I was overseeing the doctoral program, and the potential student calling my office landline had a fundamental question for me: “Do you allow 71-year-old retirees to apply for your program?” I jokingly told him, “Yes, as long as you pay the full tuition up front” (and, how I was grateful he had a good sense of humor!). Within months, in fact, he was a student in our program.
It was one of the few times that one of my students was old enough to be my dad. I recall the looks of my much younger students when they entered the classroom and saw an older man in a suit coat and tie. I suspect they assumed that he was a guest speaker for the day. He was, after all, the oldest guy in the room.
It didn’t take long, though, for the young doctoral students to gravitate toward this older brother in Christ. They grew to want to hear his thinking—and I shared that desire even though I was the professor in charge of the class. It’s that background that has led to my still remembering some of this brother’s more powerful statements within the classroom.
On this particular day, we were discussing the unhealthiness of local churches, often guided by unhealthy leaders. Our brother leaned back in his chair and quietly and humbly said to the class, “Gentlemen, here’s one of the primary problems I see with many pastors. . . .” He paused, and all of us waited with anticipation to learn from his experience.
“One of the problems I see with many pastors,” he said, “is that they’re actually pastoring three churches: the one they never got over because they either (a) remember only the glory days or (b) bear the scars of a tough experience; the one they’re currently pastoring that should be their primary focus but sometimes isn’t; and the one they’d like to be pastoring—usually a ‘bigger and better church.’”
“Brothers,” he continued, “you can’t be the best pastor you can be when your eyes are on more than one congregation.”
For young pastors in the class who aspired for more recognition, the words challenged them at a heart level. For the few of us in the room who had already tried to navigate more than one congregation in our minds, our brother had put into words a problem we had never been able to articulate. So much did his words challenge me that I still remember them decades later. They were, and still are, the wisest thing I have ever heard from a 71-year-old student.
Perhaps his words spoken so many years ago still speak to your heart today. If so, let us know in the comments section how we might pray for you and your work.
Posted on July 15, 2024
Dr. Chuck Lawless is a leading expert in spiritual consultation, discipleship and mentoring. As a former pastor, he understands the challenges ministry presents and works with Church Answers to provide advice and counsel for church leaders.
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10 Comments
This piece resonates deeply with me. A few years ago, I met a retired CEO who decided to return to school just like the 71-year-old student mentioned. His journey taught me that it’s never too late to seek new knowledge and perspectives. The lessons he shared transformed my approach to leadership and learning. For those looking to enhance their leadership skills, consider exploring https://echelonfront.com/services/leadership-consulting/.
Thanks for writing, Krizzy.
This reminds me of two pastors that I have known.
My current pastor has been at the same church for 27 years. It is the only church he has ever pastored and is likely to be the only church he ever will pastor. God called him to that church, and he has never had any sense that God wanted him anywhere else.
The pastor at another church I attended told this story: “When I was a young pastor, I used to listen to older pastors talk about the one church they used to pastor. That church was wonderful, and they all regretted having left it. I vowed that if I ever found that church, I would stay there.” And he did. He served for 26 years at that one church.
Great story, Tom.
Even after pastoring for 33 years that cuts to the heart. It reminds me of something Oswald Chambers said, “You may think you’re of no use where you are, but you are certainly of no use where you’re not.” Thank you for the reminder to be in the present playing the hand we’ve been dealt.
Thanks, Troy.
Chuck,
Certainly, there have been many times in my ministry when the gentleman’s indictment was true of me. Now, likely near the end of my professional ministry career (and only a smidge younger than your former student) and serving in an interim role, it is easier for me to stay locally focused and keep ambition, nostalgia, and bitterness at bay.
But what a sage indictment of so many of us in pastoral ministry! It reminds me of two outstanding books: Kent Hughes’ “Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome” and Marva Dawn/Eugene Peterson’s “The Unnecessary Pastor.” Both are older books. But what would you expect from an older pastor?
In an era of pervasive ageism in the church, thank you for sharing and valuing the wisdom of one of the older saints.
Thanks, Bob, for the book recommendations.
Seems like you could swap out “pastor” for “attendee” (or “sheep”) and have a good explanation for a challenge for those who attend!
Thanks, Thomas. Good thoughts.