There are WAY too many things going on here. This looks more like running a business!! Much of this is needed, but much of it is simply too much for a congregation that has less than 200 members….
It's always good to vent one's spleen; but few if any pastors will have the patience to read this. Why? Because most of us are ADD/ADHD to one degree or another. The Office attracts this type of man I have noticed.
Nonetheless the fault line in any LCMS parish is this point that you make in your list where you say that a pastor's role is: Vision, mission alignment, direction, exemplary tasks, and behavior. But none of this is true. Also when you further place in the list of priorities teaching, preaching and instruction above the sacramental work. In a word: dogma over doxoloy. How wrong and rationalistic we have been educated as pastors, and taught to expect as parishioners. We are for all intents and purposes Protestants and rationalists (with doses of pietism in some places).
The pastor's job and calling are simple: Lead God's people in worship. The chancel is his place of employment, and the altar is desk, if you like. When you see him consecrating and distributing the Lord's glorified flesh and blood to the Lord's people, then you know what he gets paid to do. This is his "job." His "employment." His work revolves around the altar as the earth around the sun. It is our life and light and salvation. Everything else a pastor does either leads to this holiest of all hours (in which the church "redeems the time,") or proceeds from it.
He must engage in constant and deep study his whole life long to prepare for this one hour. Like an orchestral conductor, no matter how many times he has conducted the same piece, he studies it anew for every concert.
Until everyone knows what a pastor's work is (to lead God's people in worship) you can propose a perfect organization but that is all you will have. You will not have life, salvation, the remission of sins, people who navigate their lives by the power of God's love and promises. Who endure both temptation and discipline.
To me it seemed that the author of the article was letting his displeasure be known. I do have a problem with: preaching and teaching and, thereby, the administration of the sacraments, are the primary duty of the pastor: Eucharis IS the NT. As Jesus says: This cup IS the NT in my blood. All Christian worship, hope, strength, salvation, life etc. proceed from the altar. Said another way: Doxology before dogmatics. But Lutherans (as I as trained in any event) are all about teaching and preaching. You commonly hear pastors talk about "pulpit supply." But never about "altar supply." My question is: why is that? Hope that helps. Pastor DCK
Some have volunteered for many things, some as a replacement for the giving of first fruits as in money, then become burned out or die leaving the congregation without either. As Scripture states: Workers should receive wages, not only a pastor. Congregations will need to adapt to this reality and adjust as they will have to band together to pay workers to exist.
I appreciate this list and the considerations it brings. Much goes on in the background whether we want to admit it or not. Though congregations will do what is important to them.
There are WAY too many things going on here. This looks more like running a business!! Much of this is needed, but much of it is simply too much for a congregation that has less than 200 members….
Yes, for any congregation of less than 250, this is extremely difficult to maintain and do well. Our churches will need to make decisions.
It's always good to vent one's spleen; but few if any pastors will have the patience to read this. Why? Because most of us are ADD/ADHD to one degree or another. The Office attracts this type of man I have noticed.
Nonetheless the fault line in any LCMS parish is this point that you make in your list where you say that a pastor's role is: Vision, mission alignment, direction, exemplary tasks, and behavior. But none of this is true. Also when you further place in the list of priorities teaching, preaching and instruction above the sacramental work. In a word: dogma over doxoloy. How wrong and rationalistic we have been educated as pastors, and taught to expect as parishioners. We are for all intents and purposes Protestants and rationalists (with doses of pietism in some places).
The pastor's job and calling are simple: Lead God's people in worship. The chancel is his place of employment, and the altar is desk, if you like. When you see him consecrating and distributing the Lord's glorified flesh and blood to the Lord's people, then you know what he gets paid to do. This is his "job." His "employment." His work revolves around the altar as the earth around the sun. It is our life and light and salvation. Everything else a pastor does either leads to this holiest of all hours (in which the church "redeems the time,") or proceeds from it.
He must engage in constant and deep study his whole life long to prepare for this one hour. Like an orchestral conductor, no matter how many times he has conducted the same piece, he studies it anew for every concert.
Until everyone knows what a pastor's work is (to lead God's people in worship) you can propose a perfect organization but that is all you will have. You will not have life, salvation, the remission of sins, people who navigate their lives by the power of God's love and promises. Who endure both temptation and discipline.
Thank you for reading,
Rev. Dean Kavouras, Pastor
Christ Lutheran Church
Cleveland, Ohio
Sorry, Pastor, I am once again having trouble understanding you. Who is venting their spleen?
Nevertheless, I can confirm that preaching and teaching and, thereby, the administration of the sacraments, are the primary duty of the pastor:
Acts 6:2–4, 2 Timothy 4:1–2, 1 Timothy 4:13–16, Acts 20:26–28; 31, Titus 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 2:4, 8–9, 13
To me it seemed that the author of the article was letting his displeasure be known. I do have a problem with: preaching and teaching and, thereby, the administration of the sacraments, are the primary duty of the pastor: Eucharis IS the NT. As Jesus says: This cup IS the NT in my blood. All Christian worship, hope, strength, salvation, life etc. proceed from the altar. Said another way: Doxology before dogmatics. But Lutherans (as I as trained in any event) are all about teaching and preaching. You commonly hear pastors talk about "pulpit supply." But never about "altar supply." My question is: why is that? Hope that helps. Pastor DCK
Displeasure with?
Some have volunteered for many things, some as a replacement for the giving of first fruits as in money, then become burned out or die leaving the congregation without either. As Scripture states: Workers should receive wages, not only a pastor. Congregations will need to adapt to this reality and adjust as they will have to band together to pay workers to exist.
I appreciate this list and the considerations it brings. Much goes on in the background whether we want to admit it or not. Though congregations will do what is important to them.