Accepting a Pastor position

These are....the last days.

 

:laugh:

I don't know if you thought of that first or not, but that is funny.

Sorry for your situation freeatlast. A church with 125 in attendance would be considered a very large church here. Probably only one in the county that big. The average attendance in our churches here is 30-40. I currently attend the largest church in my town and our attendance runs 90-100.

Size is nothing however. Sounds like you need to be feeding your soul from some other sources and private study, you sure can't depend on what you describe. Often I have found that within churches, even if the messages might be low on substance but high on emotion you can find a sunday school class or bible study group that is the opposite. From this core group you can then begin to really grow.

 

It might be time, to start praying for God to send a “real pastor”, to your area.
(Unless your already praying that!)

 

This details my own position fairly well. As a Reformed Southern Baptist, I took a pastorate in a semi-Pelagian General Baptist church. I could not be a member in my own church without renouncing my SBC ordination, which I was not willing to do. My family was also not allowed to be members in the church we led, but lead I did. I preached without compromising my position in the slightest -- the Bible is the Bible and it directs our theology, not the other way around (as is often suggested here on the board). If the people had issues between their theology and what the Text said, we would discuss those issues during the next Sunday's Sunday school hour (which I taught to the adults).

There were often disagreements, but over a period of 5 years, the knowledge of the church definitely grew, as did the understanding that there were differing theologies that at times compete for attention, and at other times lead one astray from the actual Word of God. Discerning the difference is critical!

I would not like to repeat that experiment, but I readily admit that even taking a like-doctrine church will almost assuredly still require some time spent examining theological and doctrinal issues.

 

I understand just what you mean. I've been involved with multiple small congregations, and the fellowship was almost always contrived. We were expected to call each other "brother and sister" and we were supposed to love each other, but once church was over, we had little to do with living out daily life with each other in any meaningful gospel way. Each family was an island unto themselves, and worse, they brought factions into the church based on who was the "in crowd" at the time.

I've also been in medium and large (mega) churches that do have gospel fellowship either, so size is not the sole determining factor. The main issue for me is an understanding of the gospel, which requires community -- but seldom is that aspect taught (or caught). We American Christians have imported more of our national independence into the church than we like to admit (or realize). It is only once one gets involved with a congregation where true gospel community exists that the difference is both seen and experienced. We are blessed to be part of that sort of congregation right now, and it has been an eye-opening experience for this pastor who has already been involved in ministry for 25+ years and who promotes gospel community at every turn.

 

If their positions were in line with orthodox Christian belief, then I wouldn't have a problem with it. I actually participated on a staff a number of years ago at a church that baptized both infants and adults. There was a lot of diversity, but it was in a highly collegiate and educated area with a spirit of generosity and openness.

And there was nothing heretical, just disagreements among orthodox evangelicals.

 

Are there any Baptists here who would serve as a minister in a United Methodist Church?

 

I recently almost accepted a call where I would compromise my personal beliefs... but it's not a bad thing at all.

The church is filled with disciples... and for the most part the pastor acts as a teacher/shepherd (although they are also a disciple/learner) so the question becomes...

Would you accept a student who had different beliefs than you? Of course. All students have different beliefs than you. What if your student believed in sprinkle baptism, but you strongly believed in submersion - would you not agree to teach them? On the contrary - YOU WOULD accept them as a learner ALL THE MORE. Who wants to teach people who believe everything that you do?

The bottom like is, will people who get "sprinkled" still get into heaven? Of course, so use this compromise as a learning point.

There are no perfect churches
There are no perfect pastors
If the church knows ME and my faith - and I know theirs and they still agree to call ME - then God's will is moving and his kingdom is advancing.

 

...like snake handling?

 

It is not if we "would" but if we "could." UMC bishops appoint ministers to their churches -- neither the minister nor the congregation has much choice in the matter, except that the congregation can make a lot of noise to the bishop and he (or she) may send someone else who is worse.

I have some considerable experience with the UMC, having been a member at one time, and having an entire family who are currently members.

Oh, and for the most part (depending on individual pastors who may have variances of theology -- there IS a conservative movement within the UMC) the UMC that I've been around are as annsni states. I've known one truly Evangelical UMC pastor of the last 30+ years of involvement in ministerial gatherings and churches with which I am familiar, and as soon as he started pressing the true gospel and a solid view of Scripture, he was moved off the field. It was a blast to mentor him in the Scriptures and scripturally-grounded theology for several years.

 

I am afraid now that you may be carrying this too far Freeatlast. There are minor doctrines where compromise is possible. There are differences of opinion on what the Word of God says on many subjects. Are you calling all of those who disagree with you wrong? My doctrinal stands are all based on God’s word and I believe I am correct, but I am far from perfect and many of my doctrinal beliefs have changed over the years as I studied God’s word and grew in understanding. Are you sure you know how God stands on every issue? I'm sure not, and I believe now that I have been wrong on issues in the past.

Jerome, and Annsni, I am preaching at a UMC church this week. No I would not serve as a minister there, for several reasons, but I will fill a pulpit at a church I don’t agree with fully. I have met quite a few truly conservative evangelical Methodist pastors over the years. Some were UMC, some were independent congregational Methodists and some were African Methodist Episcopal. I know one UMC pastor who when he was going to be moved by the bishop told him that the church was going to pull out of the UMC denomination and go Congregational if he got moved. He is still right there as pastor.

Free at last, I disagree with the UMC on many things, we can pick baptism in particular. Yet I am still willing to preach there. Does that make me a compromiser in your book? I will not be preaching on baptism by immersion on Sunday. I would not deliberately bring up a doctrine I knew we disagreed on when we agree on so many. I have preached at freewill Baptist churches over the years. I believe in Eternal Security and would not serve as a pastor of a Freewill Baptist Church, but I would not hesitate to preach a revival for one. If challenged directly I would debate and defend my beliefs, but I would not go looking for a fight. Would you Freeatlast?