Introducing "Super Shepherd!"

Pastors are leaving the pastorate, experiencing moral failures, and experiencing stress related health issues more than ever before. Are the reasons related to our overbearing expectations on them? Often, Pastors are viewed as nothing more than hired Super Hero’s – “The Super Shepherd.” We place such high expectations on them as Pastors to our Church and to us individually. Please, read this article with personal self evaluation about what your expectations are of your pastor.


First let’s look at what the church as a whole is looking for.


Pastoral Expectations of the Church: 
· Teaches and works directly with adults in adult religious education classes and/or special seminar series.
· Participates in community projects and organizations (such as school boards, community involvement).
· Ministers to the sick, dying and bereaved.
· Plans and leads public worship services.
· Works with congregational boards and committees.
· Maintains a disciplined program of prayer and personal devotions.
· Accepts speaking engagements before community and civic groups for special community occasions or for radio and television.
· Oversees church office activities, church bulletins, correspondence, records, etc.
· Tries to maintain harmony and resolve conflict among church members over church programs, finances, elections, etc.
· Prepares and preaches sermons.
· Visits new residents and recruits new members
· Counsels with people about their personal problems.
· Follows a disciplined program of continuing education & personal growth.
· Teaches and works directly with children, visits Sunday School, preaches children’s sermons, etc.
· Assists victims of social neglect, injustice and prejudice; cooperates with social service and charitable programs.
· Personally leads people to Christ.
· Remains spiritually pure, reverent, repentant, and Christ like at all times.
· Is responsible for the vision of the church even if it is not his vision
· He is responsible for the growth of the church
· Answers to the expectations of the church to the community
· If possible, is present at every church function.
· Spends time with his/her spouse and family apart from church activities


Now let’s look at what we as individuals desire or expect from our Pastor.
· I expect him to teach me how to be a Christian.
· I expect him to teach me the best bible verses.
· I want my pastor to be an entertaining speaker
· If I’m sick I want a visit or a bare minimum a personal call.
· If I’m in the hospital I better get a visit.
· If I lose a relative, friend, or co worker I expect a call or visit depending on how close I was to the person
· If I miss church I should get a call and if it’s been a while since I attended I should get a personal visit if not, I won’t go back because the Church doesn’t care.
· If I have a need I expect the Pastor to be aware. I don’t have to tell him, he should be close enough to me to already know.
· I expect my pastor to treat me as though I’m always the most important member of the congregation.
· My pastor should resolve all disputes in the church and especially hear my complaints.
· My pastor is my example of Godliness and is not allowed to be human or display human frailties.
· If by chance I bring a visitor my pastor should visit them.
· It is my pastors responsibility to reach the lost
· We pay our pastor a salary and he works for our congregation.


The Super Shepherd, no doubt, is under a lot of stress with the great expectation placed upon them. We expect them to fulfill all our expectations as individuals and as a church collectively. We forget that they are just one person and expect them to be super human. Equipped with super human stamina, will, fortitude, knowledge, how-to, administration, vision, servitude, creativity, and more.   Many of our Super Shepherds are hitting the wall and falling to the way side. Very often the same pastors who are expected to lead are trapped into a vision that is held strong by tradition, a deacon/administrative board, or elders who refuse to relent and follow the shepherd. These people view the role of pastor as a paid servant/preacher, wanting them to be a dynamic speaker on Sunday and chief servant evangelist during the week.  Never able to fully express themselves for fear of losing members, being fired, or creating turmoil pastors give in and fall into the deep trap of Super Shepherd and as a result lose their personal vision and drive. It seems in many ways the flock/congregates have lost all sense of personal responsibility.


“A willing heart left unaccessed, unheard, and unused becomes a barren wasteland of despair and anxiety.” Remember that quote. God gave that to me and it is powerful. Pastors all across the world are trapped in despair and anxiety because they are expected to be hired guns for the pulpit and never allowed to pursue the vision and dream that God has placed inside them for their Church. As a result, many churches exist in a fruitless state. These churches refuse to adapt to the pastor but expect the pastor to adapt to the church. Let’s gain some understanding of what the real duties of the pastor are according to the word.


The word “Pastor” means shepherd. The Bible gives great instruction to our pastors and elders as to what they are to do and what role they should fill. This is seen largely by the instruction to and examples of the disciples.
· The Pastor is the overseer of the Church. Acts 20:28
     o As such we should hear our pastor and follow after their vision. The only time we shouldn’t is when their vision goes against scriptural teaching. Personal theology or preference does not and cannot come into play when following our shepherd. A sheep follows the voice of the shepherd when the shepherd is safe. Even a dumb sheep will not follow the shepherd off of a cliff. Having said this, when the leadership of a church or a congregation refuses to follow the shepherd be sure, that they are clearly putting the life of a church in jeopardy. Otherwise, we should follow the Shepherd.
     o This also means that the Shepherd must lead, have a clear vision, and be able to communicate that effectively to the congregation.
· The Pastor should administrate, 1 Peter 5:1-3
     o Feed and teach the flock as the Shepherd
     o Does not take oversight, but is given it willingly
     o An ensample to the flock – an example of what we should all be
· Devoted to prayer and ministry, Acts 6:4
· Oversees all doctrinal matters, Acts 15:6
· Pray for the sick when asked for, James 5:14
· Oversees church discipline matters, Matthew 18:15-17


Now most notably, this list is short and I’m sure there are some things that are missed and should be added. The point is, we put entirely too much expectation on our pastors. We do this and at the same time we often tie their hands by subjecting them to administrative fallout and leadership. Often, deacons or other administrative boards expect the Pastor to operate according to the standard at which the administrative board sets. At the same time, they also hold the "Super Shepherd" accountable as to the success or failure for all church activity and growth. This is diabolically opposed to the operating setup as set forth by scripture. If we truly want a Super Shepherd then we must allow our pastors to lead and we must follow the vision that God has given them. If we truly believe that a pastor is a called of God then they must be given the leeway of a loving understanding and allegiance. Our job is to work to make the vision that the pastor has a reality and to find ways to make that job as simple as possible. Thereby making their time more valuable, dedicated to the wellbeing and teaching of the flock, and preaching to the lost.


I am not saying that every pastor deserves a blind following, but they do deserve our complete support and love. Pastors find themselves so limited in time and duty that they are rendered ineffective, because of the almost limitless expectations we’ve placed upon them. Many of these expectations are task of which others could and should undertake. This is especially true in mid to small sized churches. Because the pastor knows most every congregate by name then they are expected to be intimately involved with everyone. The irony is these same people wonder why their church is not growing or not baptizing new congregates. They cannot see that it is because 1) they are not fulfilling the roles that they should be and 2) the pastor is so busy tending the flock and the needs of individuals that they cannot focus on the church as a whole. Often individuals view service by any member of the church other than the pastor as an insult. Not understanding that the pastor was responsible for administrating and insuring that not just they, but that all the congregates needs are met. Any system that is in place is a direct result of the leadership of the pastor and therefore they are being served by the pastor whether the pastor is actually present or not. We must be willing to let the pastor be the pastor “Shepherd” and allow them to shepherd in all things. We cannot limit them by placing expectations of personal service upon them. If a flock is going to grow then the shepherd must either bring in more herders or split the flock. Having said this, we must allow the shepherd to train up herders and give them authority to serve.


We must follow after the vision of the Pastor and not chain them with tradition and the gallows of submission to a board. A real shepherd loves his flock and will always do what is best for the flock. Our boards must follow and support our pastors and work to fulfill the vision that has been placed upon them.


I fear that today our pastors are so over worked that our churches and communities are paying the price. I spoke to a fellow evangelist the other day that is hurting because he just can’t get bookings to churches anymore. He’s not alone, many evangelist are hurting. We want to say that it’s the economy and that churches just aren’t willing to pay or give additionally to bring an evangelist in, because they don’t have the funding. Honestly, I think it has more to do with the fact that our pastors are hurting. They are so overworked that they don’t care or are not willing to take the time to plan for an evangelistic event or revival. I’ve had opportunity to speak with hundreds of pastors. Their problems are all similar, mostly, how to motivate a congregation to do what they should and reach out to a lost a dying world. Your pastor carries a heavy burden of love for you and the entire congregation. I beg you the reader/congregate help your pastor! Pray for your pastor! Love and support your pastor! Never say anything publically to hurt your pastor! Realize your pastor is human is not there to serve in your place so that you don’t have to. Send them a card or a letter of encouragement. Lift them up and edify them whenever possible. Tell them you want to be there for them and help them reach your community. After all, we are all on the same team and every team needs a quarter back to lead. Get on board and join their Godly vision and do what you can do to assist in seeing it through.

Serving Christ by Serving You,