8 Pastoral Tenure Decreases

Intro:

This lesson feels self serving and convicting

Forgive me if I teach more to me than to you this evening.

Startling Stats:

Average pastoral tenure

Over 1,500 pastors left the ministry every month last year

**4,000 new churches begin each year and 7,000 churches close

.**Over 1,500 pastors left the ministry every month last year

Over 1,300 pastors were terminated by the local church each month ,   many without cause.

Over 3,500 people a day left the church last year.

Only 1 out of 10 pastors which retire as a pastor.

Many denominations have several ministers listed, but many refuse to be a pastor

Read 55-56

A Story Waiting to Happen

read email 56-57

Sadly, this experience is often repeated.

Why do churches say they want to grow and change, yet refuse to make any changes which might lead to growth?

Out of their comfort zone

people aren’t like them

unchurched have different expectations and lifestyles

Fear of failure

Fear if church grows, they will loose control

Look at the apostle Paul’s attitude on this matter.

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 ESV

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

1 cor 9:

Paul approached people as they needed to be

He put them at ease

Jew/gentile- he could live and serve as an orthodox Jewish man and he could be comfortable as a gentile

He could be weak or strong

He adapted his approach and methods to match the audience

Paul follows that with comparing ministry to Olympics

He shares his attitude:

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 ESV

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

He put in the hard work like an athlete training

1 cor 9:

He put in the hard work like an athlete training

Q3 pg 62 Paul told Timothy to fulfill his ministry by “doing the work of an evangelist” 2 tim 4:5. What challenges would a pastor of a dying church have to fulfill this mandate?

The Life Stages of Pastoral Tenure

Year 1: Honeymoon

Years 2 and 3: Conflicts and Challenges

Years 2 and 3: Conflicts and Challenges

Years 4 & 5: Crossroads part 1

Years 4 & 5: Crossroads part 1

Years 6-10: Fruit and Harvest

Years 11 & Beyond: Crossroads part 2

first months, both with high hopes and usually neither can do any wrong

This is where the troubles begin

Any suggested changes are opposed fiercly

Landmines are accidently found

key issues which are “unchangeable” based on long standing tradition.

most pastors leave or are removed in a dying church.

Conflict is unresolvable

If issues are worked through, trust can be built and churches can be fruitful

some of its best years are here

due to having worked through problems in spiritually mature ways, mutual trust is strong

Crossroads 2 things happen

reinvigorated pastors and growth continues

as time goes in, there will be new challenges

communities continue to change and everything can’t remain the same

Long term pastors have a challenge to continue to be aware of the changing climate in the field and adjust the direction

complacency sets in

complacency sets in

the new norm becomes the tradition which can't be changed.

The pastor’s programs become sacred cows to both him and the church

Read pg 60 par 2

The Exceptions:

Not all of the 14 deceased churches had followed this pattern

pg 60 bottom par- 61

These pastors, were tired of conflict

They marked time and served as hospice care

made the terminal church comfortable to the end.

I have a confession:

In Mexia, I had slipped into this pattern

As I transitioned to bivocational ministry, I let things slip.

As I transitioned to bivocational ministry, I let things slip.

Time was just about getting the next sermon

God convicted me

I woke and realized we were going nowhere and I was reclining like everyone else.

We began some changes:

projector

Using modern communication:

Facebook, web site, etc.

We started working again!

We had visitors (some had found us through Facebook).

Fresh growth

It is never too late to wake up!

Prayerful Commitment

This has been a difficult lesson

It makes me examine my motives and desires

It forces us to examine our relationship as pastor and church.

It has reminded us of the past.

Tonight’s commitment:

God, please give our pastor a heart and a vision to reach and minister to people beyond our own walls. Teach me to be the kind of church member who encourages and supports our pastor, so discouragement and disillusionment does not lead to departure.

I think God can be glorified through long tenures

Not just time, but a relationship in which we all follow the Lord and do all in our power which He has given us to reach our corner of the world.

We dishonor the Lord when we spend time fussing and fighting.

We are no good if we hide our light.

Matthew 5:14–15 ESV

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

Mt 5:14-15

Conclusion:

I don’t think there is a magic # of years for a pastoral tenure.

If both church and pastor have the right approach, it can be quite long and productive.

For the church- a new pastor isn’t the answer

For the pastor- a new church isn’t the answer

Both church and pastor will be the same in the “new”.

Same struggles, weaknesses, and problems.

To be productive, we must realize we need each other.

My personal ministry goal:

Ephesians 4:11–13 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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,

Equip the saints for the work of ministry

If each of us uses our gifts for God’s glory, I think the result will be seen:

building the body of Christ

attaining the unity of the faith and knowledge of Son

Maturity