The pastoral team of three...
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The pastoral team of three at St. Whatever's Church was a perfect one in that it covered all aspects of ministry with strengths in all areas. Furthermore, all three were secure in their personalities and cognizant of the peculiar gifts that God had given them. They recognized these gifts in each other and used them wisely in building up the body of Christ. John, the chief pastor, was clearly the outstanding preacher and the teacher. He occupied the pulpit the most and taught Bible and Christian knowledge classes for adults, especially those who were new to the faith and struggling to understand it. John had a way of making the most difficult spiritual concepts very comprehensible. Nancy was the administrator. She could plan, organize, communicate, and keep everything moving on an even keel. But she was equally disciplined in organizing the prayer emphasis of the congregation and surrounding the parish in an attitude of prayer and devotion. Sidney was the visionary and analyzer. He had a way of objectively assessing the life of the parish and coming to very concrete decisions about what was possible or not possible in its witness and mission. He thought up some very unique and attractive approaches to reaching out to others and creating a solid community within the parish. He knew how to communicate this and get others excited about it so that they came onside. All three had strengths in many other areas and all three had weaknesses. As for the latter -- they knew what they were and did not try to be what they were not especially since one or other of their colleagues could compensate for it. Together, they were a complete and healthy body. Many wanted to be a part of this body and so the parish grew strong in witness and worship as members exercised their ministry confident in the leadership evidenced by their pastoral team. -- Fairlie
