W. Allen Thomason recently wrote a post about things your pastor wants to tell you, but lacks the courage to say. He writes, “I know that every pastor has things on his or her heart that he or she would love to tell the church, but they never get said for fear that it might cost them their job in the long run.” The following items are among those on Thomason’s list:
- The Pastor is not responsible to do all your “Christian Stuff” for you
- You are not as loving as you think you are
- This Church is dying
So What?
Differing denominational systems and local congregation expectations aside, pastors often feel constrained from speaking openly about certain topics especially in worship or other gatherings that involve large numbers of parishioners. Even if pastors had no concern about possibly losing their position, speaking openly about everything at all times would be destructive to the life and ministry of the congregation. Somewhere between the extremes of feeling unable to speak at all about these topics and speaking without restraint is a healthy middle ground that enables the pastor to be appropriately prophetic.
Does your pastor operate within that “middle ground”? If so, how do key leaders and leadership bodies help create a culture that allows for such? If not, what do you feel should be done to move in that direction?