Vacancy I thought it might be helpful to speak a word about the “Vacancy.” The Office of Ministry is never left vacant, because it is really God’s Office mandated to feed and care for His People. We use several terms (Interim currently and the old term vacancy) when we speak of the time between permanent Pastors. (Not that they are permanent, but the Call has no termination point) The Pastor who serves in this interim time knows that when the congregation receives the next permanent Pastor, his role stops. It is important to understand this point because we are in a different place. Our roles have changed and will return to something different later, because I am a member here, retired, but enjoying something I like to do (teaching Bible Class.) This puts something different in play than would have happened in other Vacancies. I thought that it might be helpful to explain what you might see, so you understand. When I taught or preached or did other pastoral things, it was because I was asked by Pastor Rogers, I was “under his authority.” Each congregation has a Pastor who is under Christ and bears the responsibility for the care and shepherding of God’s Flock. I tried always to remember that he was the Pastor and I will seek to remember that fact when the new Pastor God gives, undertakes to bear that responsibility. Any Pastor who has served in a place where retired Pastors have worshiped who did not think that way, recognize the difficulty. As a Circuit Visitor in several districts, I have seen how destructive to ministry that can be. Don’t be surprised when I step back to “just another member doing what the Pastor asks.” For now, I will assume the role of Pastor for a brief time and return to my “helper” statis when a new Pastor comes. So “what good am I?” As someone who has served in the church for almost 50 years, and been in many offices, from starting a Youth Program to Sr. Pastor, from a Mission congregation with only my family as the starting group, to serving in a congregation with over 2,000 people I have experience that few in the congregation have. I have sat in countless call meetings in many different congregations. I have seen a lot of differences in the people of God. I have seen different organizations, some that worked well, some not so well. I have together with the members, written a new constitution, revised some constitutions, and served on the District Review committee. I have seen a great number of congregations, listened when pastors rejoiced, complained, were lost in what to do next, sharing new ideas and ones that failed and ones that succeeded beyond expectation. I am willing to listen, and if asked, to help with insight gained over the years. In our time together in this role, I will to the best of my ability, faithfully shepherd God’s people and help Trinity and each member to grow in Grace and the knowledge of God. I will willingly share the gifts God has blessed me with, and I will joyfully be a shepherd to the flock of Trinity. Pastor Allyn |
