MARKS OF A PASTOR
Abilities: The following is an attempt to identify the desired gifts of our next Sonlight Pastor
Primary
Has a passion for Sonlight's vision:
To love God above all
To love and serve both those within the church and those in the community and
world, particularly the hurting, hungry and needy
To promote evangelism, missions and church growth through conversions
Is an exceptional speaker, gifted in expository preaching, and willing, graciously and persistently, to challenge us
Is a good listener, pastor and counselor
Has a Reformed foundation with outbound vision
Is well-read in a wide variety of literature including the spiritual classics as well as current contemporary writings
Secondary
Has demonstrated senior pastor leadership skills
Is an organized encourager, catalyst, motivator who coaches or leads from the middle
Is an excellent teacher
Is more of a dream-booster and ministry promoter than a program person
Assumed
Qualities: The following is an attempt to describe the fruit of the Spirit character to which we hope our future under-shepherd would aspire
Evidences a genuine life of spirituality and godliness in gentle compassion, self-effacing love, and sagelike wisdom. Peter Kreeft, in his book Between Heaven and Hell, describes such a spiritual person when he says: "Sages are earthy. They feel at home with you, and they make you feel at home with them. They are with you; their very being is a with-being. They are not thinking about themselves, but about you, caring about you. They are selfless not by being small, but by being empty, open, commodious; they always have plenty of room in themselves for you and your needs."
Addresses, in preaching, his own weaknesses, and thus stretches himself and others to greater holiness. In this way his expectations of others exceeds the level of his own performance, and his preaching becomes prophetic.
Reverences Scripture as the veritable Word of God. His messages are an exposition of that Word, not a challenge to it, not a revelation exceeding it, nor a leap from it into human psychologizing and rationalizing. There is evident a humble submissiveness to the Word rather than a presumptive spirit which subjects the Word to contemporary cultural reconstruction.
Seeks and expects to find evidences of the image of God in every person he meets. He thinks, looks, and talks up to others - especially to those whose status and education do not equal his, and to those whose gifts or position may tempt him to jealousy.
Exhibits in reserve, tactfulness and diplomacy the sensitivity, or soft edges of Christ
Demonstrates in thought, word and deed that God is his first love, Christ is his passion, and the Holy Spirit is his heart-companion in everything.
Understands that his ordination calls him to be a suffering servant, a wounded healer, a cross-bearer. Leadership is washing feet more than it is turning heads.
Is a person of prayer who evidences within his prayers a balanced blend of intimacy and respect, of confession and adoration, of humble petition and extravagant praise.
Manifests the holiness of an inner (hidden) life matching an outward piety.
Balances love for very old tradition with openness to very new creativity in all aspects of human expression. To put it in terms of music, he treasures the old and celebrates the new.
Carries in his memory the Word of God which the Spirit has written on his heart and which the Spirit causes to flow spontaneously from his lips.
Is a Christ-ian, a Christ-one, who reminds you of Jesus.
Is a human being, a real person, who by his self-acknowledged weaknesses, humility and healthy sense of humor reminds you of yourself.
Is open, transparent, willing to be vulnerable
Looks at this list of marks, then at himself in the light of the Christ, and concludes: "Wretched man that I am. Only through Christ can I do any good and become the person I am called to be."