House Church Talk - House church or simply church wherever people are

DanG dan.dgordon at gmail.com
Wed Jul 28 12:54:02 EDT 2004


Glenn Frank wrote:
> Hey Dan and Dan...
> 
> I'm thinking that the 'pastor' issue is really not so much an issue of
> structure of the church... Or even authority issues necessarily... It is the
> misconception that the 'pastor' is a job description rather than a Gifting
> and means he is the one in charge. Not what I see in scripture.
> 
> Seems to me that a pastor is really just someone in the church who is GIFTED
> with the pastoral GIFT... That is, someone who is sensitive to the needs of
> people, is very relational and has a calling to protect them and the truth
> of scripture. The person gifted as a pastor might additionally be gifted as
> a teacher and a love for study and presenting Gods Word.
> 
> But the IC has taken this and made "Pastor" an office of authority rather
> than a gifting that is to be used to better the church. It is true that men
> gifted with the pastoral gift and calling might also be recognized as ELDERS
> (now that is an actual 'office' of authority in the church... Not the gift
> of pastor).
> 
> But what is more grievous to my heart is that the IC has the audacity to
> give the title of "Head Pastor" to a man. Let me explain:
> 
> If 'pastor" means 'shepherd'...
> And 'Head' intimates that he is the 'chief' leader...
> 
> Then they are calling this man the 'chief shepherd'... Which is a title of
> Jesus -- the head of the church-- not a title fit for a servant leadership
> 'under-shepherd' as he should be!
> 
> Glenn Frank

Very good, Glenn.
How do I hold back the riot that is stirring in my heart/mind as I
understand this fully.  This really is disturbing, in a sense. 
Pitiful may be the better sentiment.  Oh, well, God is at work, in me,
as well as these other men.
DanG ChicagoArea

House Church Talk is sponsored by the House Church Network.

House Church Talk has been renamed. These discussions, via the web, now occur at the Radically Christian Cafe.