The role and title of pastor (including how it relates to women as pastors)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The church is a priesthood of believers with the responsibility to live according to the Word as ambassadors for Christ in a manner that is worthy of the name of Jesus.

A priesthood of believers is not as concerned with every individual perspective as it is with all of the individuals aligning their beliefs and practices with the Word of God.

Over the last 100 years or so American Baptists have moved away from the understanding that together we are responsible for knowing, understanding, and agreeing with the Bible, and they have moved toward individual expressions and opinions… but the church is not a place for political approaches or team sports. What I mean is that the church isn’t about us agreeing with one another, the church is about all of us agreeing with the Lord and His Word.

The role of pastor is clearly outlined in the Bible and to use the title and role of pastor differently than we see in Scripture is a matter of Biblical Authority, not just opinions and perspectives.

Current SBC tension over the role of pastor in the local church…

Rick Warren, former pastor of Saddleback- ordained women as pastors. Currently the Senior pastor’s wife is a teaching pastor and they just installed a female campus pastor over one of their satellite campuses.

Saddleback and a few other churches were disfellowshipped recently for no longer being a church of “like faith and practice” because of the women who are serving as pastors in the church.

Even though it seems abundantly clear that Saddleback and the other churches are out of alignment with the Baptist Faith and Message, they are appealing the decision to remove them from the SBC. In a recent statement released on churchleaders.com Rick Warren outlined 5 reasons he and Saddleback are appealing the decision and seeking to stay in the SBC:

"We're challenging the ruling on behalf of millions of SBC women whose God-given spiritual gifts and leadership skills are being wasted instead of empowered for the Great Commission," Warren said. "We cannot finish the task Jesus gave us, with 50 percent of the church forced to sit on the bench," he added. Warren further challenged the decision by noting that "Great Commission Baptists believe that Jesus authorized every woman to go, to make disciples, to baptize, and to teach – just as he authorized every man.”

To which I would reply there is a difference between the general calling of all believers to make disciples in the great commission and the calling of God on those who would serve as pastors.

"We're challenging the ruling on behalf of over 300 concerned pastors who have female pastors serving on their staff and have written to me," Warren said. He noted that many church leaders were "fearful and worried that their congregations will also be disfellowshipped when the new inquisition discovers them.”

I would say they have a responsibility to consider leaving on their own if they are so fundamentally different on who can and should serve as a pastor in the church.

"We're challenging the ruling on behalf of our IMB missionaries." Warren highlighted the decline in Baptist missionaries by almost 1,500 people over the last 23 years. This decline, he says, began when the revised Baptist Faith & Message (BF&M) was approved in 2000. "With a renewed emphasis on the restriction of women, we'll lose more godly female church planters and couples serving as pastoral teams in the mission field," Warren argued.

There are many reasons for the decline, most of them financial at one point, but we just had another 98 commissioned to go as missionaries last week and the number of IMB missionaries continues to climb.

"We believe a decision this critical to the SBC's identity and future should be decided by the Messengers, not a committee," Warren asserted. "The Messengers must decide if they want the Executive Committee to act like a Catholic Magisterium.”

No doubt, I think we all agree this is an issue for the SBC messengers to vote on. I plan to vote no, though there are some procedural concerns that I have, I think the matter is so significant that my conscience is bound to vote for them to stay disfellowshipped.

But, I think there are some things that the SBC is going to have address afterwards regardless of the outcome.

"Our goal is to spark the thinking of messengers regarding the direction of the SBC, regardless of the outcome of the vote," the pastor said. "If you really love something, you fight for it. But sometimes it takes years for people to consider an event before change happens," he continued. Pointing to the work of evangelical and abolitionist William Wilberforce, Warren highlighted the importance of change. "Wilberforce lost every vote for 17 years before the slave trade was eventually abolished. It took 10 years after the lynching of Emmett Till in 1955 for the Civil Rights movement of the '60s to coalesce. Note my prediction: The next generation of Southern Baptists will remove the restriction on women one day, because truth eventually triumphs over tradition."

The reason that I have felt affirmed from the Lord to bring this to you today is this last point. It’s clear that this issue is here and will be until it is handled in a more definitive way. So, because its possible that this is an issue in the future, and its possible that the messengers will vote for them to stay in the convention, I think we need to be grounded and unified in what we believe about something that is directly connected to the authority of Scripture.

Pastors are qualified men of faith and character who live humble before the Lord in public and in private and tend to God’s flock by carrying out the responsibilities outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:1-3, and Ephesians 4:11-13.

Quickly, before I read through many of these verses I need to teach you a little bit about a few different words in the Greek NT. In the New Testament there are three Greek words used to refer to the same leadership position in the church.

The three terms are:

Presbyteros (πρεσβύτερος), translated as “Elder”

Episkopos (ἐπίσκοπος), translated as “Overseer” (or even "Bishop”)

Poimen (Ποιμήν), translated as “Pastor” or “Shepherd”

These three terms are used interchangeably throughout the NT to refer to the same office or role in the church.

We don’t have three different types of leaders known as Elders, overseers, and Pastors. Instead we have one role described in ways that give us depth and insight to the role and responsibilities of the position. For the sake of our sermon today we are going to use the word “Pastor.” But, you might hear the same type of sermon using the word “Elder” since it’s the most used word used in the NT.

1 Timothy 3:1–7 (ESV)

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Titus 1:5–9 (ESV)

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Acts 20:28 (ESV)

28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

1 Peter 5:1–3 (ESV)

“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”

Ephesians 4:11–13 (ESV)

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Pastors are qualified men of faith and character

1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9

I mentioned earlier that there are a few pastors and leaders who are pushing for

I think some churches are using the word “pastor” instead of “minister” and could easily make an adjustment to line back up with the Bible. (Job descriptions and responsibilities wouldn’t fit with the role of a pastor in Scripture.)

But, there are some who are using the word “pastor” for women on staff who are functioning as overseers and preachers to the congregation. In this case it’s not just a matter of biblical terminology, it’s an even deeper matter of rejecting biblical authority.

As a church we believe it’s clear that women are not called to serve as pastors, but we also need to make sure that we are clear on the fact that not all men are called to serve as pastors. We don’t need to present ourselves as a church that only points what the Bible says in regard to women. We must also stand solid by focusing on the qualifications of the men who are called to serve.

While we all readily admit, at least I admit, none of us are without sin… we are told to strive with the help of the Holy Spirit to live lives that are holy and pleasing to God. As such, those who serve in the role of a pastor are to be qualified according to the passages of Scripture we read earlier, and the church is the group that qualifies men, or as we call it- ordains them.

The SBC doesn’t ordain anyone… we believe the local church is the center of God’s kingdom on earth, not a denomination. In fact, the SBC isn’t really a denomination because we don’t ordain or take away ordination… we are convention of churches that partners around a common mission and shared beliefs. We have seminaries and mission sending organizations that our members can be trained in or sent through. But, the SBC doesn’t oversee our church. Which is why in the current situation a few churches have been removed from the SBC instead of being told to change

Pastors are men who live humble before the Lord in public and private.

* not sure- I have found that my relationship with a church member must be balanced by the overall reputation of that person. The same is true about pastors. None of us are perfect, and when we have a negative experience with that person, we must consider the overall reputation of one another… and also acknowledge weaknesses and growth over time as well.

Pastors carryout the responsibilities outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:1-2, and Ephesians 4:11.

In carrying out the responsibilities outlined in scripture…

Pastors lead, shepherd, oversee, serve, and pray for the members of the congregation.

Pastors lead primarily through preaching and teaching

The shepherd staff of the pastor is the Word of God.

I think we have always had a reverence for preaching in our Southern Baptist churches, but we have not always had an appreciation or understanding of the role of preaching.

Preaching involves the reading of Scripture, explaining the Scripture, and then applying the Scripture to the life of the church. While we have liked preaching, the sermon has not always been central to the spiritual life of the church and its members.

And when I say central, I mean that we gather on Sunday for the proclamation of the Word. Our songs are informed by it, our prayers are guided by it, and are lives are shaped by it.

Preaching is of such importance that Paul writes in 1 Timothy 5:17 (ESV), “17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”

Those who preach and teach take on an enormous task and as such are to given the opportunity and the time to prepare to feed the sheep when the church gathers on Sunday.

But, preaching is not all that a pastor does… in fact I have heard it said my whole ministry- Pastoring is not only preaching, but is definitely not less. There is more to the role of a pastor.

Pastors shepherd the church from pasture to pasture and when necessary from outside the fold to back inside the fold.

God uses pastors to spiritually lead the church, and at times it means bringing those who have wandered from faithfulness back to the fold. The parable of the shepherd who left the 99 to go get the 1 is a great illustration. I think we often lose sight that the 1 wandered off… which means that sheep is not in a good place spiritually. To lovingly bring home a rebellious or even hurt sheep is one that often requires time and patience.

Pastors oversee the church by keeping a close watch on themselves and the lives of the members

The pastors are charged with overseeing the church. This means managing, admonishing, and keeping watch over the members of the church. The Bible does not place pastors in a ruling position over the church; instead God has delegated a measure of Christ’s authority to the pastors to direct the affairs of the local congregations.

Pastors serve the church as examples of Christian maturity in faithfulness, forgiveness, repentance, and the giving and receiving of grace.

1 Peter 5:3 (ESV), 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

This includes their personal life, marriage, and family life.

Pastors pray for the members of the church on their knees and in person

James 5:14 (ESV), “14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

Acts 6:4 (ESV), “4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

You will notice that though pastors are identified as leaders in the Bible, I mentioned earlier they are not identified as the final authority or ultimate rulers. And this is a very important distinction to make, because pastors have been given both a responsibility and an authority by God for the purpose of their role, but they are not the chief ruler- that is Jesus.

Hebrews 13:15–17 (ESV) says, “15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

Context here is instructions for how to relate to one another in the church, and its clear that pastors have a degree of authority that they are to exercise and the congregation has a degree of obedience that it is to exercise… and in both cases it is related to faithfulness to the Lord and accountability.

Pastors and church members are accountable to the Lord in their relationships with one another.

This means, that pastors are accountable to the Lord for their life, teaching, and the outcome of their lives… and additionally they are accountable for the spiritual life and faithfulness of the church members.

Too many church attenders in too many churches have made it their goal to make the life of their pastors negative, and the end result is it hurts the members of the church. There is no advantage for a pastor to Lord things over the members of the church… and there is no advantage to making the life of the pastor miserable. In my experience both the members who are offended and the pastor who is discouraged will claim that they are in the right and the hurt is from the enemy…

(This relationship is so important that there are even instructions on how to bring an accusation against a pastor)

Wherever there is hurt there also needs to be understanding. I have been hurt deeply by church members over 25 years in ministry, its inevitable. At the same time I have had to seek forgiveness and grace from church members in my 25 years of ministry. Where there is forgiveness there must also be understanding.

So what do you do? You get right with the Lord and hold each other to biblical expectations and show grace.

The relationship between pastors and the church is characterized by the word “joy”

I believe this word should apply to the role of women in the church. It should be a joy for both men and women to belong to Harrisburg. Unfortunately there are plenty of churches out there that put women down and have an unbiblical view of the many important ways God uses them in the church.

The Bible uses family language to describe the church. As Christians we are brothers and sisters, and we want both men and women to serve the Lord at Harrisburg with joy.

Throughout the Bible God uses women to lead and to serve Him and the church.

At Harrisburg we strive to empower men and women to use their gifts for the glory of God and the good of one another. We believe the church thrives when we exercise our gifts in a complementarian partnership.

At Harrisburg women currently serve on staff as ministers and directors.

At Harrisburg women currently serve as members of committees, Sunday school teachers, and ministry team leaders.

At Harrisburg Baptist Church women are not subordinates but equal in value before God and the church, and as such are not generally subordinate to all men.

The following appendix to our statement of faith is presented as a proposal to be discussed on May 24, 2023 at 5:00pm and May 31, 2023 at 6:00pm, and voted on by the members of the church. The purpose of this appendix is to provide clarity and remove confusion on the role and title of “pastor” at Harrisburg for the present and the future.

Appendix I to our Statement of Faith, The Baptist Faith and Message

Article VI of the Baptist Faith and message states, “While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”

The office and title of all positions on staff using the title of pastor is reserved for qualified men as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:1-5. We believe and affirm that the function of the pastor as overseer and shepherd of the flock is connected to the role and includes preaching.

Because the task of preaching is associated with the office of pastor, preaching to gathered congregation is reserved for men who are currently on staff as a pastor at HBC and those who meet the qualifications of a pastor (elder) as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:3-7 and Titus 1:1-5.

The reservation of the role and title of pastor for qualified men is not a denigration or devaluing of women. Instead, it’s a matter of faithfulness to Scripture and for the good of the whole body. Harrisburg is in full support of the role of women in the life of our church, and we are thankful for the many ways our sisters lead and serve the body of Christ.

According to Scripture, men and women serve alongside one another in the church (1 Corinthians 12). Harrisburg strives to empower and equip men and women to use their gifts for the glory of God and the good of one another. We believe the church thrives when we exercise our gifts in a complementarian partnership for the praise of His name and the joy of our members.

As we close….

Be here on 5/24 or 5/31. I encourage you to come to one or both of our opportunities for questions and discussion on the Appendix on May 24 and 31. Be prayerful and patient. I encourage you to be measured and patient with the SBC. The meeting won’t happen until June 13, and we have to wait and see how things are going to go. Be serious about your relationship with one another. We need to take the seriousness of our relationship as church members to heart. God has put us together for the sake of His name… in our church and in the world. Make joy a goal. We have a special relationship with you as pastors and staff. You mean a great deal to us. It’s our hope that being here and being a members increases your joy in the Lord… and we ask that you endeavor to see the same result happen in our lives because we serve you. Jesus is the Chief-Shepherd. Everything comes down to your relationship with Him. (Are you a part of His flock? Do you consider being here and a part of this church as central to your spiritual life and walk with the Lord? Do you look at us as brothers and sisters?) Make this day and ultimately your life about following the chief shepherd…

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