“Pastors inadvertently keep the church members in a perpetual state of stunted growth” – Steve Jones

Another insightful essay from Steve Jones at Freethinking Faith.  Excerpt:

Not that I have anything against the committed men and women who have dedicated their lives to the pastorate.  It’s just that I think they’re enablers.  As long as they hold their status as the paid professionals who “do the work of ministry,” the so-called laity won’t fulfill their own God-given ministries.  Why should they?  It’s like hiring a full-time plumber and then replacing all the faucets yourself.  You wouldn’t do that, so why do we expect people who hire a minister to do ministry themselves?

I actually had someone tell me this during my ever-so-brief pastorate at a small church in Michigan.  “I’d really like to help get people to learn how to counsel one another, visit the sick, teach,” I said.  “You know, develop their gifts and calling.”  The elderly gentleman gave me a puzzled glance. “That’s what we pay YOU for.