How long should a Minister stay?
Worship Survey / Discussion Thursday, April 29th, 2010
Pictured: Dan and Wendy Jacoy – As I travel the country, occasionally I’ll meet those rare and very special people who’ve become heroes to me – - I’m referring to those ministers who place deep roots with a congregation and stay for an unusually long tenure. Dan and Wendy Jacoy have been with the Tri-City church in Myrtle Creek, Oregon for 21 years. I’m excited to see that he has become an almost defacto pastor for the entire community, as people from all groups respect his work in the region. He is very active in the community and perhaps this Fall will become the mayor of the small town.
How long do you think a minister should stay with a church? Please take this poll and leave a comment here on the blog.
Short URL: http://keithlancaster.com/?p=1989
While it is rare to meet a minister who has been with their congregation for as long as Bro. and Sis. Jacoy has, it’s almost unheard of for that minister to be as well respected as he is. Typically, a minister may have longevity, but have little respect. Or, he has the respect of the community, but his tenure with the congregation is very short (5 years tops). I’ve even heard of ministerial schools teaching their students not to expect to stay at a congregation for longer than 3 years…this should not be so. I applaud Bro. and Sis. Jacoy, as well as their congregation and community, for there longsuffering and perserverance!!!
I attend the Trenton (MI) church of Christ and our minister, Mark Frost has been here for 30+ years and we are very happy with him. I’d say as long as the church feels like the minister is doing a good job serving and leading them in service to the Lord he should stay.
Interesting topic. Watching this tyoe discussion play out in Oklahoma.
My dad is Terry Casey and he has been preaching all my life. We spent 8 years in Temple, Texas, 7 years in Uvalde, Texas, and he has been at West Freeway Church of Christ in Fort Worth for almost 13 years. He has always said that he will move on to another congregation when he is done with the work that God has from him (specifically) to do at the congregation that he is at. Therefore, for any minister, whether it is 2 years or 30 years that he spends with a congregation will all depend on God’s will. When a minister finishes his duties for that congregation it will be time for him to move on. Every situation is different.
Theresa, Every situation is different. I do, however, believe that some people leave their “posts” before God is through with them – - leaving strictly upon their own recognizance without clear direction from God.
I’d say the answer varies. Whoever ministers at a congregation should be able to administer the Word & match the personality of the congregation. Many ministerial positions are voluntary, one or two year stints, while others are more prolonged, paid positions.
I grew up in a congregation where the men would take turns with preaching duties & we would have occasional guest preachers come through. The word was still affectively delivered and practiced.
We should all be evangelists and all remain where we are called until it is time for us to focus our gifts elsewhere.
Ryan – great emphasis where it should be: upon God’s direction.
I have come to see that a minister doesn’t really begin to have an effective ministry until his third or fourth year into the work. Until then he doesn’t even really know the flock nor do they know him.
During the first few years he can encourage and be a ‘cheerleader’, but his rebukes for their lack of spirituality or devotion to the Lord usually fall on deaf ears. They don’t trust him yet, they have not developed the bond of love, for this takes TIME and nothing can replace that.
The best advice I have ever heard for engaging in effective ministry came from the late great Paul Rogers who preached at the Centerville Church of Christ for many many years. He said, “Bloom where you’re planted.” Brother Rogers did just that, he bloomed where he was planted in a small town not known for much except perhaps as being close to Grinders Switch, TN, to a place where a wonderful work of the Lord’s church has bloomed and Camp Meriba as the result of one man’s dedication to his Master.
What greater testimony could there be than that of a fruitful work flourishing long after the servant gone to his reward?
“Bloom where you’re planted.”
I grew up in a small church where it was traditional for a new preacher to be hired every 1 1/2 to 2 years beacuse “we’ve already heard all his sermons…” or “we’re tired of this one…” or any miriad of excuses without thought of the disruption to the lives of the current preacher and his family. Sadly, this mentality has not passed away, but it certainly needs to.
I like to see preachers be able to stay in one place and become more effective. When churches have strong, qualified shepherds it is more and more common to see preachers staying and becoming greater servants and proclaimers of the Word.
Congratulations to Dan and Wendy Jacoy. You are an inspiration to me. I hope God continues to bless His work through you both.
Keith, many times pastors are hired by a small group of “church leaders” who make the decisions for the whole church and they are controlers. I hope this is not the reason that pastors are given the revolving door treatment in your church. Another reason that I have seen is hidden sin in the controling element of the church. About the time the pastor starts to really get to know the congregation and sees that he needs to preach on removing sin from one’s life, out the door with the left hand of fellowship. As you said some pastors only have a few sermons in them and begin to recycle. One pastor I knew preached the exact sermon around the same time every summer for three years. The third year I felt I had better go help in the children’s ministry quickly or I was going to say something to him. You see, my confirmation pastor had taught our class to outline the sermon to see if the pastor was organized and so we could look at our notes and remember the message and scripture. I have been doing it for the last 52 years. I happened to have a note book I used for sermon notes that had several hundred pages when the sermon was preached the second time, I could look back and it was all the same points. He was the same preacher that took 99% of the congregation and the building fund to start his own church. As a Christian I have forgiven him. However he set a bad example of unethical actions on the part of the preacher. We do need more ethical and effective shepherds who are submitted to Jesus Christ and not their own self determined motives. Dan and Wendy probably show strong ethical and Godly character in their community and church. That is why they are beloved and seem to be rare now adays. May God bless them.