HALF PASTORS OR WHOLE PASTORS
If we tend to neglect appreciating the work of pastors, we double that neglect when it comes to Associate Pastors. A friend recently reported that as he left a position as an associate to accept the call as a pastor to another church, one of his members said, “It will be nice for you to get to be a full pastor.” Not only are associate pastors full pastors, in many cases they see it as their preferred calling. It is sad when others see it only as a halfway path to the real thing.
A SPECIAL CALLING
People feel called to be an associate for a variety of reasons. It is true that many see it as a first position that allows them to gain experience. However, even then, it is a full and authentic calling. Others see it as an opportunity to focus their ministry in a special way. Some focus on youth ministry, others as an education minister, or ministry to a special segment of the population – the elderly, evangelism, community ministry, etc. One of the advantages I found in being an associate is that it liberated me from both weekly preaching and church administration so that I could gain skills in working with the youth, the community, and education.
BEING SUPPORTIVE
Some people find being an associate as a life-long response to God’s call. To be a good associate requires some gifts in staff relationships. It is important that their ego be centered so that they do not need to compete with the head of staff. While it is nice if the head of staff is not easily threatened by the successes of others on the staff, this is not always so. A good associate needs to be as aware of the needs of the head of staff and s/he expects from that person. Associates need to find satisfaction in working behind the scenes being supportive of the vision of the pastor of the church. Churches strengthen that gift of support by affirming that in associates from time to time.
HONORING THE CALL
If both churches and denominations demonstrate more respect for the call to be an associate, it might enable people to escape the subtle pressure that they should seek a call as a solo pastor. Churches that can afford to have associates on their staff can benefit from special skills that they bring to the ministry.
A church will strengthen the whole ministry if they find a variety of ways to demonstrate appreciation for their individual staff members and for the staff as a whole. The church will both increase the attractiveness of their call to skilled associates and encourage associates to stay longer if they have a sabbatical policy for all staff members.
LETS HAVE A PARTY
Imagine the impact if a congregation would throw a party for the staff every couple of years in which they would give voice to the strengths that each member brings to the complete ministry of the church.
In the next blog, I will flesh out a design for such a celebration in more detail.
Currently an HR, I began my ministry in two small churches for a total of 12 years. For personal and family reasons, I then went to be an Associate Pastor in a large church. For various reasons, after 8.5 years, I moved on to be Head of Staff/solo pastor in a mid-sized church. I remained there 5.5 years. While there I came to terms with the fact that God had gifted me to be an Associate Pastor. Not many churches were looking for a 52-year old Associate Pastor. God led me to one that wanted a seasoned Associate who did not want to be Head of Staff (they had some difficult history in that respect). I remained there for 13.5 years, working with two different HS and an Interim Pastor. It was a great experience, with many great personal and pastoral memories to carry into retirement. I was a full-time, full pastor in each position, and I believe the members in each church saw it that way.
Jim:
Thanks for sharing your story with me. Good associate pastors are a treasure for the church. I’m going to extend this series of blogs to do a couple on the honorably retired to. Look forward to your response.