Pastor’s Annual Report

This year, instead of the usual laundry list of activities and attendance statistics, I decided to share my reflections on the role of the pastor.

Works of Service

I recently preached on how Jesus’ miracles were signs that pointed to who he is: Son of God and God. They also revealed his character—someone who always responds to the real needs of those around him. Jesus became a servant to those around him, meeting their needs without regard to his own. The greatest need of those who met Jesus was the need to have their sins forgiven. In response to that need, Jesus died on the cross for them…and for us. In the same way, the things a congregation does—works of service—are the signs of our closeness to Christ. Works of service make us the church, a body unified by faith in Jesus Christ.

Equipping the Church

One of the primary purposes of church leaders is to equip the congregation for those “works of service.”

Ephesians 4:11 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.

In this passage, Paul does not mention the most common congregational leaders in the Bible, the elders and deacons. The elders (overseers) govern the congregation and the deacons (“waiters”) care for the material needs of congregation members in distress. Instead of these “practical” leaders of the congregation, he mentions those who would be considered “spiritual” leaders. Instead of guiding and serving the congregation, these leaders “equip” the “people for works of service.”

In practice, a pastor functions as both an elder and a deacon. As an elder and deacon, I participate in meetings of the church council and diaconate, although I do not chair the meetings or vote. As a deacon, I visit the sick and the homebound. [I would also add that, simply as a member of the church, I participate in worship, fellowship, and fundraising activities in a variety of ways, including singing, listening at meetings, rolling dumplings, and eating!]

However, the Ephesians passage points to another way in which the pastor leads and congregation. It seems to me that apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers all have the role of transmitting the Gospel, God’s Good News, to the congregation. Apostles, prophets, and evangelists had a historic role in bringing the Gospel to the entire Church through the words, signs, and wonders recorded in the New Testament Book of Acts and the Epistles. Moreover, some of them had a major role in the recording of the New Testament scriptures under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The apostles, prophets, and evangelists delivered to the Church the incomparable riches of Christ in the New Testament. Then it became the job of the pastors and teachers to transmit the Good News to the Congregation. Moreover, they transmit the Good News to the congregation with specific purpose of equipping the congregation for works of service.

To equip is “to furnish for service or action by appropriate provisioning; to dress, array; to make ready; or to prepare.” The original usage was relating to loading a ship for a sea voyage. I would interpret the Ephesians passage to say that the pastors and teachers prepare the congregation to go out into the world do works of service that build up the body of Christ. The elders and deacons keep the congregation going, but the pastors and teachers prepare the congregation to go out into the world in service.

Equipping the Church as Preacher and Teacher

Looking back at 2012, I see that, as your pastor, I am doing some of the things I need to equip you. However, I also see room for continued change and growth. I hope that my Sunday morning preaching and administration of the sacraments equips the congregation for works of service by drawing them closer to the Spirit of Christ, who always said “yes” to real needs. I also hope that my teaching in Sunday school classes, confirmation classes, and Wednesday night programs also equips the congregation to serve.

I realize that I need to ask myself constantly whether I am properly using my developing knowledge of the Bible and reformed theology preparing the congregation for good works. I believe I need to listen more closely to church members to see if my preaching and teaching is actually giving them the Biblical foundation they need to help their neighbors in need. I need to reach out to church members and get honest answers whether the way we present the Good News at Evangelical Church is feeding them spiritually, making them strong for the difficult job of serving a fallen and broken world.

Equipping the Congregation as Encourager

Besides preaching, teaching, and administering the sacraments, I serve as a pastor, an “equipper,” through encouragement and example. I have tried in my role as an ex-officio member of the council and diaconate to encourage EUCC to continue serving our neighbors in whatever ways God has enabled our congregation to serve. I have been a cheerleader and supporter of using our apple butter tradition to reach out to the neighborhoods around us through the Apple Butter Festival. I have encouraged the council to let groups in the community including the Mental Health Coalition (Mental Health First Aid), the Red Cross (blood drives), the Community Caring Council (Missouri Mentoring and Building Stronger Families), and others use our wonderful facilities to the benefit of the community.

However, I believe that I need to be more active and creative in my role as encourager in the year ahead. I think I need to do more to encourage church members to share with the congregation how they serve their neighbors. I know we are all modest and unwilling to brag on ourselves, but there are ways in which I could do more to recognize all the works of service church members have done at nursing homes, in their neighborhoods, and in the community at large. By recognizing what we have done and are doing through daily life and volunteer activities, we can encourage ourselves to new efforts and greater achievements.

Equipping the Congregation as Example

I also am evaluating whether the kind of work I am doing in community provides an example to the congregation that equips members for works of service. I have tried to play out my professional role as pastor in a way that serves the community and builds up the Body of Christ. I have provided my time and talents to Love INC, the Samaritan Regional Clinic, the Sprig of Hope (homeless shelter), the Jamaican Christian Medical Mission, and the Community Caring Council by volunteering and serving on boards of directors. I have also participated in and sometimes led the activities of the Cape Ministerial Alliance and the Downtown Council of Churches. I have to admit that I am involved in some of these activities simply because I cannot say “no” when asked to represent the Church on these boards.

As an individual Christian, God has called me to use my talents and gifts in works of service. However, when I am serving as your pastor I need to choose works of service that are truly useful as examples to the congregation. Does my going to Jamaica truly inspire the congregation to works of service? Are there ways I can make the Jamaican Christian Medical Mission more relevant and meaningful to the congregation? Which, if any, of the boards I serve on provide a meaningful example of service for congregation members? Some boards and committees require only a few hours a month, so this is not necessarily a major issue. However, others require me to make a significant investment in time and energy. Should I be using that time and energy on something more relevant to the congregation?

Working Together

The next few verses of Ephesians 4 help tell us where we need to go from here:

Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

These beautiful words describe the Universal Christian Church, but they also describe the local congregation, even our own Evangelical United Church of Christ, Cape Girardeau. Each of us must do our part to help the body grow towards unity and maturity, as we do the works Christ has prepared for us to do.

As pastor—rather than elder, deacon, or member—my primary role is to equip the congregation by delivering the true Gospel of Jesus Christ through preaching, teaching, and administering the sacraments. I will prayerfully strive to continue to grow in that role. However, I also can help to equip the congregation in the roles of encourager and example. To fulfill those roles better, I need the help of the congregation. As a body, we need to explore why God has placed this congregation here on Ellis Street in the Year of Our Lord 2013. We need to discern the works of service God has prepared for us and I need your help in being more effective in equipping each of you to play your part in those works. Let’s pray, talk, and get to work!

God Bless You and Yours In This New Year!

Pastor Dan