I oscillate between feeling that after nearly 40 years I think I’m getting the hang of being a pastor through to wondering when will I ever learn how to be a pastor?! I think I’m too arrogant to have too much of an imposter syndrome but with the recent installation of a pastor for Good Shepherd and St Timothy and currently teaching my Westfield House course on Pastoral Practice, I’ve found myself reflecting on this role more than simply ‘doing it’.
Lutherans teach – particularly in the Augsburg Confession – (ACIV, ACV (in particular), ACVI, ACVII, ACVIII, ACXIV) – that the office of the ministry is the mechanism Jesus established for him to be with his people through the Means of the Spirit – the Word of God, Baptism, and Holy Communion. This isn’t just something for an hour or two on Sunday but is the basis for all the pastoral work and establishes priorities and boundaries and shapes relationships among disciples and in the world. I’ve likened this activity to the supply sergeant getting the right supplies to the troops, the waiter bringing the correct meals to the table, the shepherd caring for the lost sheep as well as the flock – yes, important work but it is about bringing the hidden reality of Jesus to the moment, the person, the congregation, even to the world – while, at the same time, not wanting the attention or focus staying on him!
That’s the hard part – somehow being transparent – so the attention is on Jesus. When I look in the mirror all is see is me. When you hear me, you hear my accent (whereas I’m sure I don’t have any accent – you all do! 😉 ) I conducted a funeral this week and afterwards, pretty well everyone acknowledged that “I’m not from around here” because they heard my Australian accent. But did they hear Jesus? I hope so. Nevertheless there is a close connection – an attention – to the person we see rather than to the person we don’t see which can be helpful or harmful. It is especially important for the pastor to remember this reality – you are not the focus! – and for the people to remember – he is not Jesus! – which can help both sides navigate the relationships between them.
One of the reasons that Lutherans prefer not to have the musicians at the front of the church and why pulpits and lecterns are at the sides of the altar is that visually we have an ‘empty stage’ at the Divine Service – which, of course, isn’t ‘empty’ because the Lord of the Church has called his people to him to serve them – through words, water, bread and wine – and anyone you see ‘up front’ on such occasions is hopefully serving in Jesus’ name so that he is the focus! Of course you will only see the pastor and his assistants for better or worse – but the questions remain … What are the words saying? Who is saying them? What are the words doing – particularly with water, bread and wine? One hopes that the hidden reality – revealed by the words, received through faith – of Jesus is met, that Jesus is heard, and that Jesus remains present for those who hear … and those who speak!
GS