Serving As Overseers

My family and I have been happily attending a Bible-centered church where all the pastors (there are three of them) equally take turns preaching on Sunday mornings. I have never seen this in any other church we've attended in the past.

The monopoly of the pulpit by a Lead Pastor has always disturbed me, and many times I have sat in the pew, looked over at the other capable pastors hired by the church, and pondered the reason. Is it because of control? insecurity? distrust? pride? selfishness? What are the lower-rank pastors thinking? Do they feel inferior? undervalued? unaccepted? unworthy? doubtful of their calling?

The Bible says that a pastor is to be a shepherd of God's flock, serving as overseers.

"Be shepherds of God's flock

that is under your care,

serving as overseers —

not because you must,

but because you are willing,

as God wants you to be;

not greedy for money,

but eager to serve."

1 Peter 5:2 (NIV)

The definition of a shepherd is "a person who protects, guides, or watches over a person or group of people," and an overseer is "a person who supervises others' work."

When a bunch of pastors of lower rank (in man's eyes, of course) are sitting in the pews almost every Sunday without the opportunity to preach, except just once in a while, is the Lead Pastor having the attitude of a servant?

I feel today that many pastors have taken on a different role than what God intended for them. It seems that only a few are true servants of God, eager to serve, to care for, and to oversee their flock, so that everyone reaches their full potential in Christ Jesus. Many of those who become pastors today do so by first demanding a certain wage, a title of acknowledgment, a building to call their own, and the power to control. In God's eyes, they have received their reward---on earth.