Comments on: What Do I Look for in a Pastoral Staff? http://adammclane.com/2009/11/06/what-do-i-look-for-in-a-pastoral-staff/ Wed, 23 May 2012 16:55:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Dave Luke http://adammclane.com/2009/11/06/what-do-i-look-for-in-a-pastoral-staff/#comment-7048 Dave Luke Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:47:47 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=5206#comment-7048 I have been looking into it since and I do agree with your statements, I was just thinking about excellence and giving our passion the most we can, and I realise now that by giving our family the passion, then we are feeding God's ministry, the more we feed the more it reflects. It is possible in that way to give 100% in both, because when it comes to it, the supernatural destroys the limit of 100% total and allows for it. Thanks for your responses guys! I have been looking into it since and I do agree with your statements, I was just thinking about excellence and giving our passion the most we can, and I realise now that by giving our family the passion, then we are feeding God’s ministry, the more we feed the more it reflects. It is possible in that way to give 100% in both, because when it comes to it, the supernatural destroys the limit of 100% total and allows for it.
Thanks for your responses guys!

]]> By: adam mclane http://adammclane.com/2009/11/06/what-do-i-look-for-in-a-pastoral-staff/#comment-7041 adam mclane Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:35:46 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=5206#comment-7041 @mike- The difference between Paul and the type of people stepping into pastoral leadership is clear. Paul trained his whole life to be a religious leader. He knew Scripture and he wanted to know God. So while he was new to Christ he had that going for him... plus, he was an Apostle and not a pastor. He was an eyewitness to the risen Christ! Not exactly a mid-level CPA who decided he wanted to work in a church so they slapped him with a pastor title even without any education or experience. I'm not saying that its bad that churches have hired business managers and you should automatically flee them... but you should expect that they will make immature decisions. @tim- I am good at make generalizations, right? If you correct, if a pastor is new or it's a plant. You, as a believer, just have to walk into those situations knowing its a turkey shoot. If he/she is in year 1-2 of a turnaround situation... just know it's going to be 50/50 that they will be there past year 5. Once that initial honeymoon ends for a pastoral team it can get ugly or awesome in a heartbeat! @mike- The difference between Paul and the type of people stepping into pastoral leadership is clear. Paul trained his whole life to be a religious leader. He knew Scripture and he wanted to know God. So while he was new to Christ he had that going for him… plus, he was an Apostle and not a pastor. He was an eyewitness to the risen Christ! Not exactly a mid-level CPA who decided he wanted to work in a church so they slapped him with a pastor title even without any education or experience. I’m not saying that its bad that churches have hired business managers and you should automatically flee them… but you should expect that they will make immature decisions.

@tim- I am good at make generalizations, right? If you correct, if a pastor is new or it’s a plant. You, as a believer, just have to walk into those situations knowing its a turkey shoot. If he/she is in year 1-2 of a turnaround situation… just know it’s going to be 50/50 that they will be there past year 5. Once that initial honeymoon ends for a pastoral team it can get ugly or awesome in a heartbeat!

]]> By: Tim Young http://adammclane.com/2009/11/06/what-do-i-look-for-in-a-pastoral-staff/#comment-7040 Tim Young Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:50:56 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=5206#comment-7040 Adam, I really enjoyed your summary of Paul's instruction. The only statement in your post that I don't think is always true is the following: "If you want to see the heart of the church and get exposed to what is really going on– you will need to meet senior leaders." I see what you are getting at, but I think this depends a lot on how long the leaders have been at the church. Chances are, if a pastor has only been at a church for a short amount of time, he hasn't really had the opportunity to put his "stamp" on things yet. Adam, I really enjoyed your summary of Paul’s instruction. The only statement in your post that I don’t think is always true is the following:

“If you want to see the heart of the church and get exposed to what is really going on– you will need to meet senior leaders.”

I see what you are getting at, but I think this depends a lot on how long the leaders have been at the church. Chances are, if a pastor has only been at a church for a short amount of time, he hasn’t really had the opportunity to put his “stamp” on things yet.

]]> By: Mike Lyons http://adammclane.com/2009/11/06/what-do-i-look-for-in-a-pastoral-staff/#comment-7039 Mike Lyons Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:36:18 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=5206#comment-7039 Oh, and in response to David Luke: I agree with John. For me, ministry at the church is directly tied to being a good father. Part of my motivation in my work is to help to create the church environment where my daughter can grow and develop as a person. I work with teenagers, and my daughter is six. For her, teenagers are people she looks up to. When I invest my time in them, I am investing in giving her more positive role models. When I work on youth ministry, I am working in part to create a ministry that she will want to be a part of when she is old enough to be in that group. As a whole, I believe in the concept of the "church family." When I invest in part of my family, that investment is really an investment in my entire family. Oh, and in response to David Luke: I agree with John. For me, ministry at the church is directly tied to being a good father. Part of my motivation in my work is to help to create the church environment where my daughter can grow and develop as a person. I work with teenagers, and my daughter is six. For her, teenagers are people she looks up to. When I invest my time in them, I am investing in giving her more positive role models. When I work on youth ministry, I am working in part to create a ministry that she will want to be a part of when she is old enough to be in that group. As a whole, I believe in the concept of the “church family.” When I invest in part of my family, that investment is really an investment in my entire family.

]]> By: Mike Lyons http://adammclane.com/2009/11/06/what-do-i-look-for-in-a-pastoral-staff/#comment-7038 Mike Lyons Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:29:40 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=5206#comment-7038 Adam, I love your insight. It also made me feel pretty good about the church I'm in--bonus! I just wanted to throw in my two cents about the "new believer" part. The example of the pastor who was converted three years earlier may not be your best work ever. (I mean that in the nicest way possible!) I mean, in three years, the guy with an MBA could have gone back to school and earned an M.Div.! I get the idea, but I think three years could go either way. If he had been converted three years ago and attended church once a week for those three years, then that's certainly not good enough. However, if he has really thrown himself in fully from the beginning, has felt the call and followed that call, I think he could be a viable candidate for a pastoral position in that amount of time. Further, if he came from a background where he was familiar with theology prior to his conversion, that could also set him ahead. Paul didn't wait three years before plunging into full-time ministry, did he? Two cents. :) Adam, I love your insight. It also made me feel pretty good about the church I’m in–bonus! I just wanted to throw in my two cents about the “new believer” part.

The example of the pastor who was converted three years earlier may not be your best work ever. (I mean that in the nicest way possible!) I mean, in three years, the guy with an MBA could have gone back to school and earned an M.Div.! I get the idea, but I think three years could go either way. If he had been converted three years ago and attended church once a week for those three years, then that’s certainly not good enough. However, if he has really thrown himself in fully from the beginning, has felt the call and followed that call, I think he could be a viable candidate for a pastoral position in that amount of time. Further, if he came from a background where he was familiar with theology prior to his conversion, that could also set him ahead. Paul didn’t wait three years before plunging into full-time ministry, did he?

Two cents. :)

]]> By: John http://adammclane.com/2009/11/06/what-do-i-look-for-in-a-pastoral-staff/#comment-7034 John Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:33:56 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=5206#comment-7034 Dave, your comment about giving 100% to both family and church assumes that it's an "either/or" proposition. Instead, it's a "both/and" one. You have an obligation to both your family and church, and neither one assumes that you will give them 100% of your time. If one of them does place such high demands on your time that your life is out-of-balance you have some things to consider. 1) Is this because that side (church? family?) has an unrealistic expectation of what anyone should be expected to give? If your church has this expectation, you might want to talk to your board or senior pastor about your need for balance. I did this once and the church leaders appreciated my openness and assured me that they would bring their expectations in line with reason. They immediately gave me some time off. 2) Or is it because you feel compelled to prove yourself an exceptional pastor or husband/father? In that case, you might have projected your drivenness upon others. It's not they who are demanding your time; in reality, it's you demanding that you give more time. Sounds weird, but a lot of pastors deal with it. Bottom line is, if your family life and ministry are in balance neither will suffer. Dave, your comment about giving 100% to both family and church assumes that it’s an “either/or” proposition. Instead, it’s a “both/and” one. You have an obligation to both your family and church, and neither one assumes that you will give them 100% of your time. If one of them does place such high demands on your time that your life is out-of-balance you have some things to consider. 1) Is this because that side (church? family?) has an unrealistic expectation of what anyone should be expected to give? If your church has this expectation, you might want to talk to your board or senior pastor about your need for balance. I did this once and the church leaders appreciated my openness and assured me that they would bring their expectations in line with reason. They immediately gave me some time off. 2) Or is it because you feel compelled to prove yourself an exceptional pastor or husband/father? In that case, you might have projected your drivenness upon others. It’s not they who are demanding your time; in reality, it’s you demanding that you give more time. Sounds weird, but a lot of pastors deal with it. Bottom line is, if your family life and ministry are in balance neither will suffer.

]]> By: Dave Luke http://adammclane.com/2009/11/06/what-do-i-look-for-in-a-pastoral-staff/#comment-7032 Dave Luke Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:14:43 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=5206#comment-7032 Regarding the Good Family part.. How far do you go for your family when your a pastor, because surely you can't give 100% to both?? so which one suffers, God's ministry or your family? I wanna know peoples thoughts on this! Regarding the Good Family part..
How far do you go for your family when your a pastor, because surely you can’t give 100% to both?? so which one suffers, God’s ministry or your family? I wanna know peoples thoughts on this!

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