What comes to mind when you hear the expression “pastoral authority”? Does the term land well, or does it seem a bit awkward? Does it make you feel cared for by the spiritual guides in your life, or does it raise your defense or even your ire? Your approach to the concept probably depends on several factors. What has been your exposure to pastoral authority in the past – have you seen it modeled well, used for good, or abused in some way? Are you now, or have you been, a pastor wanting to have the requisite influence to lead your church in Christian growth and Kingdom effectiveness? If so, did that influence come easily or with greater difficulty? If you are early in your ministry, how do you see yourself gaining and using authority in the pastorate, and what challenges and temptations might you face?
As we think about pastoral authority, let’s specify some of the issues within the topic so we can think through how they affect our work and relationships in our churches.
What do we mean by pastoral authority, and what do our church members think we mean by it? – Authority can be an ambiguous term, ranging from benevolent influence to dictatorial control, and we may need to clarify our understanding of and intention for it.
Is pastoral authority a legitimate concept in the minds of our members, and, if so, what do they mean by it? – Just as there needs to be clarity on what we mean by pastoral authority, we need to know what our churches and their members have in mind when they speak of authority.
If pastoral authority is not a legitimate concept in their minds, why not? – Is it because of their theology, their understanding of Baptist teachings, the common tendency to resist someone directing our efforts, past negative experiences, or some combination of these? What’s really going on?
Where does the pastoral authority come from (your understanding and the church’s), and what is it authority to do? – Does it come from Scripture, from God, from the people, from your training and / or character? Is it positional authority, or is it grounded in something deeper? How is it gained, kept, and lost? What do you have and not have the authority to say, do, and expect? It may be that you have a broader or narrower understanding of your scope of responsibility than the church does. If there is a difference in your understanding and the church’s understanding on any of these levels, how do you and the church navigate that difference?
What are your and the church’s motives regarding authority? – Why do you really want authority? Does the desire arise entirely from your conviction that it takes some measure of authority to further the Kingdom work of the church, or are there other motives mixed in? Are there personal or emotional needs you are trying to meet? Why might the church want or not want you to have authority? How do these sometimes-competing desires interact?
How might the church’s history, age of members, setting, your age, and your tenure affect the authority you may be granted or denied? – What elements of this church’s history affect their understanding of and relative openness to pastoral authority and leadership? How have positive or negative experiences of past pastors shaped their understanding of leadership and authority, and how might those experiences have led them to formally or informally grant or limit pastoral authority. In a related vein, particularly if they have issues of trust regarding pastors, have you been at the church long enough and been consistent enough to earn the trust necessary for the church to follow your leadership and afford you influence? Finally, how might the church’s setting, the age and longevity of its members, and your age and attendant level of life and pastoral experience influence how the church views you and how it relates to the issue of pastoral authority?
What do the church’s governing documents stipulate, and what are the differences between these guidelines and actual church function? – It is entirely possible for a church to have governing documents because it is supposed to have them, yet function in a different manner as the church members either do not know what these documents say or do not choose to follow them.
How might pastoral authority be unduly limited in a church, or, conversely, how might it be abused by a leader? – Some churches tie their pastors’ hands so-to-speak. Either they do not allow the pastor the influence needed to do what they have asked at the time of the call, or they do not allow the pastor the necessary influence to do what Scripture indicates a pastor should do. On the other hand, there have been so many instances of pastors abusing authority that some boundaries seem crucial.
At this point, I have limited myself almost entirely to posing questions in order to prompt and clarify your thinking, lay out many of the components of our topic, and demonstrate its complexity. Navigating the issue of pastoral authority does not have to be overly daunting, but it is a nuanced task requiring love, grace, wisdom, confidence, humility, and maturity. When I began pastoring, I had an overly simple understanding of pastoral authority and made some incorrect assumptions about what it meant and how to exercise it. Since then, I have come to understand that it is not a simple matter. I believe the responsibility we bear cannot be carried out without a measure of authority, but churches may or may not be willing to grant us the requisite influence. And, there may be disagreement about what our responsibilities are and the authority needed to meet those requirements. Additionally, too much authority, unquestioned authority, or authority without accountability can lead to abuse of people, dishonor to God, and harm to the work of the Kingdom. In my next post, I will look at some specific aspects of pastoral authority and its abuse.