My thoughts on the Role of a Youth Pastor: Part 1

Last week I posted a question about the role of the youth pastor here. I loved the responses. Thanks for all of you. Here are my thoughts.

I believe that the church must remember what it means to be a pastor in the local church. To often the word "leader" has replaced the word "pastor". I believe it was Barna who said, "If you are a pastor and you aren't leader, then you might not be called into ministry." I'll give him the benefit of hyberpole, but I must say that Mr. Barna is wrong. The glorification of the "leader" in my North American context has contributed to this ideology. We hear phrases like, "Everything rises and falls on leadership" and we believe them. Myself included. Leadership had become drive of pastors and frankly it's a big problem. Now before you label me a "leader" hater, I'm not. Leadership is important. I have friends who, it seems obvious to me were born to lead, while a great number of us understand leadership as a skill we can learn as well. It is my contention that in North America "leadership" is valued more than "pastor". Now I don't want to be a dead horse here because there are a growing number of churches who are no longer looking for CEO type leadership in the churches as they've seen the growing chasm between what we believe about God, his church and his kingdom and the way we function as his people.

The church will remember what it means to be a pastor. It will learn to dileneate the differences between the expectation of "leader" and "pastor". If you have a issue with me seperating the two just wait 3 years. Your mind will have changed by then.

So what does this have to do with youth ministry and what is the role of a pastor? Read the next post.