“What Is Your Occupation?”
By Joe E. Trull
A runaway prophet Jonah came pagan sailor’s question to the when he was fleeing from the call of God (Jonah 1:8). The question brought him back to his mission and his ministry.
Two current trends in pastoral ministry seem to indicate modern-day pastors may need to hear this same question. One development is an increasing shortage of ministers. Every survey indicates the number retiring far exceeds the number entering the ministerial profession.
The second trend is the one I wish to address—the plethora of new titles that church pastors prefer to identify their role: Senior Minister, Chief Administrator, Executive Pastor, and even C.E.O. (Chief Executive Officer)—ad infinitum, ad nauseum! The two trends may be related.
Ministers and ministry have been my life. After three decades of pastoral ministry in churches ranging from small student pastorates to fast-growing suburban and large downtown congregations, I then taught hundreds of ministers for 15 years in an SBC seminary. (Also I have served as interim pastor in numerous churches).
One of my special interests is ministerial ethics. At teaching at the seminary, I developed a class (and a textbook) in which the role of the minister was explored and the writing of a Code of Ethics was a final task. I am convinced that a clear understanding of the ministerial vocation and the ethical demands of ministry are absolutely essential. Otherwise the overseer of the congregation of Christ will lead his or her flock astray.
To current ministers who prefer titles that focus on rank, authority, and chain of command, I ask, “What is your occupation?” Or, what is your vocation? Exactly how do you interpret your call from God?
Is your calling to be the “Chief Executive Officer” (CEO) of the church? Or to be the “Senior Administrator?” Do you prefer the title, “Executive Pastor?” Why? Now please, don’t argue that in the modern world, the church organization has to have structure. That has always been true. My question to ministers who desire a title that emphasizes their authority is this: Is your calling to be a servant or to be the ultimate authority in the church? Must you always have the last word?
I know, as one former student told me, that it is so much easier to pastor a church that does not have business meetings, budget hearings, or a vote to call a minister. Yes, dictatorships are very efficient. But over time, people tire of being puppets! And, by the way, the priesthood of believers is still a biblical teaching.
Jesus’ call to discipleship is clear— it is exemplified in foot washing (John 13:5), self-denial, and cross bearing (Lk 9:23). How often Jesus had to remind his disciples that seeking places of preeminence had no place in the kingdom of God (Mt 20:20-27).
The apostle Paul echoes Jesus’ words. “We have this ministry . . . for we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus sake” (2 Cor 4:1, 5).
So my plea and my charge to fellow ministers is simple—stop your flight to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3). Forget about titles and authority that give you power, prestige, or preeminence. Remember that the only time Paul referred to himself as “chief” was when he called himself the “chief of sinners” (1 Tim 1:15). So are we all!
Joe Trull retired after 11 years as editor of Christian Ethics Today. He was also Professor of Christian Ethics at New Orleans Baptist Seminary and pastor of churches in Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia.
