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The Pastor: Forming a Shared Vocational Vision

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The Pastor: Forming a Shared Vocational Vision Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Faculty Publications Christian Ministry 3-2014 The aP stor: Forming a Shared Vocational Vision Skip Bell Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/christian-ministry-pubs Part of the Practical Theology Commons 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.
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