What Is a Pastor?

Several years ago I asked Pastor Phil Newton (he was speaking at a conference I was attending) about Youth Groups in churches. Since he was preaching through Biblical texts about the nature of the church, this question was something I thought needed attention. Why do we do youth groups the way we do?

He seemed to think I was totally against the idea of Youth Groups altogether, but the point of my question really had to do with how God has chosen to build His church. Were Youth Groups (in the Traditional Baptist sense) what He had in mind? Time was short and discussion came to an end before we had the chance to delve into it.

Here I am several years later still working through church polity. Alas a new topic on an Email List I occasionally participate in titled, MultiStaff Church History. The question asked was about pastoral staff (associate pastors, ect..) as opposed to Plurality of Eldership model.

In light of recent events at my own church I thought this topic would be interesting. One pastor had something very interesting to say. I have his full permission to post his thoughts. Keep in mind, this is an email.

Dennis S -

Very providential that you asked this question: you took the words
right out of my mouth.

> > >>Does anyone know (and preferably can document) when specialized "associate pastors" (youth pastor, visitation pastor, etc.) first start appearing? >

I was pondering and asking nearly the same question. I am often troubled a bit when someone in the church says something like "What this church needs is a good Youth Minister!" Without exception, it's always the least mature members of the church. I don't say that to insult anyone here, if you serve in that role or if your church has a youth pastor. But the concept that there is some sort of "need" for this, or less yet, some Biblical basis for it, I find very perplexing to hear from well-taught people.

I don't know the historical answer to Dennis S's question, but when I see how this role has become an assumed necessity, even in many sound RB churches and other solid expository Bible-teaching, elder-rule churches, I wonder how they justify it. Since when is someone qualified for pastoral oversight of teenagers, unless he is qualified to oversee the whole flock? In which case, he ought not to be a "youth minister" - he should be an elder. Further, the role strikes me as almost a sure-fire Rx for moral problems: I can't begin to tell you the stories out of Tulsa of "youth pastors" who have ended up in moral trouble with one of the teen girls in the church.

Certainly, this latter point is a weak argument, as we would not cease the existence of the pastoral role due to the frequency of pastors who end up in affairs -- but I would also counter that the "youth pastor" moral fall occurs more often, and is more explicable: setting up a 20-something quasi-elder among teens has a high probability of creating a heart pitter-patter in the heart of some teen girl. As an elderly friend of mine used to say, if we ever get a youth pastor, he should be old and ugly. (no jokes about how highly qualified I am for the role!).

Looking forward to replies to this and to Dennis S's original post.

Dennis G [I didn't want to expose this good pastors name with my Blog :-) )

This statement struck me, "I wonder how they justify it. Since when is someone qualified for pastoral oversight of teenagers, unless he is qualified to oversee the whole flock?"

I remember bringing this up prior to my own church's situation. What is interesting is the average layman's view of church polity and the roles and qualifications of pastors. Perhaps this is an area that is untouchable as my last pastor told me, but I would think a searching of the Scriptures and a healthy debate on the subject may be due? Any thoughts?