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Two pastors can change direction

John A. Esau

Many pastors have the image of being agents of change in their congregations. They do so under the mantle of the Old Testament prophets who, by the power of their words, sought to ignite a people to love and loyalty to their God.

The prophets seldom succeeded. They called for a new day, complete with images of a new heaven and a new earth. What they often got was more of the same old way of doing things. Prophets of change are seldom welcomed.

Religious groups are by nature conserving communities. They seek to hold tight to that which has given meaning and clarity to their common life. On the positive side, this conserving instinct prevents them from flying after “every wind of doctrine” that comes along. On the negative side, this nature can become so rigid that it prevents needed changes.

A pastor has the responsibility to lead a congregation in making positive changes – changes that will result in greater faithfulness to our Lord and increased openness to God’s Spirit. That’s not an easy assignment.

For example, I believe congregations benefit from a strong connection to their denominational heritage. I believe it is important to a congregation’s health, unity and engagement in missions to have a loyalty to its denominational offices, colleges and other institutions. This is not a blind loyalty or unthinking support. One can be appropriately critical while making clear an overarching care for and commitment to denominational institutions.

Pastors, more than any other persons in their congregations, carry the responsibility for this relationship. Some pastors have led their congregations away from this vital connection. Others have led their congregations back to an affirming relationship with their denomination.

In the light of all the above, I have a theory for your consideration. It goes like this:

One pastor who remains in a congregation for an average length of time (10 years) cannot finally change the direction of a congregation. Two successive pastors of a similar mind will almost certainly be able to reorient a congregation in a new direction. The worst scenario for a congregation is to have alternating pastoral leadership, one seeking, for instance, to re-establish the denominational relationship and the next seeking to distance the congregation from this connection. When this happens over two cycles (four pastors), you can almost be certain that the congregation will suffer from institutional schizophrenia.

Change is not always a virtue. Resistance to change is not always a vice. Both are values the church must embrace. We must make important choices as the times and situations demand. May God give us the wisdom to discern when one or the other is necessary.

John A. Esau was until recently director of Ministerial Leadership Services for the General Conference Mennonite Church, and is author of the book Congregations and Pastors: Reflections on the Work of the Church (Faith and Life Press, 1999). This article was originally published as a column in the Sept. 17, 1998 issue of Mennonite Weekly Review, and is reprinted with permission.

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Last modified May 4, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
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