A Leader’s Care For Others

When I first entered full-time ministry as a Youth Worker, I had an interesting conversation with a fellow church leader about the varying pastoral expectations from different members. I discovered that:

– In Chinese and Hokkien congregations, members love to receive pastoral visitations. Some would even personally request the pastor for home visits, and they might feel uncared for, if the home visit was conducted by another leader.

– In youth ministry, rarely would a youth ask to meet the pastor. To youths, meeting the pastor or leader is like paying a visit to the principal’s office – it’s either because you have done something wrong or there’s work you haven’t yet done.

Some ten years later into full-time ministry, I believe pastoral expectations have been further compounded by social media.

“Did you see what church ABC did for their Christmas outreach?”

“The leaders of XYZ church brought their youths fishing in JB for their youth camp…”

“I just love watching [insert name of world-renowned preacher]’s sermon. I’m able to receive deep spiritual feeding through it…”

Care for members are how key events — sermons, visits, counselling, conversations — meet needs of members!

How should the church navigate such different and exacting pastoral expectations?

Is it even valid for members to have expectations of their pastors and leaders?

1 Peter 5:2-4, shares 4 characteristics of pastoral care for our consideration.

[2] Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; [3] not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. [4] And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Peter 5:2-4)

1) Shepherds of God’s Flock (1 Peter 5:2)

Leaders are ultimately accountable to God for the people.

Instead of being subjected to the whims and fancies of everyone under their care, leaders, are first & foremost, “under-shepherds” of God. Members’ satisfaction rating cannot be the only benchmark on how well the leaders are caring for members.

Leaders care for their members out of obedience to God and faithfulness to God’s call. They do so even at risk of disappointing others, being misunderstood, or risking offence.

They desire to please God more than man.

However, being accountable to God, does not give leaders the prerogative to bulldoze through decisions and justify their behaviour as “God told me so.” (cf. 1 Peter 5:5b)

God’s call and purposes for His flock can be considered in 4 aspects: general, specific, corporate and personal. Through preaching, teaching and counselling ministries, leaders discern and clearly communicate these aspects of God’s call to the people entrusted to their care.

God’s general call, as revealed in scripture, is timeless and transcends culture. Regardless of when or where we are born in, God’s people are called to love God and people, to make disciples of all nations and to righteous living. Leaders shepherd their flock when they faithfully proclaim God’s timeless truths and correct false teachings.

In light of the general call, God also has a specific call for each church and Christian community. A church in the heartlands of Singapore will have a different calling from a tribal church in the jungles of Ecuador. Leaders shepherd their flock when they discern God’s specific purposes for their context and clearly cast the vision for their members to follow.

Besides casting the vision for members corporately, leaders shepherd their flock as they help each member discern their personal call and guide them to obey and live out that call. If the church is too big for the pastor to personally do so with each member, systems and structures that position people’s gifts help ensure every member would receive the help to do so. When God’s call on an individual appear to conflict with God’s corporate call on the church, the leader’s wisdom and discernment is needed to counsel both the individual and the church in managing the tension.

2) Eager to Serve (1 Peter 5:2)

“it would be more practical for leaders to discern the needs by carefully listening to the needs on the ground, and to the Holy Spirit for what needs are important for the church and how to meet them. As the needs of concern are being properly cared for, the church would generally and naturally be healthy and grow.”

God’s leaders are called to serve. Following Jesus’ example, it is a service which is sacrificial and self-giving (Matthew 20:26-28). Although the immediate focus of most church leaders is commonly on the spiritual needs of their own members, scripture makes it clear that this service is not limited to those within the church (Matthew 5:43-48) and to just spiritual concerns. Leaders are to serve people physically, emotionally and spiritually (James 2:15-17).

God’s judgements against the shepherds of Israel in Ezekiel 34:2-6 also provides an overview of pastoral care. Leaders are to strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the injured, bring back the strays, search for the lost, unite the flock and protect them from danger. It is possible to consider all these aspects of care in the physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions, which are interconnected.

Often it is not realistic to expect one leader to provide all these care for the whole community completely. Often, a team of leaders are needed and sometimes, professional references need to be made. Moreover, in different contexts, the type of care needed would be different. In a rural village, it might be crucial for the church leaders to address the financial and basic medical needs of members, whereas in a city church, it might be more necessary for leaders to provide counselling care and emotional support.

Instead of obsessing over all the possible aspects of care that people might need and trying to meet them, it would be more practical for leaders to discern the needs by carefully listening to the needs on the ground, and to the Holy Spirit for what needs are important for the church and how to meet them. As the needs of concern are being properly cared for, the church would generally and naturally be healthy and grow.

3) Not Lording It Over (1 Peter 5:3)

Power is used for the benefit of others and leaders care by using it for caring rather than abusing it.  Pete Scazzero, in The Emotionally Healthy Leader, identified the need for leaders “to steward power well and to set wise boundaries”.[1] A special application of caring is knowing when to release a member. He also mentioned that one of the most difficult things for a leader to do is to “release people (paid or volunteer) in a loving way.”[2]

Sometimes, after a leader has invested a lot of time and energy to disciple a member, God might call that member elsewhere. Leaders would do well not to feel threatened or betrayed by such transitions, remembering that they are simply stewards of God’s people.

Leaders can care by helping such members to process and clarify their call. When it is time to release the member, leaders can do so graciously and lead their community to do likewise, since their priority is to build God’s kingdom and not their own “brand”. As the leaders and the community obey and honour God, God is more than able to bless the ministry or church in other ways.

4) Being Examples To The Flock (1 Peter 5:3)

Leaders care by being examples with their lives. Jesus became flesh and made His dwelling among us (John 1:14) and He even walked together with His disciples for three years. The apostle Paul too, lived among the people as he preached to them (1 Thessalonians 1:5). This is also known as the ministry of presence or incarnational leadership.

“Power is used for the benefit of others and leaders care by using it for caring rather than abusing it. A special application of caring is knowing when to release a member.”

Leaders might not have all the answers or solutions to a member’s problems, but they can listen and support through their presence. Members might be able to access the best preaching online, but that famous preacher is not going to remember that member’s birthday or be there for them when they are going through a crisis. Members need to be able to see their shepherds being role models in their everyday living. By showing up and being present in members’ lives, leaders exemplify care.

In the sea of wildly diverse and changing expectations, leaders need not be overwhelmed by the challenges of pastoral leadership. God’s word has provided four characteristics of pastoral care to weather through the storms. By being accountable to God, eager to serve, not lording it over others and being examples, leaders can be faithful in caring for others.

What happens when leaders stumble or fail in their pastoral role?

At such times we need to remember that God’s grace is sufficient in our weakness. Though Peter walked on water and faltered when he saw the waves, Jesus was right there beside Peter to lift him out of the water into the boat. Likewise, leaders are never truly alone in our leadership journey. Jesus is right there beside us and is more than able to rescue us when we fall. It is more important to persevere and grow from our mistakes.

May we look to our Chief Shepherd for the strength to care and “when the Chief Shepherd appears, [we] will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away!” (1 Peter 5:4)