Brian Withnell
Puritan Board Junior
Brethern, this is not meant to be in any way divisive and I know that coming from a Presbyterian, that it might seem so, but I really am curious. Pergamum asked me a question in one of my posts, because I had pointed out what had happened in a presbyterian context something like "is there anything like that for your congregational brethren?" and I did not know what would fit or how such a situation would be handled in such a context.
The situation was a pastor that was capable of doing better than what he was doing in preparing for worship -- not that he was lazy, but that he was spending too much time with other chores that were exhausting him -- in the presbyterian context, member complaints to the presbytery were examined with concern not only for the congregation, but for the pastor. They have a position of authority within the relationship that helped the situation and brought healing. The pastor was given more time (by his local congregation stepping up to the plate on tasks that were keeping him from devoting himself to the preaching of the word and prayer) and he was in turn more closely monitored for a season (he was fresh out of seminary, and needed the "pressure" of having those in his court listening to his sermons on a regular basis).
How do you (my brothers in congregational churches) handle a situation in which a pastor is in need of professional counsel in performing his duties and the congregation is in need of counsel in terms of performing their duties toward the pastor?
Again, I just don't know how this would be accomplished within a congregational polity, and I would beg your instruction to correct my ignorance. (I have always held that being ignorant of some detail is not bad in itself, but remaining ignorant once one knows of the lack is less than being wise ... I would strive for wisdom.)
The situation was a pastor that was capable of doing better than what he was doing in preparing for worship -- not that he was lazy, but that he was spending too much time with other chores that were exhausting him -- in the presbyterian context, member complaints to the presbytery were examined with concern not only for the congregation, but for the pastor. They have a position of authority within the relationship that helped the situation and brought healing. The pastor was given more time (by his local congregation stepping up to the plate on tasks that were keeping him from devoting himself to the preaching of the word and prayer) and he was in turn more closely monitored for a season (he was fresh out of seminary, and needed the "pressure" of having those in his court listening to his sermons on a regular basis).
How do you (my brothers in congregational churches) handle a situation in which a pastor is in need of professional counsel in performing his duties and the congregation is in need of counsel in terms of performing their duties toward the pastor?
Again, I just don't know how this would be accomplished within a congregational polity, and I would beg your instruction to correct my ignorance. (I have always held that being ignorant of some detail is not bad in itself, but remaining ignorant once one knows of the lack is less than being wise ... I would strive for wisdom.)