7th December 2025
I was ordained 39 years ago today. After 7 years of training, we left Luther Seminary in Adelaide for a long road trip seeing our family as we headed to north west Queensland and I was ordained along the way. Charlotte and I didn’t expect to go to the edge of the Outback for our first call. We didn’t expect to come to the ELCE and Ascension and into the life of many congregations, missions, Westfield House, and synodical and international church life here.
I have reflected on the office of the pastor because I am one and because I have taught Pastoral Practice for many years. I came across this quote long ago …
“The Christian ministry of the cure of souls, or pastoral care, has been exercised on innumerable occasions and in every conceivable human circumstance, as it has aimed to relieve a plethora of perplexities besetting persons of every class and condition and mentality. Pastors rude and barely plucked from paganism, pastors sophisticated in their theory and practice of their profession, and pastors at every stage of adeptness between these extremes, have sought and wrought to help troubled people overcome their troubles.” (Ref: Jaeckle, Charles and Clebsch, William (1964). Pastoral Care in Historical Perspective. New York: Jason Aronson Inc. Page 1.)
The task is immense – caring for people body and soul – and the best way to do so is to be present and to get out of the way! The pastor is never the focus – even if he’s the one seen and heard – because the focus is always Jesus and his cross and empty tomb – and that means Jesus is present beyond our senses, through faith. Using the Means of the Spirit – words, water, bread and wine – the pastor enters each situation, encounter, relationship aware that Jesus is already present and that his task is to help people in whatever circumstances they’re in receive what Jesus wants to give.
People and pastors are always receiving what God wants to give and ultimately that is life with God through Jesus Christ. There is no better life to live! Pastors come and go but Jesus remains faithful and true and we all (pastors included!) can do with remembering what Jesus’ first words to us always are … “I love you!”.
GS