By Craig Carr
Identifying just what the priorities of pastoral ministry are can be overwhelming. Among the many duties that pastors perform are: leading, training, sermon preparation, preaching, Bible study, visit- ing, counseling, meetings, planning, prayer meeting, conducting weddings, funerals, dedications and baptisms, and a host of other responsibilities.
The skills required to perform these tasks include: listening, Biblical knowledge, life-long learning, excellent people skills, diplomacy, financial management, administration, motivational skills, communication, vision casting, teaching, preaching, conflict mediation skills, counseling, janitorial (yes), time management, social skills, public relations, and a knowledge of technology and social media.
These lists of job duties and skills are just the beginning when seeking to summarize what a pastor does, which can make the expectations of the job inexhaustible.
In an effort to bring focus and clarity to the role of pastors in the Rocky Mountain Conference, the ministerial department led a group of seven pastors* through a six-month process of identifying, prioritizing, and simplifying the role by establishing core values for ministry. The five-word acronym that summarizes these values is the foundation for the ministerial core values of Friendship, Adaptability, Integrity, Teamwork, and Humility.
These ministerial core values (F-A-I-T-H) embody the character attributes and leadership principles that can offer clarity and guidance on both a personal and professional basis. This is further demonstrated by the two-fold aspiration of “Living and Leading by F-A-I-T-H” in which pastors are invited to adopt these values in both their personal lives and their focus in ministry.
Approved in concept by the RMC executive committee, these core values have already been embraced by pastors in every region of our conference as the values take center stage for this year’s evaluation and planning process.
Over time, “Living and Leading by F-A-I-T-H” has the potential to bring greater clarity, consistency, and common understanding to the role of ministry among pastors in the Rocky Mountain Conference.
–Craig Carr is RMC ministerial director.