In the excerpt offered here:
John Addison Dally, in “Rethinking Ourselves as Preachers,” writes in part
Denominational white papers and worship resources may emphasize the ministry of the whole people of God, but the continued pattern of raising up a caste of professional clergy, and educating and paying them, ultimately diminishes the vast amount of lay ministry that is not raised up or compensated. The fact is, being specially trained and being paid a living wage both confer agency—the power to act—on individuals. Inversely, having little education and serving as a volunteer do not offer the same conviction of agency, even when it is “officially” conferred from the pulpit or service leaflet. It has become a commonplace to ask what congregation members might do as the church (outside of worship) rather than for the church (assisting in worship and maintaining the facilities). But this cultural shift still exists more dramatically on the pages of prayer books and denominational manifestos than it does in society at large, where churches are still largely viewed as voluntaristic organizations, like garden clubs and the Shriners, or sites for self-improvement, like libraries and health clubs. The typical churchgoer in North America may be complimented to know that he or she has a ministry to be claimed and exercised in the world, but most cannot get past a lifetime of formation that said clergy bear the lion’s share of responsibility for anything properly called ministry. So the icon of the clergy leader is both a threat and an opportunity for missional preaching: a threat, because the clergy leader has been trained and hired to maintain and grow an institution whose focus is self-perpetuation; an opportunity, because if the church is going to live into a new ecclesiology, the pulpit will be one of the most powerful tools to effect that change.
Among several things presented here, I am raising the question of the role of pastors. Are we trained and appointed (or whatever) with the expectation that we will maintain the institution, or are we trained and appointed with the understanding that we are change agents for God? If the former, why? If the latter (or both), how do we balance the realities of institution vs. missional work?
A second question simply echoes the end of the article: just how can preaching be a tool for missional ministry? Are preachers supposed to chip away at the traditional understanding of “Herr Pastor,” presenting opportunities for lay ministry and affirming those who seize the opportunities? If a preacher “succeeds” at this newer understanding (or renewed understanding of the work of all believers), will the preacher work himself/herself right out of a job?
For my part I hope there remains a role for a “pastor,” but I think the description of that role needs to change!
Shalom!
dave
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