Ministerial Ethics, a different perspective - Page 3

RevDWW · #21 01-02-2008, 11:54 AM

Pastors are under shepherds and would do well to ask themselves often if they are feeding and caring for the fold as the Good Shepherd would.

Sister Alvear · #22 01-02-2008, 12:21 PM

The Good Shepherd would never abandon his sheep but would love them to the end.

Cindy · #23 01-02-2008, 02:17 PM

Preach it Sis. Alvear!!!!

Esther · #24 01-02-2008, 02:37 PM

There are a lot of good post on this thread.

Question, does a shepherd lead the flock or follow?

Nahum · #25 01-02-2008, 02:48 PM

Honestly, I have always thought of pastors as gatherers. It amazes me that I need to get fifteen letters, three phone calls and an audience with the mayor just to talk to another saint of God thirty miles away - SIMPLY BECAUSE I AM A PASTOR!!!

What is it with this culture of fear we have created?

Folks, in my short seven years as a pastor I have learned that you can't keep people who want to leave, and you can't force people to come who don't want to. You also can't keep people out of your church that want to come.

It IS a public place.

Normally the guys that scream "sheep stealer!" the loudest are the worst offenders.

BTW, I do believe in ethics, I just think we go overboard sometimes.

It's as if we think we own people or something, and it's silliness.

Nahum · #26 01-02-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RevBuddy

My experience in the Big Apple with calls inquiring about church was this...

"How big is your congregation?" "How many people are you running?" It is a continuing phenomena that people seem always interested in the number in the congregation and not the character or spirit of the assembly...sad really...

I can relate. It's never "how are you?" It's always "how's the church", or "how many you runnin?"

RevBuddy · #27 01-02-2008, 02:57 PM

PP,

People are people, I guess...but I was always surprised that almost never did the callers ask about doctrine, worship services, etc. If they had, I could have given them a great testimony. As it was, I told them our attendance and gave them a hearty welcome to come and be a part of a vibrant church fellowship...and, amazingly, several did and integrated successfully.

#28 01-02-2008, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoPastor

I had an interesting conversation with the President of the UPC of El Salvador today. He said that recently he was invited to a Pastor's seminar/retreat in the U.S. The asked him to teach on ministerial ethics. The host specificly asked him to focus on Pastor's that steal other Pastor's 'sheep' or let members from one church join their church without letters or phone calls from the previous Pastor.

Well, he said that as he was preparing for the session, he realized that EVERY TIME that he has been in the U.S. and they ask him to teach on ministerial ethics, they ALWAYS want him to talk about 'sheep stealing' or topics very closely related to sheep stealing.

He decided to go a new route this time. Rather than teach on "not stealing sheep" he taught on "How to keep your sheep from wandering"!!! He said that if Pastors would do a better job of Pastoring their sheep there wouldn't be so many wandering sheep. He said that one of the United State's biggest problems in ministry is the competitive and jealous spirit that is in a lot of the Pastors. Rather than be happy because a neighboring church is growing, a Pastor will discredit the growth or look for something wrong with the neighboring church.

He said that had John the Baptist been a typical U.S. Pastor, John would've been upset that Jesus left and started his own ministry after John baptized Him

ANYHOW I think it's a good thought and something we need to focus on. Sometimes we get too concerned or focused on the troublemakers in our sections or districts and we don't see what we could be doing better.

AMEN!!!!! I have seen it, felt it, been abused by it!

Pragmatist · #29 01-02-2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Honestly, I have always thought of pastors as gatherers. It amazes me that I need to get fifteen letters, three phone calls and an audience with the mayor just to talk to another saint of God thirty miles away - SIMPLY BECAUSE I AM A PASTOR!!!

What is it with this culture of fear we have created?

Folks, in my short seven years as a pastor I have learned that you can't keep people who want to leave, and you can't force people to come who don't want to. You also can't keep people out of your church that want to come.

It IS a public place.

Normally the guys that scream "sheep stealer!" the loudest are the worst offenders.

BTW, I do believe in ethics, I just think we go overboard sometimes.

It's as if we think we own people or something, and it's silliness.

I agree that the "rules" sometimes go overboard. I know some pastors refuse to give people a letter of reference even if they move and are much closer to another church.

Sister Alvear · #30 01-02-2008, 08:48 PM

Tonight my house has been overflowing with precious sheep praying and crying over Brother Alvear´s accident. My phone has been ringing off the hook....most of the time collect and them saying sorry missionary but we didn´t have minutes on our phone but we need to know about our pastor.

There must be a bond between the pastor and his people...One of the ways to form a bond is loving your people...anybody can see through a false person. People are not dumb they will know if their pastor loves them.