The Role of a Pastor
A variety of metaphors have been drawn up to describe the pastor's role in encouraging and enabling the individual partners of the church to on with their ministry.
The Conductor - In an orchestra the task of the conductor is to get all the members functioning together and playing in harmony. It is not their job to dash around playing all the instruments themselves, one after another.
The Coach - A coach stands on the sidelines encouraging and helping the players or athletes. The pastor is not really an active member of the team. It's like a rowing coach; their distinct task is to get every member pulling their weight, and to train them as a crew to row effectively together.
The Rugby Captain - The difference between a game of cricket and the game of rugby.
In cricket one man can filely win the match. If he scores many runs when his team is batting, and bowls out many of the opposition when his team is fielding, it is possible for other team members to fail or stand around him and watch him produce the results.
With rugby this seldom ever happens. For the whole game, the whole team is on the field, including the captain. He must lead and inspire, but without team effort, it is filely impossible for one man to win the game.
The image the Apostle Paul uses of the ministry is similar to that of the rugby captain rather than the cricket captain. Ministers are encouragers of the team, all of whom are engaged in mission. At no point in the game can they be spectators. Sadly the pattern we have has developed that of the minister as super player who by their skill keeps the team going whilst most of the players spend their time in the pavilion (pews) hoping they will not let them down.
My prayer for each and everyone of you is that you will fulfill your destiny in Christ, that as a fellowship we shall continue to grow in unity, and that by the empowering of the Holy Spirit, the doors to heart shall be continually open to hearing from God.
Pastor David Waters