.” Several parents had come along to the class to tell the children what they did for a job and how they served the community in their job. It was tempting to feel a little sheepish about being a mere Pastor when compared to the Barrister, Doctor, Psychologist and Marine Rescue Officer, however, thankfully my identity does not revolve around my work but my relationship to Christ! As I was listening to each speaker and later spoke with some of them about their work it struck me that Career Day had a lot more to teach me than just what the other parents do for a living.

It is all to easy as a Pastor to become cloistered and cut off from the real world. Spending time in the study preparing for preaching is paramount but those to whom you preach do not have that liberty. When you preach or counsel you need to apply the gospel to where they live. If you know nothing of their world, how will you make that connection? As you invest much time preparing to preach, what good is it, if upon completion of your sermon, the Barrister, Retail Consultant, Stay at Home Mum, Plumber and Doctor shrug their shoulders and say, “So what?!“

Likewise if your ministry is addressed to others in ministry, if you can’t show them how to serve their people where they live, then what?

Now, I’m not arguing for a completely pragmatic approach that only responds or reacts to felt needs or anything like that. What I’m saying is that to be precise in your preaching and counselling you need to know something of what people are dealing with. The Foreign Exchange Dealer that is constantly on edge due to the volatility in fiscal markets; the Barrister that is upset at how people view their role as a defence lawyer in a negative light; the Doctor that is exhausted from working ridiculous hours trying to fit in as many patients as possible; the Plumber that hasn’t had a weekend off since starting his apprenticeship and so on. Bearing in mind also, that stress from struggles are not necessarily directly related to the field or industry where someone is working – I’m talking in generics for the sake of this blog post – but that’s something you need to avoid in your preaching and counsel!

How do you serve them? How does the gospel speak into their life and circumstances? Specifically? You won’t find out by playing around on Twitter as you finish reading yet another e-book on the theory of Pentateuch authorship. Things like Career Day give you a chance to learn about the people in your Church and what fills their week. It helps you understand why they do what they do and whether they enjoy it, find it challenging or stressful. How do they deal with some of the harsher elements of their job? e.g. People in medical and service industries are often faced with death and trauma – how do they deal with that?

I had originally gone along to Career Day as a favour to my daughter to make her feel important that Daddy had come to her class. And, I think that happened But, I think the other thing that happened was a great reality check for me in my ministry as a Pastor. I should quickly add, that this is the sort of thing you also find out by visiting the people in your congregation and getting to know them. This is just another way of doing that. What are some other ways you can get to know your congregation and serve them better as their Pastor?

 

Announcement – New pasture or should that be new pastor?

For the past 3 years or thereabouts (2009-2012), it has been my privilege to be the Pastor of a Church where I was entrusted with the role of teaching, training, caring for and leading a congregation that ranged in age from new born through to octogenarian and everything in-between. It has been both a thrilling challenge and wonderful adventure. I was fortunate to be part of seeing lives changed for the glory of God and to start a number of outreaches that benefited both the local community and global missions.

Providentially, the Lord shut the door on this ministry opportunity earlier this year and since then, after wrestling with the idea of having to move and many discussions, interviews, appraisals, exams, reference checks and reviews with several different Churches, one in particular stood out for us and we to them.

A few weeks ago the leadership team of that Church asked their congregation to prayerfully consider voting to call and appoint me as their next Pastor. They voted, unanimously, to do so and I have accepted their invitation. I will begin in my official capacity as Pastor of Marsfield Community Church from 1 July.

This transition time held, for my family, many challenges and opportunities, not the least of which involves saying farewell to some dear friends. There were a number of people God used to support, strengthen, pray for and encourage us throughout. I cannot overstate my appreciation for God and you. Thank you! The next ministry is both an immense privilege and solemn charge and I am excited to move into the next proving ground that God has prepared. My first request of our new Church was a 3-fold one I would ask of you as well, please pray for me, my family and our new Church. Specifically that:

- God is honoured and glorified in our ministry together;
- Our hearts are united to God’s Word, His Purpose and to each other as co-laborers in the gospel;
- God would give us great strength and enthusiasm to approach the task of the great commission Jesus has given us.

By the way, so long as you’re not wagging your own local/home church, please, welcome each Sunday at 10:00am for worship. And if you are not a Christian or the idea of an evangelical church seems a bit odd, or you have questions about Jesus, the Bible and Christianity, then the same goes for you

 

Just passing by

John Wesley (1703-1791), founder of Methodism (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A stranger visiting a Methodist community in Britain asked an old Cornishman to explain the obvious morality and spirit of the villagers. He replied, “A man named Wesley passed this way.” And so must the church of Jesus Christ constantly remind the observing world that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. There is an irresistible contagion about the Christian. Above all others, the preacher—by word and ministry—must preach: Jesus is here! ~ Jones, G. C. 1986. 1000 illustrations for preaching and teaching (p. 303). Broadman Press: Nashville, TN

 

A fool in the pulpit

Mark Dever answers a question about Church growth and explains how to tell, if you, as a pastor and preacher, are a fool.

 

 

If a tree falls in a forest… Ethics of Confidentiality

If a pastor or minister meets with or visits a person and tells no-one the details, did he really do anything at all?

Defining a scope of confidentiality, whether in terms of ethics, morals, professionalism or theology is something a pastor or minister will have to face very early in their vocation.

In some instances, say, mandatory reporting of child abuse or expressing intent to self harm or commit a crime the minister has legal obligations and protection that requires him to pass on the information to police etc. In most cases though discussions between a person and their minister are in terms of personal concern or grief or, positively, a matter of personal growth and development.

Yet, conflict can still arise in how the minister guards or practices his ethic of confidentiality. Should there be, for instance, some inclusion of who has been visited and met with and who has not in ministerial reports to a Board/Session/Synod/etc? Who has visibility of these reports? Does a person’s mention or absence in a report show anything that might damage or boost their reputation in some way?

What if, during the course of a simple courtesy call, the person says something to the effect of, “Please don’t tell anyone”, or “Please keep this to yourself”? Should they be included in such a report? If they’re excluded, how does the minister account for use of this time with his Board? With his wife and family? With any other interested party?

e.g. Mrs Smith reprimands me for failing to mention from the pulpit that her husband is in hospital, even though she knew that when I visited him, he asked me to say nothing about it. She feels this is something the Church should know about so they can pray for him. She feels I ought to know this and override her husbands request for privacy. What should I do?

e.g. To further complicate the above: A Church Board member/director becomes aware that Mr Smith is in hospital – perhaps Mrs Smith told them. The Board member is concerned that I haven’t visited Mr Smith and haven’t informed the Board of his condition or prayed for him from the pulpit in public. What should I do?

The real life scenarios get much more complex than this of course. The minister needs to show what his ethic will be and clearly communicate that with all concerned. Even then, there will still be some conflict as to whether his ethic is too strict or not.

Generational and ethnic cultural behaviours will affect conflict intensity or support towards the minister in how he manages his ethic. Some cultures are very “community” minded and have a tendency to want to know everyone’s business. Others are so discreet that interpersonal relationships are next to impossible. Is there a happy medium to strive for?

My approach?

• I treat every 1:1 (or 1:couple/family) conversation, telephone call, email, meeting, visit, counselling session, formal, informal or otherwise as confidential.
• I make it clear, when appropriate that if the person is about to express illegal intent that I will need to consult with authorities.
• I make it clear, in cases where the person is in need of help beyond my ability or morality, that with their permission, I would like to consult someone else.
• I tell my wife who I am going to meet with and where and for how long, regardless of the person’s sex or age. I don’t tell her anything about the content of the meeting, unless the person expressly asks me to or gives me permission.
• I don’t tell anyone else any details of who, when, where, except to say, something to the effect of, “I was out twice this week”. If I am pressed for details of who etc, I take a pretty firm stance and have incurred ire and anger about not divulging further information, even to the point of being accused of not doing my job and neglecting my responsibilities.

I’m ready, for the sake of the health (spiritual, moral, ethical, and physical and otherwise) of my congregation to take the flak for my position. I have a clear conscience and I have also been privileged to see and experience some significant personal and family victories as a result. I have also, sadly, seen a few crash and burn.

An ethic of confidentiality is, for me, a basic element of trust and respect for other people. Respect for their privacy, dignity and respect for them to make progress at their own pace and according to God’s timetable for them – not the broader community’s. Trust to keep a confidence, whether expressed or implied provides safety for the person seeking the minister’s help.

People ought to approach their minister without fear or concern that their conversation will somehow make its way to a report, meeting minutes, or worse into a sermon illustration. I have been at the other end of this transaction where a minister had a much less strict view of confidentiality. My constant thought, every time I spoke with him, was who else was going to hear this and as a result I became extremely guarded when I was around him. It was not a healthy relationship.

I suggest also, that ministers be very direct and upfront with their Church Board/session/etc what is their personal ethic of confidentiality. Both parties ought to have enough integrity to clarify any differences before the minister commences his appointment and have the option to walk away if either consider the expectations of both are not in agreement.

So, if a pastor visits someone, cares for them, loves them, sacrifices time with his own family to help them and yet, doesn’t report it or pray about it from the pulpit, has he failed? Or, should there be a level of professional courtesy and trust given to him that he isn’t a neglectful bludger? OK, that’s an emotive way to ask. What do you think are the boundaries for a pastor in this area?