As he describes one of the chapters of No Place for Truth, David Wells writes,
. . .the pastorate has become proffessionalized, . . . the central function of the pastor has changed from that of truth broker to manager of the small enterprises we call churches. To the extent that this tendency has taken root, I have concluded that it is producing a new generation of pastoral disablers (13).
Great quote. Wells says al otof good stuff along this line in his essay “The DMin-ization of Ministry” which has been printed in various places. It may actually have been worked into the chapter you reference.
Nice to see you referencing a great name.
I think I understand you correctly in this quote Mr. Wells. I have been thinking recently that if a pastor really understood that his basic function is the equipping of the saints to do the work of the ministry then a lot more pastors would be perfectly able to function in a bi-vocational or even volunteer capacity in the church. What I mean is, if they were unencumbered by the “managing” duties mentioned in the quote above. What say you?
Joe Justiss
I think I understand you correctly in this quote Mr. Wells. I have been thinking recently that if a pastor really understood that his basic function is the equipping of the saints to do the work of the ministry then a lot more pastors would be perfectly able to function in a bi-vocational or even volunteer capacity in the church. What I mean is, if they were unencumbered by the “managing” duties mentioned in the quote above. What say you?
Joe Justiss