Pastoral Covenant Groups part 2

David — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:34:29 -0700

In part 1, I wrote about a fear I had that pastors don't spend a lot of time with the spiritual disciplines. Instead we fill our schedules with other things. Lack of formative activities leaves us empty inside while trying to perform our daily activities.

What's the solution? I believe rediscovering the power of traditional formative disciplines such as fasting, prayer, silence, solitude, meditation on Scripture and the masters is a step in the right direction. I realize that this is not a fancy or revolutionary solution. Instead I'm stating what I believe most of us already know.

Yet, if we already know how important spiritual disciplines are, why is it so difficult to find time for them? Why would I rather get up, scan the newspaper, eat some breakfast and get on with my day? Is it because I don't see the connection between who I am becoming and what I'm doing? Is it because I believe that if I spend time with the disciplines I won't have time to do the work I must do?

Actually, the reasons aren't that important. What is important is that we decide we want to live differently. If we are tired of living out of emptiness and are ready to begin a different journey, all that really matters is that we start.

Yet, it is not that easy. Many of us have realized we need something and have told ourselves we are going to get up early and pray, or start living the disciplines, yet, we give it up after a few weeks (or days).

Perhaps it is time to create "Pastoral Covenant Groups" where we create a covenant with others to live a certain way. This was one of the wonderful things about John Wesley's class meetings. People were committed to living by the General Rules. Each week they would meet to ask each other how they were doing by asking the question "how is it with your soul?" If we are serious about living life a different way, this is one way to make sure we do. I believe it is time that we, as pastors, lead the way in this. That we allow God to form our souls and lives by living the disciplines and allow them to transform our lives. I am convinced not only that we will be transformed, but so will the churches we serve and the people we love.

Pastoral Covenant Groups part 1

David — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:37:35 -0700

One of my fears as a pastor and a United Methodist is that we don't take our spiritual formation seriously. While it would be difficult to verify, I've both heard and read that the average pastor prays less than five minutes a day on average (after I wrote that, I did a search on Google and found this link (I don't find it real funny though)). Perhaps that doesn't describe you. Perhaps it does.

My fear is the lack of prayer describes too many of us. And if we aren't praying, what other spiritual disciples are we neglecting? Are we spending time in Scripture (outside of preparing for sermons and bible studies)? Are we fasting? Are we spending time in silence and solitude?

Those of us who realize that we tend to neglect the disciples would probably say we are way to busy. After all, practicing the disciplines take time. It takes time to pray. It takes time to meditate over Scripture. It takes time to spend in silence and solitude.

As pastors, we are called on to be and do many things in the course of a day. The breadth of the skill sets needed to meet everyday demands are not always appreciated. The ability to preach, teach, spend time at the nursing homes and also be able to identify with youth and children along with administrating various ministries and organizations can sap our energy and motivation. Our schedules end up full, while our spirits are emptied. What many of us do after a long day is to turn on the TV and try to find some relief. The next morning we get up and do it all over again.

This leaves us in a very dangerous position. What we don't realize is that little by little we die inside. Over time this can lead to burn out, depression, and a host of other not-so-good things in our lives. We end up trying to deaden the pain we feel by various escapes (TV is just one of them).

I'm not sure, as pastors, that we just want to survive. I believe we want to be able to produce fruit that lasts. If we want that to happen, I am convinced we have to find the time to practice formational disciplines that have formed Christians throughout history.

In the next part, I will discuss how I believe that can happen.

Practice

Pastoral Covenant Groups part 2

Pastoral Covenant Groups part 1