UNDERSTANDING THE "PASTORAL" MINISTRY IN SHORT! (223 hits)

The ministry of the Pastor is also one of the fivefold ascension gift-ministries of Christ given to and for the Body of Christ.

In contrast to the ministries of the Apostle and Prophet, which have generally been rejected by the Church, the pastoral ministry has been accepted over centuries. However, there has been and still is much misunderstanding and confusion as a result, concerning the pastoral ministry.

Most of the textbooks dealing with the ministry of the Pastor lay upon one man a burden that is impossible to bear. This comes because there is not a recognition of the fivefold ministry, and a plurality of eldership in the local Church.

The “Pastor” is expected to be an all-round one-man-ministry” and relate to every-one on every level, and every leader in every department of the Church.

The result is that numerous pastors, under such pressure break down, either mentally, emotionally, morally or spiritually. God never intended this to be.

The general denominational concept of the “pastor” is that he is responsible for the total flock under his care. Also, he may call in a teacher or and evangelist for any special occasions as the need arises. But the burden of the Church is on his shoulders.

But God’s pattern is that the pastor is simply one of the fivefold ministries and has other co-equal elders working together and sharing the burden with him.

The word “pastor” may be used in a very broad sense and yet it may also be seen in its stricter sense as applicable to those gift ministries who distinctly have the ascension-gift ministry of a Pastor. Nothing can change the fact that Pastors are ministry gifts. It is one of the fivefold ascension-gift ministries given by Christ to the Church.

Christ is THE Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher! All offices and ministries are in Him. Ye He has but one heart pulsating in all—that is, a shepherd’s Heart.

Therefore, all ministries, regardless of calling and placement in the Body should have and should be motivated by the heart of a shepherd. In this sense we may say that all fivefold ministries are “shepherding ministries.” They together care for the flock of God.

However, Christ, when He ascended on high, gave gifts to men “and He gave some …pastors.”

All pastors are not apostles, prophets, evangelist or teachers. There are some persons who have a distinct pastoral call different from yet related to the other four of the fivefold ministries. Christ continues His pastoral ministry in some persons distinctly called pastors. Posted By: Apostle Danette M. Vercher, Ph.D.
Tuesday, March 9th 2010 at 7:01PM
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