Servant-Leader

I was honored to spend some time with the participants of the Cultivating the Gift of Preaching Conference in Alama, MI back in June. It was the last morning of the conference, and I met with beginning preachers to discuss the call of a Commissioned Ruling Elder to limited pastoral service. I spent some time on the definitions, and the Book of Order, and who to contact in a Presbytery if someone felt the call to serve as a CRE. But we began with an assessment on Servant-Leadership.

Servant-Leadership is an excellent assessment to determine if one is called to serve as a pastor. Many of the qualities of Servant-Leadership are required qualities for serving as a pastor in a local congregation. Those qualities are Conceptualizing, Emotional Healing, Putting Followers First, Helping Followers Grow and Succeed, Behaving Ethically, Empowering, and Creating Value for the Community. This was a major topic at the Synod Leadership Workshop hosted by Dr. Robert McManus on June 11, which you can watch HERE. I think when looking at the list of qualities, many resonate and make sense for pastoral work, but I also think Conceptualizing (thinking long-term and seeing the bigger picture) and Creating Value for the Community (making a difference beyond the organization) are often overlooked as a part of Servant-Leadership and are key indicators of call to serve as pastor.

Many Ruling Elders I have met truly have a servant heart for their congregation. But to shift from serving as a Ruling Elder to serving as a CRE in pastoral service requires a person who can envision long term and communicate God’s bigger picture to a congregation. A pastor is also some one looks to the wider community beyond the local congregation to create value. If you are currently Ruling Elder, and the call of pastor resonates with you, please contact your local Presbytery leaders to learn more.

The Peace of Christ Abides!

Tim Pollock

CRE Coordinator

tim@synodofthecovenant.org

740-624-2351 - cell