Leadership

The Empty Pulpit…

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I had another conversation this week with a member whose church was going through conflict. The member spoke of conflict the congregation was having with the pastor and about conflict the congregation is having within itself on the future direction of the congregation.

The conflict centered around a looming vote by the congregation on remaining independent or aligning with a denomination. The member stated, “If we stay independent, we’ll lose 3/4 of the congregation and if we align with the denomination, we’ll lose 1/4 of the congregation and the pastor.”

Where the church member I had the conversation with came down in the conflict is immaterial. Either way, the congregation is headed toward a split and that’s rarely a good thing, especially in a small church.

First, it sounds like the decision is already made. I mean, if that member thinks 3/4 of the congregation will leave if it chooses to remain independent, the likelihood of a vote to remain independent is between slim and none (if everyone shows up to vote, anyway). That only means there will be another small church whose pulpit will be empty.

Of course, the congregation is counting on affiliating with a new denomination to help with the pastoral search. Yes, it will help, but methinks the congregation is not being very realistic. The denomination cannot send what it does not have.

An Empty Pipeline

The ministerial pipeline is not full enough to provide pastoral leadership to all the congregations that are searching. There are not enough people entering vocational ministry to fill the gaps.

Seminary attendance is declining. Yes, people are still attending seminary, but fewer and fewer are doing so to fill a pulpit. Seriously? Why would they? An entry level salary for a full-time clergy is between $35,000 – 45,000 a year. That’s at a good church! It doesn’t make financial sense for a person to invest $70,000 in a seminary education for that entry level salary.

I graduated from seminary with $28,000 in debt (from undergrad and grad school). It took us ten years to pay off that debt on what were basically entry level wages. School tuitions have skyrocketed since I was in seminary. If I were a young(er) person contemplating a ministry calling, I’d be hard pressed to consider seminary.

One interesting thing that is happening is that of those who are attending seminary, 40% of them are not doing so to fill the pulpit. They’re looking at other ways of serving in ministry through non-profits or other specialized ministries.

I heard the story of one seminary graduate who applied for an open youth pastor position at a church who was offered $42,000/year with no benefits. When she asked for more money so she could afford to pay her student loans and still manage living expenses, the board got offended. The candidate eventually took a position as a school counselor making $55,000/year with full benefits.

More money and she still gets to engage with youth on a daily basis. She also has most weekends off, and the school doesn’t expect her to work 60 hours a week.

I know of another congregation that wanted its pastor to lead Sunday worship, mid-week Bible study, teach a Sunday school class, visit the shut-ins and attend monthly business meetings (where they would have no vote), and all for the hefty sum of $18,000/year. By my estimation, that’s about 40 hours/week between preparation and presentation. That doesn’t calculate drive time if the pastor doesn’t actually live in the community he/she serves.

Yes, I’m saying congregations (generally) expect too much for what they’re willing to pay. And, don’t come at me with the “Ministry shouldn’t be about money” retort. You’re right. It shouldn’t be, and for most clergy it isn’t. But, it is about being able to feed a family and meet basic living expenses.

I know the examples I offered are only anecdotal but they do reflect the reality of vocational ministry in the contemporary church. Local congregations who pay living wages are far more likely to attract viable candidates for their empty pulpits. Unfortunately, most congregations can’t (or won’t) afford full-time clergy going forward.

Like the congregation in the conversation I had this week, either way their congregation is going to be diminished. They will lose members. That means less money. Good luck finding that pastor willing to move across the state (or the country) to pastor a small congregation that has suffered deep conflict. That’s a special calling indeed.

Signs of Hope

Lest you think I’m being overly grim, I do want to offer what I see as two opportunities on the horizon (obstacles are only opportunities, right?).

First, is the shift to bivocational ministry. Yes, it’s what I’m doing. Honestly, I’m finding much more fulfillment as a bivocational pastor than I ever did in full-time ministry. That’s not a knock on full-time ministry. If you’re called to full-time ministry, go for it! I’m just saying there is a freedom in ministry when one’s livelihood isn’t dependent on the congregation.

Bivocational ministry will open doors to congregations to fill their empty pulpits. Of course, it means those congregations will have to adjust their expectations of what pastoral leadership looks like. Congregations can’t expect full-time ministry on part-time pay. It’s selfish and immoral. There, I said it. Deal with it.

Bivocational ministry also means denominations will have to adjust its “qualifications” for ministry credentials, seeing bivocational pastors as equals to “Elders in full-connection” (to use my current denomination’s terminology–my former one, too). Denominations will be seeing more bivocational clergy and fewer full-time clergy if current trends continue. Denominations must level that playing field going forward.

Bivocational clergy are not any less called than vocational clergy. The only difference is the way in which we are living out God’s call. And, I’m not thoroughly convinced that bivocational ministry isn’t closer to the biblical model. I’m thinking about Paul here who supported his ministry by making tents and Peter who went back to fishing after the resurrection.

The future looks much brighter for congregations who are willing to embrace the opportunities bivocational ministry affords them.

Second, is the opportunity for congregations to raise up their own pastoral leadership. Now this…this…is biblical in the strictest sense. For small congregations, the reality is that their next pastoral leader is sitting in the pew right now. I’m reminded of what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian church:

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV)

Also, read Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 where Paul reminds the local churches of the gifts of the Spirit and Peter, who reminds the local congregation of the priesthood of all believers in 1 Peter 2, and Jesus, Himself in Revelation calls the church a kingdom of priests. We are all ministers of the Gospel meant to live out our spiritual gifts in the body of Christ in the local congregation.

Small congregations must embrace the blessing of the ones sitting in their own pews. The church model of the past with paid ministry staff lulled most congregations to sleep, and made them willing to “pay” the professional to do ministry. That model is no longer sustainable. Here’s your chance to fill your empty pulpit internally and thus fulfill the first century image for the local congregation.

I know I’ve chewed this same dirt in blogs before, but the conversations I keep having keep me coming back to these realities.

I’m absolutely convinced the future for the Church/church is bright and secure. It’s just that the future I see isn’t going to look very much like the recent past. I think that’s a good thing. I also believe the Holy Spirit is in it.

Until next time, keep looking up…

From the Seats to the Streets…

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Driving affords me the opportunity to listen. I do a lot of both! As I was driving last week, I was listening to a podcast. One of the points the podcast made was concerning a trend in the contemporary church. The point? Evangelism must move from the seats to the streets.

An Old Model

What do I mean? For generations now, the method of evangelism of the church has been to invite people to church (meaning a congregation), let them hear a presentation of the Gospel and lead them to a decision of faith. For generations of believers that method worked reasonably well. That method is not working anymore.

How do we know that method isn’t working? It’s not working because less people are attending church. That’s among Christians. As a matter of fact, the only demographic that is increasing is among men in Gen Z. Every other demographic in the U.S., is decreasing in terms of church attendance.

While it is great news that young men are coming to church more, it is still disturbing that others are not. Here’s your statement of the obvious: If even Christians are attending church less, then non-believers are attending less than that. Duh!

If non-believers are not hearing the message of the Gospel, how will they know Jesus? By taking the Gospel from the seats of the church to the streets of daily life.

That is as it should be. That is how the Gospel message spread in the beginning. I suppose that means the way forward is by going back…back to the beginning of Jesus’s ministry.

John the Baptist

I’ve been reflecting on John’s account of the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry this week (John 1:29-51). Now, that’s some rich Scripture right there! I tell ya’ what…that John the Baptist…he’s got it going on. No, seriously. He really does. He was the first person to take evangelism from the seats to the streets.

Think about it. John the Baptist came from a priestly line. His father, Zechariah, was a priest. That means John was in the priestly line and would have been trained to follow in his father’s footsteps. He was trained to be a Temple priest. As we see in the Gospel accounts, John’s temple was the wilderness and his altar was the Jordan River. Talk about from the seats to the streets!

If anyone knew the significance of a sacrificial lamb, it would be a temple priest. When John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:36), it announced the purpose of God in the life of Jesus, and the end of the Temple era and its on-going sacrifices. His was an announcement of the new and living way to life…a new and living encounter of God.

And, John pointed his disciples in the direction of Jesus. That is the role of evangelism…pointing others to Jesus.

As a pastor, I appreciate John’s selflessness, even if I struggle with what that selflessness means. I mean, as a pastor, I want to point others to Jesus, but I don’t want them to follow another preacher in doing so! Revealing my own insecurities here, aren’t I? Jesus’ appearance on the scene meant John was loosing followers. John knew, however, that he wasn’t called to make disciples for himself.

Perhaps that’s a lesson we pastors need to learn. We’re not making disciples for ourselves. We’re not making disciples of our preaching or teaching. The purpose of posting our sermons on YouTube or writing books (or blogs) is not to create a following or build a “platform,” but rather to point others to Jesus.

We would do well to remember our purpose. People come and go in our congregations (they seem to be going more these days). Unless we’ve done something intentionally to drive them away (shame on us if we have), we need to have the humility to not take it personally. We simply ask the question:”Was I faithful in pointing them to Jesus?” That is what matters most.

Here’s the truth pastors: If people are looking for a great preacher, they can find one better than you and me on YouTube (or the internet generally). They can find a more polished preacher. They can find a more charismatic preacher. They can find a better looking preacher, a more educated preacher, a more…well, you fill in the blank.

Pastors, let’s just use the gifts the Lord gives us to point other to Jesus. That’s the model.

Andrew and Philipp

See? Andrew pointed his brother Simon (Peter) to Jesus. There’s a sermon in Andrew’s attitude, too. We’d discover by reading the rest of John’s Gospel that he had a knack for pointing others to Jesus (and he didn’t do it by inviting them to the Temple). And, Philipp too! He pointed Nathaniel to Jesus.

That’s how evangelism works! For evangelism to work properly it must move from the seats of the church to the streets where we live.

I think we missed the lesson we should have learned from the Covid pandemic. Most churches pivoted to online and social media connection. They were forced to shift their focus from the seats to the streets. Once the pandemic passed, many of those same churches reverted to their old ways, hoping everyone would return to their seats. It didn’t happen, and based on current trends, it won’t in the future.

Don’t misunderstand me, though. Don’t stop inviting others to church. It is still true that 80% of the people who attend a church for the first time do so because someone invited them. Invitation still matters.

What will be more impactful in today’s world is for those committed disciples of Jesus Christ to engage others daily with the saving message of life in Jesus Christ in the places where they live and work. Point them to Jesus because of the relationship you have with them.

Evangelism is about relationship. Our relationship to Jesus and our relationship to others. John could point Andrew and John (who would become the Apostle) to Jesus because of their relationship. Andrew could point Peter to Jesus because of their relationship. Philipp could point Nathaniel to Jesus because of their relationship. See why it matters?

Here’s the thing: relationships happen in the streets, not in the seats.

Oh, well! I ramble on. Here’s your takeaway: Wherever you are today, point others to Jesus. That’s your task. The redemption of the world depends on it.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Answer the Call…

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Here I sit in the cold. The ice is covering the ground. My truck is iced in and the roads are impassable. There will be no gathering of the body of Christ at Haughton Methodist Church because no one can get there. Even so, we will worship. Worship is not limited to the gathering of the body of Christ, though it is best when the body is gathered.

I thank the Lord that I still have electricity. There are many in the region who are not as blessed. That will be my starting place for worship this morning. That I still have electricity makes it possible for me to post a blog this morning. I suppose writing is a mode of worship, as well.

I’m reflecting this morning on the lectionary passage for the third Sunday after the Epiphany (that’s today!) as part of my worship.

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee.13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
    the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
    Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people living in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
    a light has dawned.”

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. (Matthew 4:12-23 NIV)

Rich stuff, right there! Prophecy. Healings and miracles. Repentance. Wow! What grabs my attention most this morning is “calling.” I see three distinct callings in this passage: the call to faith, the call to discipleship, and the call to ministry.

The Call to Faith    

By Matthew’s account, this is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He’s been baptized by John and led into the wilderness to be tempted for forty days by Satan. He gets the news that John the Baptist has been arrested, so he heads back to civilization to begin his ministry. It is as Jesus begins his ministry that I find the first calling on a person’s life—the call to faith.

The call to faith is the call to change our mind, and it is the call that all of us, at some point, must answer. Literally, Jesus’ first word in ministry in verse 17 is “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

The New Living Translation says, “Turn from your sin and turn to God.”  That is the translator’s interpretation of the meaning of repent. The word means “to change your mind,” and Jesus begins ministry with the call for everyone who hears his voice to change his/her mind. It is a call to turn from sin. It is a call to turn from unbelief to belief. It is a call to turn from death to life.

It’s not vogue to talk about sin. After all, we’re all sinners, and we’re not supposed to judge, and if we talk about sin, we might get too close to judging and we’re good Methodists, so we don’t want to do that. Of course, the alternative is also a possibility. We don’t really think we’re sinners. Culture and modern psychology teach us that we’re good people. It’s the “I’m okay, you’re okay” mentality that makes us say we don’t need to repent…we don’t need faith. Or, we think we’re not as bad a sinner as someone else.

When we think of sin, we think of the Big 10—murder, stealing, lying, adultery, covetousness, those types of things. Or, we think rape, or child abuse, or some other crime that’s easy to acknowledge is wrong. Mass shooters and child rapists? Yup, they are sinners. Me? Naw, I’m not a sinner. I’m a (wait for it…) good person!

Sin, though, as the Bible defines it is anything that misses the mark. That’s what the word means—missing the mark. That image should never diminish the seriousness of sin because the reality is there was a mark and we missed it. We miss the mark in so many areas of our everyday life. Surely, we’re not murdering, or stealing, or lying (at least I hope we’re not), but what about the small things that also reflect on our character?

I think about what our Catholic brothers and sisters have called the seven deadly sins—greed, gluttony, pride, anger, lust, sloth, and envy. The belief is that at the heart of all sin lies one of these. I can think of the times in my life I’ve been greedy, and let’s not even get into gluttony knowing how much I love to eat. I could do my own bullet list for each of these, and I come to realize that even still, I’m one who needs to repent as a matter of faith.

Repentance opens us to grace that God desires to pour into our lives. Repentance is our acknowledgement that something is wrong, that something needs to change. I don’t believe any of us can watch the situation in Minneapolis without thinking there must be something wrong with the world–I don’t care what side of the political aisle you’re on.

We must all answer the call of Jesus to turn from our selfish, sinful ways, to consider the claims that Christ makes, and determine whether we will believe, or continue to go down a path that is ultimately destructive to us and those around us. It’s a call everyone must answer.

Just an FYI…refusing to answer is an answer.

The Call to Discipleship

I see a deeper call in this passage this morning. It is the call Jesus gave to Simon, Andrew, James and John in verse 19. Jesus tells them, “Come, follow me…” This is the call to discipleship.

There are a lot of people who answer the call to faith. They consider the claims of Jesus and find them valid, but then just sort of leave the information there and never go deeper in the life of faith. Jesus’ call to these fishermen was a call to a deeper life, a changed life. We might say that if the call to faith is the call to change our minds, then the call to discipleship is the call to change our lives.

If we read John’s Gospel (which doesn’t record this particular episode) it’s possible that Jesus has already encountered Andrew and Simon, and perhaps even John, as well. Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. One day, Jesus walked by and John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John the Baptist was saying, “This is the guy I’ve been telling you about.”

Andrew and another disciple scholars believe was John, the son of Zebedee, followed after Jesus. Jesus asked them why they were following him. Let me make a long story short. They hung out with Jesus for a while, then Andrew went and found his brother, Simon, and told him, “We’ve found the Messiah,” and Peter went to meet Jesus. That’s when Jesus told Simon his name would be Peter. Yes, it’s likely they knew Jesus, and more importantly, Jesus knew them, and he called them to a deeper life—to be disciples.

The call to be a disciple is a more challenging call than the call of faith. Jesus said, “Follow me.” It was Jesus’ way of saying, “Do what I do. Walk the way I walk. Imitate me.” The way Jesus was walking was the way of selflessness and sacrifice. Jesus would take the basin at the end of his days, wrap a towel around himself and wash the disciples’ feet, and then go to the cross. 

It was not an easy life to which Jesus was calling these men. Discipleship is costly. Discipleship is about making the kingdom of God the priority of our lives. It is a leaving the old life and beginning a new life of faith, hope and love.

There are a lot of people who hear, and even answer, the call to faith, but fewer are the people who hear and answer the call to discipleship, though the call goes out to everyone who answers the call to faith.

Jesus called ordinary, common, hard-working fishermen. Commercial fishing was hard, dangerous work (still is), and the men who did it were simple, not highly educated, hard-working men who only sought to make a living for their families.

It is a reminder to me that Jesus isn’t necessarily looking for well-educated, well-qualified persons to be disciples. Jesus is looking for willing persons, persons who are willing to hear the call to faith and the claims of Jesus, and then be willing to join him in transforming the world. That’s the call to discipleship, and he’s calling all of us to be his disciples.

The Call to Ministry

I see one more deeper call still as I reflect this morning: the call to ministry. I’m not thinking about vocational ministry, but of service in the kingdom of God. Every person who answers the call to be a disciple is called to ministry. Jesus, after inviting these men to “follow” him, adds that he will “show them how to fish for people.” He gave them a job to do. That job? To tell others the Good News. 

If the call to faith is a call to change our minds, and the call to discipleship is the call to change our lives, then the call to ministry is the call to change the world by telling others about Jesus. Don’t you think if Jesus could call a few common fishermen to change the world, he could call you and me, as common, ordinary and unprepared as we are? Jesus doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. Will we answer the call?

Jesus needs Christian businessmen and women who can reach non-Christian businessmen and women. Jesus needs Christian law enforcement officers who can reach non-Christian law enforcement officers. Jesus needs students, and grocery clerks and doctors and nurses and teachers who will go into the places of their lives and witness to His saving grace. Jesus called these hard-working fishermen to reach their community. He’s calling us to reach our community.

Some of you may be afraid that Jesus’ call means you’ll have to pack up and leave your job and family, so you resist. It may mean that for some of us, but the more likely proposition is that he’ll use us right where we are. If we look at the later life of these fishermen, we find after the crucifixion and resurrection they are back mending their nets and fishing. Most of them never ventured far from home, nor gave up their trades. They did, however, make a difference in the Kingdom because the Kingdom became their priority. Telling others, serving others, sharing the Good News became their priority.

Answer the Call

Jesus is calling us to faith, to discipleship and to ministry. He’s calling us to change our minds, to change our lives, and to change the world. Maybe you’ve already answered the call to faith. But, just in case you haven’t, Jesus is calling you to faith today. Answer the call!

Perhaps you haven’t answered the call to discipleship. You know he wants you to go deeper, but you’ve been afraid of the cost of going deeper so you’ve resisted. Answer the call!

Others of you may have gone deeper and fell in love following Jesus, but have resisted serving because you felt you weren’t capable. You are. I can only offer this advice: Answer the call! It will change your life. It will change the world.

Until next time, keep looking up…

When the “Smoke” Clears…

/ pastorlynnmalone / 3 Comments

I spend a lot of time looking through my windshield. To pass the time, I listen to a lot of podcasts (and I mean a lot!). I came across one recently entitled “The Roys Report” that peeked my interest, so I gave it a listen.

I came across The Roys Report months ago when I was following news of the fall of several prominent megachurch pastors. I won’t say I’ve been a regular listener of the podcast, but if one pops up that sounds interesting, I give it a listen.

This particular podcast was an interview with the author of a new book entitled “Gods of the Smoke Machine: Power, Pain and the Rise of Christian Nationalism in the Megachurch” by Scott Latta. I found the conversation compelling so I ordered the book. What follows are my reflections after having finished reading it (I suppose that makes it a book review).

Okay, so the book was a page-turner for me. It is well-written. Latta’s writing style is quite engaging and easy to read, and I would recommend this book to pastors and church leaders who are on the front-lines of ministry in contemporary culture.

Hard Conversations

There are few topics more difficult for Christians to talk about than the failures of the church. I love the church. I’ve been formed by it, baptized in it, comforted and corrected by it. Yet, my own history and experience have taught me that love does not require blindness. Sometimes love requires truth-telling.

Latta attempts to shine light on a truth that many folks find difficult to talk about. Nevertheless, it is a conversation worth having. Reading the book caused me to ask the question: Are we worshiping God, or have we learned to worship the machinery built in His name?

Let me confess that Latta and I are not of the same “tribe.” He is one who is in the process of “deconstructing” his faith (or has completed the process–I’m not really sure after reading the book).

This is not a review of the somewhat new and novel idea of “deconstruction” of one’s faith, but if you’re unfamiliar with the term, you can Goggle it to learn more. Simply put, it is exactly what comes to your mind when you hear the phrase “deconstructing one’s faith.”

Though not of the same tribe, I found some value in reading the work. It does us good to get out of our echo chambers to hear other voices. They cause us to think and possibly find some common ground upon which we might build a relationship.

When Growth Becomes the Measure of Faithfulness

Latta reflects on the rise of the modern megachurch and the ways large congregations have learned to thrive even as church participation in America declines. He points out in the introduction that overall church attendance has fallen by about half over the past 25 years. Yet, while overall attendance has fallen, attendance in the megachurch (weekly attendance greater than 2,000 people) has increased by 10% between 2015 and 2020.

Yes, as Latta points out, the pie is getting smaller, but the megachurch’s piece has gotten larger.

Growth itself, of course, is not the problem. Scripture celebrates growth when it flows from faithfulness. But Latta raises a necessary concern: when numerical success, branding, and influence become the primary measures of God’s blessing, something essential is at risk of being lost.

From a pastoral perspective, this is not simply a critique of church size or style. It is a call to remember that the church is not a product to be managed but a body to be shepherded. Efficiency and excellence can serve the gospel—but they can never replace presence, humility, or accountability.

Listening to the Wounded

Perhaps the most sobering parts of the book are the voices of those who were hurt within church systems that should have protected them. Latta shares stories of people who experienced spiritual manipulation, silencing, and abuse, and who found that institutional loyalty often outweighed compassion, truth and accountability.

These stories deserve our prayerful attention. My pastor’s heart reminds me that the credibility of the church is not measured by attendance numbers or production quality, but by how we treat “the least of these”—especially when listening is inconvenient or costly. Repentance, not reputation management, is the way of Christ.

Of course, my more pragmatic (or cynical) self wants to say, “There are two sides to every story.” We only hear one side of the story in Latta’s book. In fairness, according to Latta, churches and pastors were given opportunity to comment, but most did not respond.

Faith, Power, and Allegiance

Latta also explores the uneasy relationship between some megachurches and political power, particularly the blending of Christian language with nationalist ideology. Viewed through my pastoral lens, my concern is not about political disagreement, but about ultimate allegiance. When loyalty to leaders, movements, or ideologies begins to eclipse allegiance to Christ, the church’s witness becomes distorted.

The church has always lived in tension with worldly power. The danger comes when that tension disappears—when the cross is replaced by the quest for influence, and when winning matters more than loving.

A Call to Self-Examination, Not Cynicism

While Gods of the Smoke Machine is clearly critical of the state of the American megachurch, I think Latta painted with a very broad brush. The focus of the book really is upon a very few megachurches and their pastors. He says very little about the majority of churches (there are approximately 1,800 megachurches in the U.S.) and pastors who are faithful to the Gospel and do their best to love one another.

Not to despair, though. The book became for me an invitation to self-examination. Not every church is a megachurch, and not every leader is compromised—but every Christian community must regularly ask hard questions about power, transparency, faithfulness and yes, accountability (there’s that word again).

This book challenges pastors, elders, and congregants alike to consider whether our structures reflect the character of Christ or simply the efficiencies of modern institutions. It urges us to remember that the Spirit of God is not manufactured by lighting cues, smoke machines or emotional crescendos, but is present where there is truth, repentance, and love (oh, and accountability).

Reading with Hope

Ultimately, Gods of the Smoke Machine is a book best read slowly, prayerfully, and with humility. It may stir grief, anger, or recognition. But it can also stir hope—hope that the church can still choose a better way, and that reform is possible when the people of God are willing to listen, repent, and return to the simplicity of the gospel.

For pastors, church leaders, and thoughtful Christians, this book offers an opportunity not to abandon the church, but to love it more faithfully—by seeking the health of Christ’s body rather than the success of its machinery.

There is a bit of the prophetic in the work. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), that prophetic word is coming from one outside the church (well, one who left the church). I don’t know if that makes him an outside insider or an inside outsider. Either way, it will do we leaders well to listen to that prophetic word and take it seriously.

Until next time, keep looking up…

A Methodist Firing…

/ pastorlynnmalone / 1 Comment

Don’t Fire Your Preacher the Wrong Way

Well, it happened. I knew it would eventually. What happened? A Methodist preacher got fired. We’re not accustomed to that.

See? What used to happen before the big “split” in the United Methodist Church was a pastor got “moved” whenever a congregation wanted a change in pastoral leadership. Every year, the Staff-Parish Relations Committee would meet to do an evaluation of the pastor.

Generally, at the end of the evaluation, there were two options: move, or stay. If the Committee (congregation) wanted the pastor to return, they checked stay. If they wanted to “fire” the pastor, they checked move. That’s the simplified version, but basically the process.

Pastors filled out an evaluation, too. It was basically the same process in reverse. It was a means of communicating to the denominational higher ups whether the pastor wanted to stay at the congregation, move to a new one, or was open to either prospect (meaning “I’d take a better appointment”).

Well, for those Methodist pastors (including myself) who left the United Methodist Church, times have changed. Especially for those pastors serving congregations who remained independent. We can get fired–just like our colleagues in most Baptist denominations (and a few others).

I had a friend and former colleague who “resigned” from his congregation recently. He was “asked” to resign (which is code for “resign or we’re going to take a vote and fire you”). Mind you, this was not a pastor who had only served the congregation for a short time and it just didn’t work out. The pastor had served them for over a decade, so he wasn’t an unknown quantity.

I don’t know all the specifics of the separation (and I don’t want to know), and no, I’m not going to name names or point fingers. This isn’t a blog about that. This is a blog about this brave new world many Methodists are living in, and is offered as an encouragement for independent Methodist congregations to act in Christian ways when they feel like it’s time for a change in pastoral leadership.

I’m not saying this congregation acted in an un-Christian way, though from some conversations I’ve had with folks in the congregation I’ve surmised it was not handled in a healthy way for either the pastor/family or the congregation. This is not about that. It is about being faithful in the inevitable event that a pastoral change is necessary.

As I’ve reflected on and prayed about my friend’s situation, I’ve hit upon some advice I’d like to share with Methodist congregations as they live in their new reality.

Be Transparent

First, be transparent (or as transparent as the situation allows). When a pastor “resigns” or is unexpectedly fired from his/her position, it raises a lot of questions for the congregation. Those questions, when they go unanswered or unaddressed, can easily give fuel to gossip in the congregation. That gossip can also easily damage the pastor’s reputation.

Can you hear the gossip now? “Oh, what did he/she do?”

“He must have stolen money!”

“There must have been a moral failure.”

“Who did he/she offend?”

Transparency quells the gossip–well, mostly. Gossips are going to gossip, but leadership owes the congregation and the pastor the truth.

If leadership wants to fire the pastor, own it. Don’t put the onus on the pastor as if it was his/her decision. And, don’t put in place any non-disclosure agreements (unless the law necessitates it). Don’t say to the pastor, “We’ll pay you a severance if you don’t say anything to anyone.” That’s just more fuel on the fire.

Be Generous

Speaking of severance, that brings me to the second point I want to make: Be generous to the pastor and the pastor’s family, regardless of the circumstances of the separation. Three to six months of salary should be offered to the departing pastor.

Why? Well, consider everything the pastor loses when he/she loses their position. First, they (generally) lose their home. If the church owns a parsonage, the pastor and family have to move. They may even have to purchase a new home.

Even if they already own their own home, the likelihood is they will need to sell it and move to a new community because full-time ministry positions don’t grow on trees. Seriously, how many opportunities for vocational Methodist ministers exist in your town? That’s what I figured.

It will take a minimum of three to six months for the pastor to find a new position, move to a new community and settle in new environs. Congregations need to consider this when choosing to fire a pastor. If the congregation (or congregational leadership) made the decision to transition to new leadership, count the cost and own it–every stinking bit of it. It’s the Christian thing to do.

Secondly, the pastor and his/her family loses their friendship network. Most of a clergy’s friendship network is within the congregation. In one fell swoop, those relationships are gone. They also lose their church family, too. The children (if there are any) lose their schools and their friends. The spouse also has to find a new job.

Think about this: You’re a teacher and you lose your position. You still have your friendship network. You still have your church home. You (most likely) still have your home. For the pastor and his/her family? All three are gone in one decision by a church board or congregation.

Every congregation initiating a move should graciously provide counseling as part of a severance package and job search assistance to the pastor/family. I’m reminded of what the Apostle John wrote in 1 John 3: 17–“If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?“

Be generous, my friends. It’s the Christian thing to do!

Be Patient

Perhaps I should have started with this advice–be patient. What do I mean by patient? Well, unless the leadership has worked with the pastor through a remediation plan before they ever come to a “firing” decision, well, you’ve already done it wrong.

When problems arise (and they will), the first step should be for the person designated by the church by-laws (Discipline) to sit down with the pastor to provide a clear explanation of the issues at hand. There should always be a process in place to work with the pastor to address any issues the congregation may be facing.

That process may include counseling, continuing education or even arbitration, and there must be (let me stress MUST) a process to continually re-evaluate the situation. It’s simply a matter of justice, folks.

Don’t blind-side your pastor with a list of complaints (especially anonymous ones) and then say, “We think it’s time for a change.” That is the most unjust thing that can ever happen. If your congregation’s “firing” happens like that, well, your congregation has deeper issues that a new pastor isn’t going to change.

Sit down. Develop a plan. Work the plan…for a minimum of twelve months. Communication is key. Conflict avoidance only heightens the conflict. Working through a remediation plan is the most gracious and healing way to deal with issues involving pastoral leadership.

Granted, there will be some pastors who don’t respond well to remediation. Believe me. When I was a District Superintendent, I encountered some of those pastors. I’ll share with you what I recently shared with my congregation: Don’t let someone else’s misbehavior be an excuse for your misbehavior.

Honestly, if a pastor isn’t open to working through and responding positively to a process of conflict resolution, he/she will make the decision to initiate a transition. Most pastors don’t want to move. Most pastors are serving their congregations in a self-sacrificial way. Congregations need to repay that sacrifice with transparency, generosity and patience.

A Word to Pastors

Let me just say a brief word to pastors who may be reading this–this advice works in reverse, too. Don’t blind-side your congregation with the news that you quit! It’s not fair to them. Seriously, if you feel the Holy Spirit’s nudging to a new season of ministry, sit down with your congregation’s leadership and be transparent. Give plenty of notice. Hey? The congregation (leadership) may even be helpful in the discernment process.

If we, as pastors, want congregations to be fair with us, we must be fair with them. After all, pastors don’t grow on trees. Leaving on short-notice brings harm to the congregation and thus, to the Body of Christ. Don’t be one of those pastors.

Just Do the Right Thing

Let me reiterate: All this advice is absent moral failure on the pastors part. The moral failure of a pastoral leader opens up a whole other can of worms. Talk about harm to a congregation and to the Body of Christ! There’s nothing that does more damage to the life and health of a congregation than a moral failure of its leader. That’s for another blog…or not!

Let me just say to congregations, don’t be one of those congregations that changes the locks to the church when the pastor is on vacation (it really happened). Trust me. That makes you like the Church of Laodicea (Revelation 3: 14 – 22). Jesus just wants to vomit you out of His mouth.

Just do the right thing. It honors Christ. It builds up the body of believers. It gives a good witness to the world.

Besides, for both pastors and congregations, the grass is rarely greener. Pastoral leadership is rarely the reason for dying congregations, and difficult congregations are rarely the reason for bad pastoral leadership.

Also, keep this in mind, congregations–pastors are in short supply. Pastors, keep this in mind–good pastoral appointments are in short supply. Especially in this new Methodist environment. It’s a new world we’re living in. Let’s navigate it with transparency, generosity and patience. We’ll all be better off in the end.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Reflection and Realignment, Part 2: The Advantages of Bi-vocational Ministry

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

I shared in last week’s blog the challenges I’ve faced after a year in this new season of bi-vocational ministry. Lest you think the past year has been nothing but challenges, I will share some positive aspects I’ve experienced as a bi-vocational pastor.

There are some personal advantages I’ve noted, but also some advantages for the congregation (or at least I see them as advantages). As I started writing my list, I thought I might divide them into personal and congregational, but I discovered they really work in tandem, so I’ll just make one list.

Many years ago, while I was serving as a District Superintendent with the United Methodist Church, I wrote a blog praising the efforts of bi-vocational pastors (read it here). Having now served a year in that same capacity, little did I know just what a sacrifice those guys and girls were making. That’s not to pat myself on the back, but to acknowledge my own failure to give proper respect and gratitude to those who paved the way before me.

Freedom

The first advantage I’ve noted personally is freedom. What do I mean? I mean when I’m dealing with a difficult passage that challenges the congregation, I feel a particular freedom to be more direct in my preaching–to say the hard thing, the challenging thing, to question their assumptions–because my livelihood is not dependent on the paycheck I receive from the congregation.

I’m not saying that I’ve pulled my punches in the past, but I am confessing that I might not have always been as challenging in every aspect of preaching (or leadership) because of who I might offend. Knowing that my livelihood was dependent on the congregation was always in the back of my mind. Call me a coward, but I know I’m not the only pastor who may or may not have done likewise.

I can tell you, personally, I’ve experienced a greater freedom in my preaching as a bi-vocational pastor. I believe that to be an advantage for the congregation as well.

Perspective

I certainly view my role with a new perspective. I get to see more of what the laity see week-in and week-out. The laity get up and go to work every day and we (and by “we” I mean clergy) expect them to have a devotional life and volunteer at the church. I never knew how challenging that was, and I see that challenge as a positive outcome of bi-vocational ministry. As a pastor, laity and clergy are now on the same playing field.

You mean you want me to work 40 – 50 (or sometimes 60) hours a week, raise a family, keep a home, volunteer in the community AND lead a bible study, teach a Sunday school and serve on the church board in addition to attending worship every Sunday and reading the Bible for 30 minutes a day? Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I do. But, I’m doing it, too, so…

Mission Engagement

This one is a no-brainer. Going to a “real” job every day puts me smack dab in the middle of the mission field. It affords me a very unique opportunity to engage the mission field and evangelize every day. I see people in my secular job that I might likely never see if I were in full-time ministry.

Now, do I always take advantage of the opportunity? Well, that’s a conversation for another blog post, but the opportunity exists, nonetheless.

Avoids Isolation

Let me make another confession: When I was in full-time ministry, I tended to isolate myself from the secular world. It was actually fairly easy to do. Always in the office. Making hospital calls. Going to church meetings. Attending denominational functions. Traveling to Christian conferences. Hanging out with other clergy. There was no (or very little) contact with the “real” world. We clergy could easily develop our own “ivory tower” syndrome, just from a religious perspective instead of an academic one.

Secular employment gets me out of the religious bubble that clergy can sometimes live in, and that’s an advantage for both clergy and the congregation.

Financial Freedom

Okay, so I don’t know if “freedom” is the correct word for what I’m trying to communicate. I didn’t take the pastoral position because I needed the money. The Lord has blessed us in our business, so I’m not talking about that aspect of it, but I will say that a part-time salary for many bi-vocational clergy serves as a means to financial security.

I know many retired pastors who supplement their retirement income by serving a congregation. I also know some bi-vocational pastors who use their church income to increase their generosity.

For the congregation as well, a bi-vocational pastor allows them to have a pastor when they otherwise might not be able to afford it. Technically, one might argue that if a congregation can’t afford a pastor, are they legitimately a congregation, but I would argue that the early church couldn’t afford clergy either. There are many, many small congregations that are making a significant Kingdom impact. I pray Haughton Methodist is one of them. Having a bi-vocational pastor frees congregational resources to be directed toward evangelism and outreach.

Leadership

Being a bi-vocational pastor has forced me to rely on laity for getting things done in the congregation. This is an advantage for me and for the congregation. I have had to “let go” of some aspects of congregational leadership, and as a former full-time clergy, this has forced me to deal with my own control issues. Of course, I now have control issues as a small-business owner, so am I really dealing with it on a spiritual level? That notwithstanding, it has definitely been an advantage in ministry.

Likewise, the laity has, of necessity, had to embrace leadership responsibility in the life of the congregation that having a full-time pastor may not have allowed. A healthier and more biblical leadership structure is developing in the life of our congregation as a result. That can only be a positive thing.

Strategic Conversations

By my count, that’s twice as many advantages to the challenges I noted last week. I guess that means I’m doubly blessed by serving in a bi-vocational role. Seriously though, I honestly believe the advantages far outweigh the challenges of bi-vocational ministry. I also believe more clergy and more congregations should explore God’s call to see where He might be leading them. Might bi-vocational ministry become an intentional strategy to enhance ministry and build the Kingdom?

I’d love to hear your answer to that question. Hit me in the comments with your thoughts.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Reflection and Realignment: The Challenges of Bi-vocational Ministry

/ pastorlynnmalone / 2 Comments

Last week was the one-year anniversary serving as “Pastor” of Haughton Methodist Church. I put the title pastor in quotes because most days I don’t really feel like their pastor. I feel more like their Sunday preacher. Please understand, that’s not a reflection on the congregation. It is a reflection on me.

The anniversary gave me pause to reflect on a year of bi-vocational pastoral work. The time of reflection helped me identify some challenges I’ve faced. I share them here as a means of personal processing, acknowledging that my reflection may actually be helpful to other bi-vocational ministers, or to those considering bi-vocational ministry.

Don’t worry! It’s not going to be a long, drawn out blog. I don’t have that much time (I’m a bi-vocational pastor, after all!), and you won’t take the time to read a long post.

Defining Terms

First, I should define the term “bi-vocational pastor.” It’s really self-defining, but just in case, a bi-vocational pastor is one who works a full-time job in addition to serving as the pastor of a local congregation.

I intentionally use the term bi-vocational “pastor” because it is a specific calling within the Church. Here’s the reality–every believer is called to ministry. That means every believer is a “bi-vocational minister,” but not every believer is called to be a “bi-vocational pastor.” Make sense?

Why a “bi-vocational pastor”? One reason is the financial aspect. There are many (and by “many,” I mean a LOT!) of small churches across the country-side that lack the resources to pay a full-time pastor. This is the primary reason for bi-vocational pastors.

However, there are some pastors who feel God’s call to both the marketplace and the Church, so bi-vocational ministry affords them the opportunity to fulfill both callings. There are other reasons, too, but I said this wasn’t going to be a long blog, so…

Why am I a bi-vocational pastor? I am a bi-vocational pastor because when I stepped out of a full-time ministry role, I did not step out of God’s calling to preach the Gospel. When I left vocational ministry in 2019, I wasn’t completely sure what the Lord was calling me to, but I was entirely sure it wasn’t to full-time ministry.

Seasons of Transition

Early in the transition, I thought perhaps this new calling was for simple “pulpit supply.” I’d scratch that itch to preach by filling in for other pastors. Yeah? No! That wasn’t it.

Not long after I stepped away from a full-time role, a congregation called asking me to “fill in” for a period of time. That fill-in role turned into a two-and-half year interim situation. I’m certain the Lord called us there for that season, but I also felt the Spirit’s nudge that the season was over. (Absolutely WONDERFUL congregation, by the way!)

After another couple of interim stints in congregations, I thought the Lord’s call might be lived out in that way. After all, interim pastor is a legitimate need of the Church, and there are pastors specifically trained for such ministry (I’m not one of them, though), but because I wasn’t trained in that ministry, I didn’t have the expertise (nor the time) to lead the congregations in the work necessary to prepare for their next pastor.

Haughton Methodist Church has been different, though. I felt (feel?) called to settle in and be their pastor–their bi-vocational pastor. That calling brought a different mindset to ministry for me, and I suppose it is that mindset that has caused this week of reflection. It might also have to do with the fact that I got another year older this week, so there’s that! Anyway, let me get to the challenges I’ve faced.

1. Time Management and Overload

Margin matters, and as a bi-vocational pastor, I’m finding little margin in my life. Family gets crowded out and rest is sporadic, at best. The most concerning part is that personal spiritual renewal is almost non-existent (dare I confess that?).

That leads to mental and emotional fatigue. My grandfather, who was a businessman, worked all day, went home and vegged out in front of the television. I now know why he did that. He was tired! I often find myself doing the same thing. Many days when I get home I just want to do something totally mindless and that wastes a lot of time.

2. Limited Ministry Opportunities

I know the congregation needs new ministries. I know that I need to be discipling leaders and I know I need to be present in community outreach. There’s that time thing, though. It is difficult to discern and communicate a vision for the congregation while keeping the plates of family, work and ministry spinning. Not an excuse, just a reality.

The only way I know to overcome this reality is to rely on the laity of the congregation. I’ve got some of the best at Haughton, that’s for sure, but laity still need leadership.

3. Identity and Calling Tension

I confess that I wrestle with a “less-than” feeling when compared to my full-time clergy colleagues. I honestly don’t know why because I’m certain the Lord called me away from that. Perhaps it’s that I fear others perceive me as “less-than,” and that is my real problem. I’ve always struggled with what others think of me. Yes, there is more spiritual work I need to do if I’m still worried about what other people think of me.

I’ve tried to figure out who I am in this new season. Am I a pastor who owns a business, or am I a business owner who also pastors? It’s a perplexing question. How I answer the question determines how I set my priorities. I seem to answer it differently on different days, and I can’t think that’s a good thing.

Blessings Abound

These are just three of the challenges I’ve reflected on over the past week or so. There are probably a dozen others, but this post is already too long. Lest anyone think the past year has been all challenges, you would be incorrect. There have been far more blessings, and counting those blessings is one way I’ve managed the challenges. I’ll save those blessings to share for another blog post.

In the meantime, please pray for the congregation at Haughton Methodist Church. Oh, and pray for me, too. We both could use the prayers…and you could probably use the practice.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Things, They are a Changin’…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard of Cracker Barrel Restaurants rebranding initiative. I must say, we’ve finally found something that everyone can agree on: no one likes the new branding that Cracker Barrel came up with!

Conservatives and Progressives/Liberals alike have lamented the corporate change. There are several reasons I’ve seen over the past week. Those reasons include a loss of nostalgia and identity, The redesigned logo removes the iconic image of a man leaning on a barrel—an emblem of Southern charm and the chain’s heritage—leaving just the words “Cracker Barrel” on a gold background. Critics say this erases the brand’s sentimental value.  

There is also the sense of perceived sterility and blandness. Many called the new logo and updated decor “cold,” “sterile,” or “soulless”—in stark contrast to the warm, cozy atmosphere long associated with Cracker Barrel.  

As with everything else these days, there are those who note the political undertones of the move and the backlash that followed. Conservative figures widely criticized the change as an example of “wokeness,” while others accused the company of abandoning tradition to appeal to diversity, equity, and inclusion agendas. Even California Governor Gavin Newsom mockingly added fuel to the fire, reflecting deep political polarization surrounding what many consider a benign design change.  

And let’s not forget the financial consequences of the rebrand. Cracker Barrel’s stock plunged nearly 15% in one day, erasing an estimated $100 million to $195 million in market value. 

I’d say someone didn’t really think that decision all the way through.

Let me say that my family used to love Cracker Barrel. We came to love it when we moved to Kentucky for seminary. Cracker Barrel was a welcome stop on the 12-hour drive between seminary and our home in Louisiana that we would make several times each year.

The biscuits and the cornbread muffins were always warm. The hospitality was always cordial. The atmosphere was inviting and the food quality was consistent. We always knew what we were going to get when we stopped at a Cracker Barrel.

We don’t go to Cracker Barrel anymore, though. We stopped going before the rebrand. We stopped going because the last three times we went to Cracker Barrel, the food simply wasn’t very good. And, they started serving alcohol, too! Not that the alcohol really matters. We go to restaurants all the time that sell alcohol, but there was something that stung me when they made that move. It’s probably more my issue than Cracker Barrel’s, but still…

So? Why such the pushback on Cracker Barrel? I think it’s because Cracker Barrel represents a memory. It was Grandma’s kitchen with biscuits and gravy, and rocking chairs on the front porch. The rebrand stripped away everything the company represented to its customers, all in the name of “relevance” and “modernization.”

I’m not so sure it’s not the same struggle the Church/church faces, too. We want to reach the next generation. We want to be relevant. But sometimes, in the process, we risk losing the very soul of who we are.

Some churches throw out every hymn, every tradition, every symbol of the faith, hoping that a sleek, modern design will attract people. But what happens? People walk in and say: ‘This doesn’t feel like church anymore. It feels soulless.’

Now, don’t get me wrong—change is necessary. We must preach the Gospel in the language of our day, but the Gospel is still the Gospel. The method of the message may change, but the message must never change. Or, just like Cracker Barrel discovered, we can’t throw away our heritage and expect people to follow. People are hungry for warmth, for story, for authenticity. People are hungry for Jesus!

Are we giving them Jesus, or are we giving them some warmed over, feel-good-get-your-God-moment and sending them back out into the world? The Church/church just needs to give the people Jesus every time they come.

Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:15: ‘So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you.’

Notice, Paul isn’t saying never change. He traveled culture to culture, adapting his methods to reach people, but he never threw away the core. He held fast to the Gospel, even as he adjusted his approach.

So here’s the lesson for us as a Church/church:

  • Change is fine—but it must not be an erasure.
  • We can add new songs, new ministries, new outreach—but not at the cost of losing the warmth of fellowship, the truth of Scripture, and the centrality of Jesus Christ.
  • People don’t come to church for flash and logos. They come because they’re looking for a family, for hope, for soul, for salvation.

So the next time you drive past a Cracker Barrel (or hear someone complaining about the new logo) remember this: What the world is truly longing for is not sleeker branding, but something real, something rooted, something alive. And friends, that’s exactly what the church can offer, if we hold fast to Jesus Christ while speaking His love in a way this generation can understand.

I sure do wish we could all agree on that!

Until next time, keep looking up…

Nine Things For a Church in Transition…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

So, I’m pastoring a small congregation these days. As I reflect on my past leadership as a vocational minister, and I think about where God is calling me to lead as a bi-vocational pastor, I’ve sought to define the necessary actions that will help our congregation be faithful to God’s calling for this stage in our life.

What stage is that? I can’t actually answer that question, but if I attempted to provide an answer, it would be the transitional stage. We are a congregation that is in transition. We’re meeting in a storefront. I would define that as transitional. The storefront can’t be our permanent home unless we are content to be who we are where we are, and I don’t believe the Lord ever wants us to be content with who we are where we are, so we’ll see how that plays out.

We’re also transitional in our mission. As a congregation that was displaced from its property, there is a time of defining who God is calling us to reach with the Gospel. Our “target” now is not who the “target” was a year ago, because our storefront is located in a different part of the community. We’re in transition in figuring this out.

We’re also transitional in our worship style. The Lord has provided us with some amazing musicians to lead us in worship, and working to their strengths has made us adapt from a more traditional worship style to a more “contemporary” worship style. It is definitely a transitional time for the congregation.

One other transition the congregation is facing is in leadership. No, not in finding new leadership, but in understanding what it means to have a truly bi-vocational pastor. How does the congregation provide leadership in tandem with a bi-vocational pastor? Certainly a transitional aspect of life for the congregation.

These transitional aspect of congregational life have forced me to consider this question: What are nine things we MUST do to be faithful as a congregation in this time of transition? In no particular order, here are the nine things I’ve defined as necessary to navigate the transitions:

1. Biblical Teaching/Preaching

This almost goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. Let me clarify what I mean: I mean keeping the message simple without all the smoke and mirrors, sounds and light shows and video driven illustrations. It’s not about flash, it’s about truth and the Gospel message is a simple message for everyone. Keep it simple. Preach the Bible. Preach truth. The fluff is a distraction from the truth.

Technology is great, and it can really bring a “Wow” factor to worship, but in this transitional time, we need to let God wow us, not the technology.

2. Participatory Worship

Traditional worship (and by traditional I mean pretty much every church worship service these days) has become more of an observation exercise than anything else. Folks show up, sit in rows, listen to singers perform and preachers preach. Worship has become more performance than anything else.

Nope! Worship is meant to be a participatory experience. From music, to prayers, to preaching and teaching, to communion. All of the body of Christ is meant to participate in worship. Participatory worship will be another way that we encounter God, and we need to encounter Him over and over again during this period of transition.

3. Holy Spirit Led

One of my old mentors used to pray before he entered worship, “Lord, let something happen today that is not in the bulletin!” During this time of transition, we have to leave room for the Holy Spirit to move. We’re looking for flexibility not rigidity, allowing room for the Holy Spirit to move, even in our corporate worship.

That scares a lot of people, and it kind of scares me, too. It’s also a little bit counter to the argument that the Spirit works in our preparation for worship. Well, yes He does, but He can also lead in the present and we have to attune ourselves to His presence and moving.

4. More Fellowship Time

One of the reasons we have divisions is because we don’t spend enough time sharing meals together and doing activities outside the worship setting. No, I’m not talking about Sunday school or small group time. I’m talking about playing together. I’m talking about having fun together.

What does that look like? That’s yet to be determined, but it is necessary to navigating transitions in a healthy way. It will also help us define who God is calling us to be as a congregation.

5. Hear the Bible Again

I have to confess that I’ve been guilty of listening more to what other people say about what the Bible says than simply reading the Bible and letting the Bible say what it says.

Do you know what I mean? I mean I want to listen to what Billy Abraham says the Bible says than what the Bible says it says. Don’t get me wrong. Biblical scholars are great, and we shouldn’t be anti-scholarship, but often we hear 90% of what someone thinks what the Bible says and 10 of what the Bible actually says.

How about we start with hearing the Word and start with the Word we just heard?

6. Less Clock, More Connection

How did we ever come to believe that church/worship needed to be limited to one hour? Yes, I know the adage “The mind can absorb only what the seat can endure.” And, yes, I know there is the one guy always sitting in the back of the congregation checking his watch.

Seriously, we have to move past that mentality if we’re going to encounter the living God. Just when the Holy Spirit starts to move the preacher says, “Well, we’re out of time, so I’ll close.” I’ve said it many times. I wonder how often I quenched the Holy Spirit by making that statement?

Yup, I get hungry, too, but we can’t let our need to finish in an hour cause us to miss the Spirit.

7. Talk About Sin

I’m not talking about making every worship encounter fire and brimstone. I’m talking about acknowledging the reality of sin and acknowledging the destructive nature of sin. Sin has become unpopular topic in many churches these days. That’s unfortunate because unless we realize the destructive nature of sin, how can we know the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Who needs salvation when there is no sin?

8. Engage the Community Spiritually

We love giving backpacks and school supplies to kids. We love feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. We love, love, love meeting physical needs and we love to pat ourselves on the back when we do so. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. We are supposed to minister to the needs of others (read Matthew 25), but people’s greatest needs are more often spiritual.

What are we doing to engage our community on a spiritual level? What are we doing to address their spiritual needs? Those are questions we must ask during this transitional period of our congregational life.

9. Develop a Kingdom Vision

For too many congregations in transition, the vision is to simply stay afloat–to keep the doors open, to keep the bills paid, to hang on to the status quo. Transitional congregations must be intentional in developing a Kingdom vision–a vision for the future and for growth. It is about a vision for expanding the Kingdom of God, not about keeping people inside the walls of the church.

Developing a Kingdom vision takes time and intentionality. It takes patience and it takes relying on the Holy Spirit to move among us. Don’t rush it.

Conclusion

One would think I could come up with one more thing for the congregation to do in this transition. We like top ten lists, right? Honestly, though, anything I might add to the list above would really just dovetail off one of these nine, so I’ll leave the list at nine.

We could also spend more time unpacking each of the nine, but I offer them hear as conversation starters. I’d love to hear your feedback, and I’d also love to hear if you have any you would add to the list. Add them in the comments and let’s keep the conversation going.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Am I Doing it All Wrong?

/ pastorlynnmalone / 2 Comments

I haven’t written for a couple of weeks. I’ve either been busy or lazy (or a bit of both), so the words getting on the page have been slow to come. The respite from writing has given me time to think, though, and that can be a dangerous thing.

What have I been thinking about? I’ve been thinking about my role as a “pastor.” Actually, not my particular role as pastor, but the “pastor” model of the church of church leadership.

I was a “pastor” vocationally for 28 years. I’ve been a “pastor” bi-vocationally off and on since 2019. That gives me a total of 34 years experience, so maybe I have some insight into the role. Then again, maybe not.

Let me preface this blog with the statement that I think most pastors do a fantastic job and fill their role with integrity, character, diligence and faithfulness. The question I’m about to posit isn’t a reflection on anyone’s service in ministry, nor is it a reflection on God’s calling on anyone’s life. After all, ministry has been my calling since the age of 27 (perhaps longer, but I was deaf to the call), so the question has shaken me to my core.

Pastor vs. Pastor-Model

What is it that has shaken me to my core? Drum roll, please! Is the “pastor” model of leadership as we know it even a biblical concept?

What has prompted the question in this season of my life? Well, I “pastor” a small local church. They call me pastor and I call myself their pastor, but what I really am is their Sunday preacher. I don’t mind being their Sunday preacher. They need a Sunday preacher and I like to preach, so it seems to be a good fit. The folks are wonderful, faithful people who love Jesus, and I’m blessed to be their Sunday preacher, but, they need a pastor, too (or someone who fills the role that is traditionally called the “pastor”)

Perhaps they don’t need a “pastor” as traditionally defined. What they need is leadership. And, here might be a good place to clarify that I’m not really talking about the “pastor,” but more the “pastor model” that the Church has developed through the years. Yes, the “pastor” is a biblical calling:

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the PASTORS (emphasis mine) and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT)

As certain as I am that “pastor” is biblical, I’m not equally certain that the “pastor model” of church leadership is biblical. The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Ephesians, certainly seems to indicate that there is some sort of plurality of leadership in the body of Christ (the local church), not one person who is the “pastor,” or the “senior pastor,” or the “founding pastor” who makes all the decisions in the church, or does most of the leadership work in the congregation.

Actually, Paul makes the case that the local church is to be led by “overseers” and “deacons” who would shepherd (pastor?) the church:

3 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task…, and

8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain…

(1 Timothy 3: 1, 8 NIV)

Likewise, in Titus 1, Paul instructed Titus to appoint “elders” who would serve as “overseers” of the local congregation:

5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. (Titus 1:5-7 NIV)

I think the Bible is relatively clear that there is to be a plurality of leadership in the local congregation, with each one fulfilling the gifts given to the Church by Christ Himself. It is Jesus Christ who is the head of the Church/church. The plurality of leaders sit under His headship/Lordship. He is the One to whom we look for guidance. He is the One whom we follow.

Priesthood of All Believers

I also don’t see any biblical evidence for the distinction between clergy and laity in that plurality of leadership. Actually, I don’t see any distinction between clergy and laity at all. Sure, there were priests in the Old Testament, but I distinctly recall the passage in Matthew’s Gospel when Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross and “the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27: 51 NIV). Since the death of Jesus, anyone (I repeat-anyone!) could enter the holiest of places. The separation no longer exists.

Likewise, the Apostle Peter affirms that fact:

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2: 4-5 NIV)

This would be an excellent place to talk about men and women in leadership, and qualifications for elders, overseers and deacons, but I’m not perplexed by those questions, so I won’t chase those rabbits. I’m perplexed by the whole “pastor model” of church leadership, and I just wonder (as one who tries to live biblically) if I’ve been doing it wrong all these years?

I may not have been doing it wrong, but I certainly don’t believe I’ve been doing it biblically. I’ve been doing it the way I’ve been trained to do it, so it’s not necessarily the “wrong” way, it’s just not the biblical way. There’s nothing sinful about the way the pastor model has been/is being done, it’s just got me wondering if the pastor model has run its course and it’s time to get back to doing it the biblical way.

Perhaps all I’m doing is trying to justify my own inability to lead the congregation in a healthy, effective way these days. That, or the Lord is prompting me to dig more deeply into His calling upon my life and how He wants me to live that out. I pray it’s the latter. I fear it’s the former.

I suppose time will tell, but today is Sunday, and the folks need a Sunday preacher. So, until the Lord (or the congregation) tells me different, I’ll go be a Sunday preacher. That’s all I know to do right now. If you’ve got any clarity for me, please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear it.

Until next time, keep looking up…