The Pastor

We have left until last the most well known of the perfecting ministries in the Church – the Pastor. The title ‘Pastor’ comes from the Greek words ‘episkopos’ and ‘episkopeo’, which speak of watching over, keeping, taking care of, guiding, and feeding. In other words, the Pastor could also, and often is, called the ‘Shepherd’.

A shepherd’s heart
Various prophets in the Old Testament - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos, spoke on God’s behalf of God, often quite severely, about shepherds and the flock. But in Jesus Christ, who stated that a true shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, we have the perfect example of the Good Shepherd.
It is impossible to consider the calling, anointing and role of the Pastor, without the analogy of the flock, the sheep, and the shepherd. At the core of the Pastor’s calling is a heart that cares for the ‘flock’, i.e. the Christians under his charge. In the conversation he had with Peter (John 21:15), we see that, before going to heaven, Jesus wanted to be sure that the New Testament Church would be in the hands of men who knew and understood their calling, and who had a heart for the flock. He was looking for men who would not simply work for the kingdom of God, preaching or teaching, but those who would love His people and take care of them. Feeding the sheep is about wanting the very best for them, watching over them, loving them, instructing them, and leading them with the heart of Jesus.

One of the five ministries forming part of the body of elders in a local church
The Pastor always forms part of the body of elders in a local church. He is respected there for the authority his calling carries in the spirit; he does not have an independent ministry. Even though all pastors are elders before anything else, all elders are not pastors, neither are they necessarily called to the five-fold ministries. Therefore, the other elders have nothing to envy or to be jealous of, but on the contrary, accept the place or role that the pastor plays in the local church; they sense this call and anointing from God upon his life. However, it is vital that he does not dominate over the other elders, that they are not ‘yes-men’ to do his bidding without question. His authority in the spirit does not give him that right. That’s why he will always seek to take decisions in union with the other elders, and with their approval. In the same way, for his own protection, and that of the church he oversees, he will also be open to correction and rebuke from them, where needed. His heart’s desire, his driving ambition, his vision, is always to ensure that he and the elders are working together in giving their lives for the people of God. The Pastor has a special responsibility in this regard: he is the one to encourage the other elders in that direction; to watch, and remind everyone of that vision at all times. The whole church acknowledges and accepts the call of God on the Pastor's life. The people should know the pastor’s life and allow him to know theirs. When we look at the life of a Pastor, we should see a man who is serving God and His people, not just one carrying a title.

A ministry submitted to that of the Apostle
If there is an Apostle within the body of elders of a local church, he obviously carries more authority than the Pastor, just as the Pastor carries more authority than the other elders. The Pastor should submit, not only to the whole eldership, but also to the Apostle, whether the latter forms part of his own, or another local church, belonging to the same network of churches, as we see in the book of Acts 20:17-36 and Paul’s epistles.

The danger of a solo ministry
The anointing on the Pastor’s life is different to that of the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, or Teacher, as it is more focused on the local church. At the same time, it also has its limits, and this is where the danger for Christians comes in. Many small churches, today, are led a man with a desire to lead God’s people and take care of them, but who don’t necessarily have the calling or anointing of a Pastor; or sometimes he does have that calling but is answering it alone. He is not submitted to a body of elders, either because there is a body of elders in their church but he does not consider himself accountable to them, or because he is the only elder and so pastors his church alone. This man has no relationship with other ministries outside his church. And yet, whenever we come across the word ‘elders’ in the New Testament, it is always in the plural! (Acts 14:23, 20:17, Titus 1:5). Sadly, many churches today are led by a pastor who believes that he can bring all the spiritual nourishment that God’s people need, on his own. This is very dangerous!

Interestingly, in the New Testament, we never see a church with a pastor as the sole authority! Quite the contrary, we see a model for relationships that should exist within the local church, and between churches. Even if there is a Pastor in a local church, that church should never be alone and independent. Otherwise, the Christians will remain spiritual babes, because the only food they receive is from the pastor. They are completely isolated and without protection, and are unable to benefit from the different anointings of the fivefold ministries. The New Testament churches all formed part of one family; they received the contribution of all the different ministries, which enabled God’s people to grow in maturity, and be equipped and perfected (Eph 4:11-13).

As long as the revelation of the gospel and the structure of the Church of the New Testament, is not brought clearly to the Church, it will be impossible for Christians ministries to work together in the unity of the Spirit. Many pastors will remain independent, and will feel threatened by other ministries, and insecure. And yet, like all the other ministries, the Pastor will one day have to give an account for the way that he has taken care of God’s flock.

TESTIMONY- Richard Langworthy

Ordained in the ministry in 1977, I soon found myself alone as the “pastor” of a small congregation in Bulawayo; the elders at that time were church members elected into the office. Because I longed to see true holiness in the church, I turned to the letter of the word in order to show people how to live. Within a few years, I became the Senior Pastor of a much larger well-known Pentecostal church with full time pastors and elders on its staff. From the outside, we appeared to have a successful church, yet my heart was growing increasingly disillusioned with the ministry. The biblical principles I taught were not really changing lives. Our leadership team was not really a team; just independent men with strong ministries in the same church.

In 1989, I met Pastor Miki Hardy and was challenged by his life and the clarity of the gospel he preached. Before long, the Lord had exposed the state of my own heart. I saw the pride and arrogance disguised behind my title of "Senior Pastor”, and also the legalism in my heart towards the people in the church.

It took the revelation of the cross to break me and humble me; it had to become real in my life first, before it could be of any value to the flock. Today, we have a totally different church. As elders, our lives are given both to one another, and to the church. More importantly, as a local church we are no longer alone. We enjoy the support of the greater body of elders and the CTMI Apostolic Team.