What Some ERC Congregations are Looking for in a "Leader"

Gang,

I was reading the ERC Newsletter recently and clicked on "Employment Opportunities" to assess the mindset of ERC Congregations who are looking for new leadership. 

(Question:  What better evidence could demonstrate that we are now attempting to operate Christ's church as  a business--and not a Spirit-led, living organism--than to advertise openings for "Employment?"  How the Lord must be weeping over us!  At how many RPMs must John Winebrenner be spinning in his grave?!)

The first three ads cited below are from small congregations which have been declining and, realistically, are, very likely, on their last legs.  Their ads were still running at last check.

The fourth ad is from a congregation which, later in its ad, boasts average attendance in excess of 300.  Very far down in its ad is the mention that the successful candidate should be an 'evangelizer.'  (Note that this congregation doesn't want to be discipled in evangelism!  It wants to consume the evangelistic gift of its leader.) 

The fifth ad is from what once was one of the largest congregations in the whole denomination but which has not thrived in recent decades.  This church, apparently, did not read the latest ERC "to talk is to walk" memo and, therefore, makes no mention whatsoever of outreach or mission or "evangelizer-ing."

I highlight the common desire of each.

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   We desire someone who is a Bible preacher and teacher and someone as a Shepherd who will lead us toward a mission outreach focus and willing to work with and guide a small traditional church into a larger congregation.

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   The __________ First Church of God is looking for a part‐time, Bible teaching pastor who is willing to shepherd a small, traditional congregation in our journey of faith and in our outreach ministry.

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   We are looking for a Shepherd who will lead us toward a missional, outward focus. If God is calling you to serve with a small, traditional congregation, please consider submitting your resume to...

(Considering what Jesus says about tradition in Mark 7:9, you'd think that ERC congregations wouldn't be lining up to be in front of the line that claims that description, would you?)

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   The __________ First Church of God, __________, Pennsylvania, is seeking a Senior Pastor to shepherd the Lord’s Church.

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   The __________ First Church of God is seeking a Senior Pastor called by God to serve as the spiritual leader of the congregation. The senior pastor's responsibility is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, to teach the Bible, to provide, train, and work with Christian leadership, and to engage in pastoral care for the congregation.

 
Try this theological thought experiment in two steps:

1. Think about what the role of a pastor is in the church today.
2. Find even one person who did that job in the New Testament church.

(Over the years, I have challenged people of "traditional" ways to show me a pastor in the New Testament.  To this point, three things have been true about the people to whom I have given that challenge.  First, none of them have ever identified a pastor in the Word.  Second, not a single one of them has even been disturbed by that fact.  And, third, none has repented of his/her traditional ways.)

Two realities unite each of these five congregations:

First, none of them is thriving. 

Second, they are all looking to improve their future by employing the same unbiblical leadership model that created their current state:  They still want to be shepherded/pastored by a "leader" in the role of parish priest.

As a prophet, I ask:  Why bother keeping these churches afloat?

Followers of Jesus are sent into the world to make disciples.  They are to care about obedience to our Lord's "Great Commission."  They are not to be concerned with being taken care of.  They are to go into the world loving the Lord, their neighbor, their enemy and one another.

Does the fact that the ERC condones this congregational narcissism by printing these ads in its Newsletter grieve anyone else?

There is a third reality that unites these congregations:  None of them are engaged in repentance of old and failed ways.

We most certainly need to repent!