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CAM
'CORDER
Consider the word, “minister” in the Bible!
Usually the word “minister” in Greek is translated “servant.”
In the New Testament all of God’s adopted children through the shed blood of Jesus Christ are understood to be “ministers” in the Body of Christ. The Rev. William Roemer made the assertion on his visit with us on Sunday, March 30, that the true ministers of the church are the membership. He indicated that it is a shame that the pastor, known as “Minister of Word and Sacrament” in the PCUSA has been designated by the term “minister.” Rather professional clergy are to help train and be facilitators of ministry within a given congregation. Bill indicated that too often the attitude that prevails is the idea that the “minister” is hired to do “the ministry” for us. The New Testament indicates that not only are all believers and doers of the word “ministers,” but that we are to exercise in our ministry mutual servanthood. In other words, we are called by Christ to minister and serve each other.
You will see, if you haven’t seen it already, a new designation in the Sunday worship guide at 11AM, which lists the ministers of NHPC as being the entire congregation. This designation is to help remind us that we are all in ministry together. We all are to serve, to serve each other, and to serve those whom Christ has called us to perform ministry as an expression of His mercy and grace.
One thing is certain I cannot do it all. During my time in seminary we were told that one person in the pastorate could only relate to and take care of 100 people. As the number expands the ability to relate to and exercise pastoral care and ministry leadership diminishes rapidly. Today our church really contains about 500 members and my estimate of total personal contact with people is around 1,000. There is no way that I can begin to do it all. Already, I am working the time of a position and a half, and trying to do the work of at least two positions at once. At the same time, I have found, each member has a different idea of what I am supposed to be doing, and sometimes the criticism in the past has been sharp. The responsibility for accomplishing more tasks and the performance of more ministries does not lie with me. It is the responsibility of the congregation. The congregation has three options: seriously inflate the giving to hire a full-time associate minister; drastically increase volunteerism (servanthood for the performance of ministry); or a combination of both. In the light of these solutions please consider what God might be calling you to do, for truly, whether you have realized it or not, you are the ministers of the Natrona Heights Presbyterian Church branch of the Body of Christ.
Cordially,
Cam
PS to Cam’corder
To follow up on the Cam’corder from the winter my latest blood work indicated a 66-point drop in cholesterol with a 65-point drop in the LDL. This has placed me back into the “satisfactory” category with my physician telling me to “just keep on doing what you are doing!” Thanks for your concern, encouragement, and prayers.
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