We often hear men say “I feel called to the ministry” or some variation thereof (surrendering to the ministry call, etc.). This usually means that the brother in question feels like he is specially called for ministry and is compelled to go to Bible college and/or seminary, get “trained for the ministry” and then look for a compatible local church to apply for a position.
What if we saw it as “We are calling you” rather than “I feel called”? In other words the local gathering of the church would call men from within the local body to serve as elders/pastors. Perhaps the men they call would not even be seeking that recognition or calling. The primary driver of men being called to leadership would be a recognition by the entire body of their calling rather than an individual decision, a formal recognition of an existing reality.
I think there are some advantages to this. Rather than one guy deciding that he feels called, the local body recognizes servant-leaders in its midst who have demonstrated the qualities of leadership and imitateable lives that are inherent with being a leader among God’s people. It would keep men in the local churches they already know and are ministering in, among people who know them already and in a locale that they are familiar with. We are watching this in a local church group we meet with as one man is stepping down after several decades of leadership and the congregation is looking to call someone from within the ranks to step up.
Do you think a change in mindset from “I feel called” to “we call you” would be healthy for the church?
5 comments:
That's more or less how it works in Presbyterianism. A man feels a call, this call is confirmed by the church elders and he is taken under care. He studies and grows under the supervision of a presbytery and more closely under the local church he is attending. From there a congregation will call him for the work.
I agree that shepherds emerging from their own flock is ideal, but sometimes there are none who are able (as was the case in the churches Timothy & Titus served).
Arthur,
You are so on target.
I have held this view for many years.
This is exactly what happens when a congregation, who has known the person for several years, observing the way they are living and functioning, and recognizes them as a gift to the congregation as an elder (pastor).
Jason, do you think that the absence of able men is due to far too many Christian many being content to sit and watch instead of stepping up to serve?
I think this is a pretty good idea. The only problem I could see would occur when a flock is spiritually starved and lost and they choose another lost, starved man to lead, out of ignorance. I guess that happens with many churches anyway, so maybe the point is lost.
What about people being called by their local gathering of the church for other roles besides elders?
Also, I think sometimes people don't "step up" because we don't always recognize, ourselves, what God is doing through us or how He has prepared us. (I think the local church recognizing and calling out from among themselves, includes encouragement.)
Can women be called? :-)
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