I was visiting my sister recently and we attended her church together. As it happened, they were installing a new pastor the Sunday I was there. The church is a non-denominational church, but just as in the denominational church I belong to, the installation ceremony asked questions of both the pastoral candidate and of the congregation. Our denomination’s questions to the congregation are similar to what was asked of the congregation of my sister’s church. But their final charge to the congregation was presented in such simple language, there was no question what was expected of the congregation:
Charge to the Congregation
Leader: Do you, the people of _____________
Church, indicate your readiness to
receive Pastor______, who has been called to
be your pastor?
People: We do.
Leader: Do you promise to receive the Word of
Truth from his mouth with meekness and love, and
respond to him as your spiritual leader and
counselor?
People: We do.
Leader: Do you promise to make it a goal to pray daily for Pastor _____ and his wife_____?
People: We do.
Leader: Do you pledge to care for and encourage your pastor as one sent by God
to help you grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord?
People: We do.
Even in the early church, Paul reminded Christians of how to treat pastors and others in authority: We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, ESV).
We need to remember to respect our pastors and elders as those called by God to lead us, praying for them daily and encouraging them. It’s too easy to forget this, and to complain and criticize our leaders, especially when they initiate change or encourage us to recognize our own shortcomings.
Let’s be positive, encouraging our leaders and remembering they are chosen by God to help us grow in His grace.
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