Shepherding

... shepherd God's flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but freely, according to God's [will]; not for the money but eagerly.... - 1 Peter 5:2

In addition to my years as a missionary and in mission leadership, I've had the opportunity to pastor five different churches in NY, IN, PA, and now NJ (in addition to serving on staff in MS). I always considered it a privilege to be called "pastor" and although "elder" and "overseer" were rarely used as titles, they were certainly applicable to the task those (like myself) have been called to fulfill.

As a fellow elder, Peter felt he could speak directly to pastors and he did. As noted above, he told them to, "Take care of the flock that God has entrusted to you" and his words exposed at least two very important truths. First, pastors are to take care of God's flock. This means feed them, love them, and protect them, whether they realize they need such care or not. It is the nature of sheep to sometimes be blissfully unaware of the dangers that surround them. Pastors are supposed to see the threats and keep them from harming the "flock of God."

Second, the church is God's flock, not the pastor's, but God entrusts the "flock" to the pastor's care. The flock does not lead itself and the pastor is neither a hireling nor an employee. Sheep never lead the shepherd, rather the shepherd must lead the sheep and ultimately, said shepherd will answer to God for the level of care that he provides.

Every pastor (elder, overseer), including this one, understands that he will one day give an account for how well he carried out the task God gave him, and trembles at the thought. God give all pastors the grace to serve.

We are building many splendid churches in this country, but we are not providing leaders to run them. I would rather have a wooden church with a splendid parson than a splendid church with a wooden parson. - Samuel Smith Drury