Sam Hamstra
I am an Executive Search Consultant with the Rukes Search Group, as well as a retired CRCNA pastor. I have had the privilege of serving congregations in both the RCA and CRCNA. When I am not working, I am hanging out with my family or reading a book or fishing in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan or serving as the Commissioner of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League or playing piano.
Posted in: Time for Non-Compete Clauses for Clergy?
You are right on. I just learned of a situation where a pastor spent six months working behind the back of the leadership on his departure. I concur that mentoring and visitation could help. Perhaps those practices could speak to the deceit and duplicity in the heart of those who sow dissension and divide the church.
Posted in: In the Digital Age, How Many Hours Should a Pastor Be in the Office?
Thank you for the question. It is an appropriate one for this day and age where I find it easier - and more economical - to work from my home. I would, however, like to suggest that we offer a parallel question: How many hours shall the pastor be in the study each week? And to that question, I think the answer has been and remains: "as long as it takes to prepare the sermons and lessons required each week."
Posted in: Controlling the Holy Spirit
Roger, thanks for the thoughtful response. What prompted my blog was the comments by two separate individuals about two different congregations. These two individuals believed that their congregations began to decline after attempts by congregational leadership to control the Holy Spirit. I believe it accurate to conclude that the leadership for both congregations was wrestling with the place in the life of the church of the so-called "extraordinary gifts" of the Holy Spirit.
You ask what I mean by controlling the Holy Spirit. Good question. Perhaps we could agree that attempts to control the Holy Spirit (resist the Holy Spirit) involves attempts to reduce the influence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the local congregation. Add to that definition this presupposition: Jesus Christ seeks to exercise lordship over the church by his Word and Spirit.
If that be the case, one of the most effective ways to control the Spirit is to disobey (or simply neglect) portions of the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God. Another method would be to suppress or ignore the manifestation of the Spirit given to the church for common good (I Corinthians 12:7-11). Also, since the work of the Spirit is to glorify Christ, we hinder the work of the Spirit when we fail to glorify Christ.
While the two aforementioned individuals connected congregational decline to specific responses to the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit, surely there is no end of ways by which local congregation resist or attempt to the control the Holy Spirit. I think it best for congregational leaders to assume that they have done so in one form or another - and then move on to remember, repent, and resume.
Not sure I answered all your questions. Come back at me if I have fallen short. I appreciate the conversation.
Posted in: Controlling the Holy Spirit
Roger, now you got me thinking!
What was the original intent of my blog? Well, while I am a self-described Reformed Charismatic and while the aforementioned conversations about two churches wrestling with the so-called extraordinary gifts prompted the blog, I did not right the blog to spark a conversation about the place of the so-called extraordinary gifts within Reformed congregations.
Instead, I wrote the article as an experienced pastor and as a church consultant who has had the privilege of working with churches in decline. The purpose of the article was to prompt declining congregations to consider that one reason for decline may be that at a particular time in their histories, they resisted the movement of the Spirit. In my experience, most declining congregations fail to even go there. Instead, they tend to think that health and vitality will return when they get a new pastor or a new program or a new building or a new something.
What does resisting the Holy Spirit look like? Perhaps the Lord led 20 people into the church through profession of faith but because the twenty were of a different race than everyone else, the congregation did not embrace the members or even rejoice in their professions. Now, years later, they wonder why the church is in decline. I am suggesting that the church first remember that event, repent, then resume.
Posted in: Controlling the Holy Spirit
Well, you raise a good hypothetical (while my example was not a hypothetical; it actually took place). I guess I would expect the leadership of the church to seek direction from her bride from his Word and Spirit - and then, once received, act accordingly. I envision that the search for God's direction would begin with confession of sin, an acknowledgment of our limitations, and a petition for illumination, accompanied by a willingness to seek wisdom from others in the congregation and broader Christian community. I have been privileged to watch elders work in such a fashion - and have been blessed. And thanks to you for a stimulating conversation. I hope our paths cross some day.
Posted in: Pastors May Cause Christ to Rejoice
Bonnie, thank you for your response. I hope that what you assert is true.
Posted in: Pastors May Cause Christ to Rejoice
I believe that Edwards sought in his sermon to encourage pastors to be faithful in sharing the Gospel by noting the fact that the Gospels offer but one citation of Christ rejoicing - that when the 72 returned and reported to Jesus about their successful missionary journey.
Posted in: The Evolution of the Pastoral Ministry
Agreed.
Posted in: The Evolution of the Pastoral Ministry
Bev, thanks for your thoughtful response. I affirm your points. I have found each affirmed in my study of pastoral theologies, but each categorized differently. Typically, those who write on these subjects like to distinguish between functions and qualifications - and a major qualification is that the pastor be a person of prayer! Richard Baxter is one of many who give considerable attention to this.
I like your emphasis on the prophetic. Right or wrong, I have found that many authors discuss this subject within the context of the function of preaching, calling for prophetic sermons. And I think you are right in stating that these same authors fail to discuss the prophetic outside of the function of preaching. As a result, many neglect the gifted prophet in their midst when that person is not an ordained pastor.
Posted in: What Do Ministers Do?
Thanks, Norman. I agree. It is time to focus. Let's hope that vital conversations about pastoral theology continue to take place and that clarity emerges about the core functions of the pastoral ministry.
Posted in: Winging Our Prayers
Thanks, Roger. Good stuff. Always good to talk about prayer. And you got me thinking about the impact of the audience on our preparation. We prepare our sermons for the congregation but shall we prepare our prayers for the Lord? You raise a good question.
Plus you accent two points I was trying to get at. First, of the three types of prayer - impromptu, extemporaneous, and formed - I have not found one type essentially more spiritual than another. Second, the prayers of those on the platform will shape the prayers of those in the pews. For that reason, I often opt for extemporaneous or formed prayers, rather than impromptu.
Thanks again for taking the time to response. Your words are helpful to me as I shape my lectures for seminarians.
Posted in: Winging Our Prayers
Thank you for the excellent feedback - and for the spirit in which it was given.