Chpt 19: Pastoral Authority

This is a wonderful reclaim on what/who a pastor should be. One of the things that holds me back from being a pastor is the realization currently pastors are seen as so set apart that their walk with God should be perfect and with no available roomt o grow. The stress alone of this would crush me. The expectation that I am perfect because I'm a "man of the cloth". How can we expect people to live up to this? Spreaching I think is the biggest culprit of putting up in this placement. Being put on a platform, with expectation to expound profound words (apparently from God) that reflect the knowledge we have that should surpass all others.

The second problem with this is where is the room for servant leadership... if as a pastor we are to be first, to be higher then others what about Jesus telling us "the last shall be first and the first shall be last"? Have we forgotten this in the role of a pastor? A pastor is shown as a shepard as well... a shepard is among the sheep not above them.

In envisioning a future as a pastor I would far rather be on the same level as those I "lead" and walk with them, not carry them or be setup to be far above them.