A Philosophy of Pastoral Leadership

This video illustrates the confusion many people--pastors and congregations alike--experience with regard to the nature of the pastoral calling. What is a pastor? This is a crucial question that rarely gets asked so pointedly, much less considered with any seriousness.

One common trend that concerns me is the tendency to "anachronize" (read modern notions into ancient terms) the various biblical terms for pastoral leadership. The most obvious is "shepherd," which through the Westernized anachronism means a spiritual nurse of sorts... and usually a spiritual nurse on wheels... someone akin to Richard Baxter's Reformed Pastor. But is that what the Bible means by the term poimen (shepherd/pastor)?

Read my Philosophy of Pastoral Leadership or do your own research and see. The truth might surprise you.