Leadership

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What is a pastor?
I think people assume anyone who gets up
and preaches a sermon is a pastor.
I’m not so sure.
A pastor guides and nurtures.
A teacher educates and helps us study the Bible.
We can learn from a teacher.
I see a pastor as someone who nudges someone in
who seems to be drifting towards the fringe.
It can be a large number or small group of - say 12.
Now it’s true that a teacher can be a pastor too
and that’s probably where the confusion comes in.
Not a lot of people think of those who guide children
as pastors.
Perhaps shepherd would be a helpful word to use.
One who leads someone beside still waters (refreshment)
and green pastures (sustenance in the Lord).
I know of someone whom it was prophesied
that they were called to be a House Pastor
for abused women.
It came as a surprise with some thoughts
of being overwhelmed being she just had a baby.
Turns out that she was already pastoring
by welcoming and inviting a neighbor
and her child over who had suffered
from various kinds of abuse.
Just a constant stabilizing presence
and a continual relationship along
with conversations about God and some advice.
She did not have to go out and find
a ministry, it was already there.
Some people wonder if women can
be pastors?
There are lots of them in the children’s
ministry - not the conventional use of the
word, but perhaps the biblical.
Modern churches have many pastors.
In the early church, I believe each house
had a pastor, perhaps today we’d call them leaders.
Do you see what I am doing.
I am showing you a broader definition
than you first thought.
Do you agree?
Even if you take the non-cultural context
position about women not teaching men,
you have to admit, the bible never says
that women can’t pastor anyone.
So study for yourself as to what a pastor is.
Pastors generally stay around the same place.
They are the most anchored of the Equipping Gifts:
Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Teacher, & Evangelist.
The rest have much more mobility.
I hope you have a better understanding of
What a pastor is.
I encourage debate in this area of understanding
because I do not claim to understand
it fully.

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