25 August 2012, Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia [Kirsten Oster Lindquist, tedNEWS] Saturday morning started with powerful praise and worship. The pastors, their spouses and lots of local visitors packed the tent to exalt God. Pastor David Shalom opened the Sabbath morning programme, by praying in Hebrew.
Then another segment of the previous night’s drama of the prodigal “sons” raised some interesting and entertaining points. This time the drama centred around the attitude of the “holier” son who was busy with his pastoral duties in a rather “unholy” way!
This was then followed by a panel discussion led by Pastor David Neal in which the pastors were challenging to contemplate various issues facing pastors today. Some of the issues that were discussed were “loneliness in ministry”, “being burnt out”, and “distractions” in ministry that keep pastors busy with the wrong things.
David Neal asked the panel to comment on how pastors can struggle with authenticity and honesty in ministry, with their own pastoral identity, and whether we are in ministry to be served or to serve?
“It’s important,” said Pastor Karin Wieczorek “that we enter ministry to serve, not because of the attraction of power…” The question about the challenges of large versus small congregations, and those which are perceived as glamorous church positions, was answered by Andrew Leyland, who said: “For me, as an intern, its not so much the size or location of the church that matters, but whether there is a vision behind my deployment there – or am I merely filling a gap after everyone else has said, ‘No!’”
Karen Holford answered this by questioning whether our way of measuring success in ministry, according to church size and baptism figures, is not more worldly than Godly. “Could it be,” continued Karen, “that success in ministry is more about the quality of our relationships with spouses and congregations – that its more about meeting each others needs and strengthening the quality of our relationships, both with each other and with God?”
David Neal brought the topic of burnout into the discussion and asked the panel how this had manifested itself in their various ministries. The participants commented on how it was time out, away from work, and spending time alone with God that refreshed them to continue. But they also stressed that it was necessary to know your own “signs” of tiredness so you can stop before it is too late!
Addressing the theme of “making God known in Europe today”, Andrew Leyland frankly asked whether “evangelism is just another tick box on our to do list?” Recognizing that evangelism and outreach is challenging, it was suggested that ministry always entails courage. Sometimes, however, “we are afraid to try something because we fear negative reactions from members, colleagues or our employers.” Karin Wieczorek suggested that “we have to overcome that fear” because “we as pastors need to step out and reach lost people.” Karen Holford agreed with her that “we need to be radical, we need to do something different to reach those who are called to serve.”
The discussion opened awareness to the fact that pastors do struggle with these issues and that they have a right to talk openly and frankly about them in order to encourage each other. [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor; Dragana Selakovic-Duval; Frederic Duval & Tor Tjeransen, photographers
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