Reformátusok Lapja, 1970 (70. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1970-01-01 / 1. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA II PRINCIPLES OF CHURCHMANSHIP FOR THE CONGREGATION 1. The congregation should have a prayerful concern for the minister and for his work, upholding him in intercession before God. 2. The congregation should join cooperatively in all Christian work, following the New Testament description of the congregation—koinonia and diako- nia—fellowship and service. The church itself— even the individual congregation—is a minister. The lay members—called in the New Testament “the people of God”—are ministers as the pastor is a minister. (For this lay ministry, the pastor serves as pastoral director and spiritual leader, a greater responsibility even than serving the flock; for the church exists not to be ministered unto hut to minister.) 3. The congregation should keep the pastor informed or aware of instances where his ministry would be desirable or helpful. 4. The congregation should consider the minister a part of all phases of the church’s life, and shall invite his guidance not only in planning the total program of the church but also in planning the programs of the various organizations and in the various concerns of the management of the property and finances of the congregation. 5. The congregation should not dictate to the pastor concerning the message he must preach, hut may offer suggestions when feasible. The freedom of the pulpit is always to be maintained. 6. The congregation should bring to the pastor, through the Committee on Church and Ministry, any criticism of his manner or work rather than make public conversation of it. Such criticism should be submitted not in the spirit of fault-finding but in the helpful spirit of development of a better witness through the congregation. 7. The congregation should demonstrate Christian love in all its relationships A. The congregation should perform the ministry of reconciliation, especially facing its own problems and difficulties in the spirit of love. B. The congregation should show a Christian compassion toward all its employees in cases of illness, disability, crisis, or emergency. 8. Recognizing the human and personal nature and need of the minister, including his temporal needs, the congregation should accept responsibility for his temporal wants: A. The congregation should through its Committee on Church and Ministry, or consistory or church council, make provision to review at least annually the salary of the pastor and other personnel. B. The congregation through its consistory or church council should provide a parsonage or housing facilities for the pastor and his family. Periodic inspections of the parsonage should be made to keep it in good repair. (This is simply good business practice as well as an expression of concern for the pastor.) C. The congregation should urge the pastor to attend study conferences, etc., so that he may gain the information and inspiration offered there, and should encourage the pastor’s attendance by helping him pay his expenses. There may well be consideration of a sabbatical year for the pastor. D. The congregation should provide an annual vacation of at least one month for the pastor, exclusive of time given to in-service training and/or service in church summer camps. E. The congregation should respect the pastor’s day off; and if that day be a regular one each week, the congregation should not infringe on his free time except in cases of emergency. (Since such emergencies happen often, and since many pastors feel they cannot take any time, or “day off,” the need for a vacation is even more apparent.) PROMISES MADE BY MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH AT THE INSTALLATION OF A UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST MINISTER A. To receive him (her) in his holy office, promising to show him (her) the love, honor and obedience in the Lord due a shepherd and guide. B. According to the grace that is given you, to labor with him (her), and support him (her) adequately in his (her) ministry. (Note—These Principles of Chunchmanship were first set forth in a 1957 statement by the Pastoral Relations Committee of the Commission on Church and Ministry of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, 2969 West 25th St., Cleveland 13, Ohio). THE DOLLAR AND THE CENT A big silver dollar and a little brown cent, Rolling along, together they went; Rolling along the smooth sidewalk, When the dollar remarked, for the dollar can talk, “You poor little cent, you cheap little mite! I’m bigger and more than twice as bright. I’m worth more than you, a hundredfold, And written on me in letters bold Is the motto drawn from the pious creed, Tn God We Trust,’ which all can read.” “Yes, I know,” said the cent, “I’m a cheap little mite, And I know I’m not big, nor good or bright. And yet,” said the cent, with a meek little sigh, “You don’t go to church as often as I.”
