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3-2014 The aP stor: Forming a Shared Vocational Vision Skip Bell Andrews University

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Recommended Citation Bell, Skip, "The asP tor: Forming a Shared Vocational Vision" (2014). Faculty Publications. Paper 34. http://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/christian-ministry-pubs/34

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Christian Ministry at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Skip Bell

Skip Bell, DMin, is professor of Christian leadership and director of the Doctor of Ministry program, Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States.

The pastor: Forming a shared vocational vision

ho defines the voca- do it if they are to be effective in their biblical dimensions of discipleship tional vision for ministry or leadership. often retreat to the background. pastoral ministry? Is it How does a pastor arrive at the right Church organizational leaders and Wthe employing denomi- mental image regarding a biblical vision seminary professors share the same nation? Is it the congregation the pastor for ministry? The answer is complicated. responsibility, to reflect on a biblical serves? Is it the church board? Is it the To be sure, a pastor has prayed over vision for pastoral ministry. Church demand of the moment—preaching, a sense of calling and struggled with organizations form internships, field evangelism, mission, church planting? his or her vocational decision. Usually education, voice ministry priorities, and Is it the Great Commission? Or is it the this search and the struggle go on in deliver ongoing professional growth One who gives the commission? the context of a faith community that activity. More to the point, the pastors’ The purpose of this article is to has contributed to the pastor’s spiritual initial ministry experiences shape their discover a biblical foundation for a development. Any faith community has vocational vision, and as they struggle pastoral vision. Such a foundation certain traditions that influence ministry to make sense of them, they either offers the hope of transcending differ- models, and those may or may not be internalize or shed lessons they learned ing perspectives while relating to the biblically formed. in seminary. various expectations of the church and What a beginning pastor believes he From my experience with pastoral broader community. Articulating a bibli- or she is called to be and do is heavily interns and seminarians, I have found cal vision for the pastor is an ambitious influenced by the early years of voca- that a crucial part of their formation undertaking. Perhaps a good place tional employment. That experience involves sorting out which mental models to begin is to look at the relationship generally trumps Scripture. So what of pastoral ministry are legitimate and between Paul, the seasoned apostle, starts as a personal calling advances which they will discard. To be at peace and Timothy, a developing pastoral to professional employment extended with their calling, pastors must ultimately leader. But first, some thoughts on by the church organization with concur- understand their calling within their developing the vocational vision of rent, conflicting models. relationship with God. Some agonize with the pastor. Seminary life and study are the leading of the Spirit in the direction of intended to biblically shape one’s biblical service while they compromise Forming the vocational worldview, vocational vision, and min- with the realities of their career. Choosing vision of the pastor istry practice. But the seminary is not to follow where Christ leads rather than In the world of business, every the only institutional factor shaping protecting career interests is the secret of aspiring business leader needs to vocational vision. Indeed, some pas- sacrificial service and Christlike formation possess a mental image of what the tors may bypass seminary altogether. of vocational vision. But that does not organization exists to do, why it mat- A church organization may envision come easily. ters, and how their endeavors help the ministry in very concrete terms such as organization thrive.1 Only such a vision baptisms or tithing, which may reflect Pastoral vision and the can make the business prosper. Pastors, positively on mission but often leads church too, must possess a mental image of to numerical and result-oriented think- Important as the question of what they ought to do and how they will ing about ministry. In such a culture, vocational vision may be, the first and

MARCH 2014 Ministry® Skip Bell

foremost question in pastoral vision ministry. Creating church community the church requires true discipleship should be our understanding of eccle- is the starting point for the vocational formation. Disciples are responsible, siology, soteriology, and missiology vision of pastoral ministry. Biblical maturing, reproducing members of of the church. The nature of pastoral narratives and tenets of the church the body of Christ with lives marked by ministry corresponds to beliefs about provide the right foundation for con- spiritual growth. All pastoral practices the church. Paul defines the church as structing a pastor’s vocational vision such as missional activity, nurture, wor- “God’s household, . . . the church of the and must accompany a pastor’s lifelong ship, building small-group structures, living God, the pillar and foundation formation. corporate governance, or networking of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).2 Pastoral The following seven elements with other organizations contribute ministry’s action words—nourish, lead, illustrate themes of a biblical vision of to discipleship formation when mean- protect, seek, know—emerge from how pastoral ministry. They emerge from ingfully approached and sustained. pastors relate to the church, and they the nature of the church and are noted Forming disciples is the vocation of are couched in such biblical metaphors in Paul’s letter to Timothy. the pastor. Any other purpose is a as the flock, household, vineyard, or 1. Pastoral vocation and the com- distraction. body. The meaning of pastoral ministry mission. The heart of pastoral vocation Paul admonished Timothy to focus does not rest in the actions of such is calling others to become disciples of on spirituality in his own experience ministry, the practice in relation to the Christ. The mission of the church is to and among those he served. Such church, but in the nature of the church make disciples, and a pastor lives out spirituality means to “pursue righteous- itself. this central theme in his or her voca- ness, godliness, faith, love, endurance

Choosing to follow where Christ leads rather than protecting career interests is the secret of sacrificial service and Christlike formation of vocational vision.

Our concern here is not the exis- tion. Paul urged Timothy, “Preach the and gentleness. Fight the good fight tence of varying models of the church Word; be prepared in season and out of of the faith” (1 Tim. 6:11, 12). He urges from which the pastor will have to make season; correct, rebuke and encourage, Timothy to reproduce discipleship: a choice, but the fact remains that some with great patience and careful instruc- “And the things you have heard me enter ministry with little or no opportu- tion” (2 Tim. 4:2). say in the presence of many witnesses nities for reflection of that choice. It is God seeks the salvation of all entrust to reliable men who will also be so crucial and cannot be minimized in humankind. Hence the primary mission qualified to teach others” (2 Tim. 2:2). understanding the essence of biblical of the church is to be used by God to The common theme of discipleship pastoral leadership and the creation of make disciples. Pastors embody this must knit together the purposes behind church community. Pastors attend to vision in their view of the world. Paul all activity in pastoral life. gathering the church, developing the speaks of God as one “who wants all 3. Pastoral vocation and worship. culture of the church, and celebrating people to be saved and to come to a Worship flows from and shapes our dis- covenant practices. These themes of knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). cipleship, and pastors guide the art of the church give structure to a pastor’s He urges Timothy to “do the work of an worship as one contribution to disciple- vocational vision. evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5). Whatever else ship. A personal devotional life, private Too often, once a pastor is engaged we believe about pastoring, disciple and public prayer, corporate worship, in a parish assignment, little time making lies at the core. Communion, baptisms, weddings, or effort is given to the reflection of 2. Pastoral vocation and the forming and dedications all form meanings a biblical model of the church and of disciples. A biblical vision for building and relationships. A pastor promotes

Ministry® MARCH 2014 worship practices in coherence with years of in-field training focused on righteousness, godliness, faith, love, the calling and shared meanings of a ministry, public and personal evange- endurance and gentleness. Fight the community of disciples. lism, counseling, and the like. While good fight of the faith” (1 Tim. 6:11, The church is drawn to worship some use theological reflection as a 12). Paul acknowledges suffering but when it comes together. Paul envi- backdrop to the busy life of their parish expresses hope, confidence, and pur- sions Timothy’s ministry as helping ministry, others concentrate on the pose in the gospel (2 Tim. 1:12; 2:8–11). believers know how they “ought to organizational work of the church to “Everyone who wants to live a godly conduct themselves in God’s house- the neglect of theological reflection. life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” hold” (1 Tim. 3:15). A pastor’s vocation And still others focus on numerical he declares (2 Tim. 3:12). provides biblical guidance in imple- indicators of productivity and tend to 6. Pastoral vocation and building mentation of worship in a worshiping bypass ministry in favor of mission and relationships. A pastor’s ministry is community. Paul admonishes Timothy church growth. relational. Discipleship is essentially to serve in a manner that assures these But ministry and pastoral work a fourfold relationship: upward with services will be entered into with faith cannot be so dichotomized. Faithful God, inward with oneself, and outward and love (2 Tim. 1:13, 14). ministry combines both the theologi- with those of one’s faith community 4. Pastoral vocation and theological cal and the practical, the ministerial as and with others who are also objects reflection. A further essential element well as pastoral, soul saving with soul of God’s love. If the gospel is to become of pastoral vocation is forming dis- conserving. Edward Farley describes relevant and meaningful, it must be ciples who can practice theological the responsibility of pastors to the through visible, caring, relational reflection as they experience their congregation as both practicing theo- connections of the entire congrega- faith lives. If pastors fail to foster bibli- logians and reflectors of that theology. tion with the community the church cally grounded theological reflection, Theological depth and width, knowl- serves. On such a relationship, pastoral flawed paradigms of discipleship and edge and application, are at the core vocation must find its sure and certain ministry may form. Paul warns that of pastoral practice and strength. “If direction. Paul voices such relational without appropriate theological reflec- theology names the interpretive life vision for the church: “I want men tion some will “devote themselves of faith, a thinking of situations under everywhere to lift up holy hands in to myths and endless genealogies. Gospel, and if all believers are in this prayer, without anger or disputing” These promote controversies rather sense theologians, then church leaders (1 Tim. 2:8). than God’s work—which is by faith” and ministers, as believers, are also Pastors who see their ministry (1 Tim. 1:3, 4). theologians.”3 as relational help people form com- Paul urges Timothy to be a devoted 5. Pastoral vocation and making munities whose relational character student of Scripture, affirming that the meaning. Pastors help others develop is thoroughly and visibly shaped by scriptures “are able to make you wise the art of giving meaning to life’s situ- the gospel. They lead the community for salvation through faith in Christ ations, both joyful and critical. This is to experience the fulfillment of God’s Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15). Paul’s concern done through reflection on the sacred purpose for them. Such an experience is that Timothy become a student of text, faith traditions, the broader nar- involves talking, exhorting, praying, Scripture and one who leads others ratives of human proficiency, and forgiving, crying, and laughing as a to the study of Scripture (vv. 14–16). spiritually grounded experience. A community of redemption. A pastor’s primary vocation is disciple pastor must be able to interpret his 7. Pastoral vocation and community making, in which all new disciples will or her own life experience, and then, leadership. Finally, the vocational commit themselves to theological in turn, develop that practice among vision of pastors would provide reflection and biblical faithfulness parish members. Meaning making mature, trusted voices of leadership even as they live in cultural diversity is accomplished as pastors develop in the community. Such pastors will and social plurality. A disciple com- competencies in listening, conversing, involve themselves in community mitted to the study and demands of teaching, and preaching. life and equip churches to interpret the Word will not let cultural diversity Paul envisioned disciples who neighborhoods, exploring the eco- interfere in enjoying true discipleship could practice the art of meaning nomic, social, and political context of with others who are also bound by making. Exhorting that believers find their surroundings. They encourage God’s Word. joy in a higher purpose than finan- awareness of the historical and biblical For too many, pastoral ministry cial gain, he states, “Godliness with narratives that define the vision of the involves a choice between practices contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. broader community. and theology. Having been trained in 6:6). He urges believers to understand Paul sensed this role of the pastor biblical languages, biblical studies, life’s challenges and interpret them in the community, urging Timothy “that theology, and ministerial competency spiritually. Urging maturity amid the requests, prayers, intercession and in the seminary, pastors embark on difficulties of life, he counsels, “Pursue thanksgiving be made for everyone”

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(1 Tim. 2:1). When envisioning the life of church, the vision of the pastors is identi- redeems our time and transforms a church leader, Paul urges the leader to fied with and inseparable from the our lives. Thus, pastoral ministry is “have a good reputation with outsiders” ministry of the church. The vision is not a narrow skill set and cannot be (1 Tim. 3:7). voiced in themes such as discipleship, accomplished by commitment alone The practice that helps a congrega- worship, theological reflection, meaning but is integrated into the demanding tion engage in their broader community making, relationships, and community and broad set of practices involved in begins with surfacing and reflecting on leadership. Such a vision establishes pastoral leadership. Faithful servants their own corporate stories. As pastors the pastoral vocation as vital, integrated of God study to discharge all the duties develop and guide in that process, they throughout God’s redemptive intention of ministry (2 Tim. 4:5). build congregations that are able to in our communities and a challenging John Piper puts it this way: “The provide community leadership. ministry. The vocation is expressed in aims of our ministry are eternal and such acts as preaching the Word, leading spiritual. They are not shared by any Conclusion: An people to Christ, seeking people for of the professions. It is precisely by the integrated vocational Christ, leading and organizing the local failure to see this that we are dying. vision church for mission, protecting, knowing . . . The world sets the agenda for the A vocational vision for the pastor people and their needs, sacrificing for professional man; God sets the agenda must be biblically grounded. A pastor others, and serving. for the spiritual man.”4 must sift through the voices endeavor- An integrated vocational vision ing to define his or her vocational for pastoral ministry demands both 1 Peter F. Drucker, “The Theory of the Business,” Harvard Business Review (Sept./Oct. 1994): 95–104, esp. 100. life, opting instead to find meaning prayerful consideration of calling 2 All scripture passages are from the New International Version. in a prayerful, Spirit-led inquiry with and disciplined ongoing formation of 3 Edward Farley, “Theology in the Life of the Congregation,” in Scripture. professional practice. In the pastoral Practicing Gospel: Unconventional Thoughts on the Church’s Ministry (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003), 8. Who establishes the vision for the vocation, calling and professional 4 John Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for pastor? As servants of God and His development are inseparable. God Radical Ministry (Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 2002), 3.

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