The Myth of Title and Position in Church.

The Myth of Title and Position in Church.

Just because you have the title pastor, doesn't necessarily make you a good leader or even a leader for that matter. Leadership is about performance not position. Like all other organisations the church is prone to hierarchies, sometimes the larger the church gets the more structure is put in place to support it, with the senior pastor at the top.

I was invited to sit at a friend’s table during a ministerial lunch and not knowing anybody I gladly accepted. During lunch a rather large gentleman at the head of the table was propounding some point of 'pastoral theology' and then looked around the table for a response. The lady sitting to his right answered, “I think Pastor Fred is right on this point.” She then went on to say why she agreed.

The Big guy, Pastor Fred beamed and said, “Thank you pastor Wilma.” He then went on to his next point. For most of the meal the talking was done by Pastor Fred and Pastor Wilma. Whenever they referred to one another it was always Pastor Fred this or Pastor Wilma that.

I found the whole scene a little comical and at the same time disturbing, there seemed to be a predication to using the title pastor when referring to one another. I was even more shocked and bemused when I found out that the couple described above were on the national executive and not only that but they were married to one another! My imagination ran riot when I thought about how these two conversed in their own home, or how their children referred to them. Sometime latter I was reprimanded for referring to Pastor Fred as just plain Fred. I was told -by his wife, in no uncertain terms that his correct title was Pastor Fred.

This was a rather sad incident as some time latter at another ministerial meeting, this same pastor wanted to change his title to president of the movement. Thankfully the movement denied him the honour of becoming 'President Fred'.

This is an isolated incident I know but, the point I am making is that 'Pastor' is an office appointed by God, not a title. A real senior pastor will take their church in a direction they, the congregation, never thought they would go. It's all about performance, and when people see that a leader is succeeding in their journey, they will want to follow. This also means that leaders can be found throughout the church structure. Senior pastors aren't just the leaders in the church they are the directors, directing and releasing even those at the bottom to lead.