The 10 Commandments for a New Pastor
By Jeff Gray
This Sunday’s sermon is about the events surrounding Moses’s time on Mount Sinai as he was receiving the 10 Commandments, and other instructions, from God. That powerful point in the history of both the Jewish and Christian faiths are on my mind, so I am going to run with it...
I am not a career minister; I’m merely a newly minted “lay pastor.” But these thoughts are not coming from a member of the clergy, they are coming from a life-long Presbyterian who in his adult life has lived through the pastor nominating process, and transitions, for three senior pastors and five or six associate pastors, and counts among his dearest friends seasoned ordained ministers who have served a variety of churches in their careers. (And we talk!) So, as you are in that exciting period of anticipation of the start of a new pastor I am going to be brash and bold and give you my “10 Commandments for a New Pastor.”
No, they are not in stone. They are just really, really good ideas as you welcome The Reverend Joe Welker and his (growing) family into the midst of your wonderful Christian community.
Here goes:
I. Thou shalt open your hearts and chose to love your new pastor.
II. Thou shalt pray daily for your new pastor and his family.
III. Thou shalt welcome him with open arms, find opportunities to introduce him to the community, and speak jubilantly of his arrival.
IV. Thou shalt prepare a way for him by assisting with finding a home, orienting him to the community, and providing hints and leads for necessary services.
V. Thou shalt introduce thyself to the pastor repeatedly as he learns names (and maybe wear nametags for a little while.)
VI. Thou shalt include thy new pastor’s spouse in all things and make her feel welcomed and loved.
VII. Thou shalt not prejudge persons or things to the new pastor, for God has given him the wisdom to decide things for himself.
VIII. Thou shalt not compare thy new pastor to thy former, nor shall thy speak the words, “Our former pastor did it this way.”
IX. Thou shalt embrace thy new pastor’s unique personality and spiritual gifts and show grace by remembering all leaders are imperfect human beings and will make mistakes.
X. Thou shalt continue to pray for thy new pastor and his family even when he is no longer “new.”
I certainly have a few more suggestions, but I am confident that your Pastor Nominating Committee, and the entire congregation, have these 10 and many more, planned for Reverand Welker!
Congratulations, again. For you know God’s hand has guided you.