The Other James

I imagine the requirement to train “associate” ministers is likely in most pastors’ contracts. If not, it really should be. Bill Cosby once famously said, “Your dirty laundry hits the streets every day at 3 p.m.” Dr. Cosby was, of course, referring to children; that the character of your children tells the world who you are. This is also true of pastors. If your associates are clowns, if they lack discipline, knowledge and wisdom, all of that reflects on you. Weak “associates” have weak pastors, or pastors who are not adequately engaged in their proper training.

An associate should be doing more than just sitting around waiting his turn to preach. Associates should have some little ministry they’ve built with their own hands. His work may escape the notice of the church—it’s not flashy, it doesn’t bring in money—but it belongs to him. It is a work of his hands, and that work will tell the community who he or she is. I encourage you to look around your ministerial bench, check into your “associate” ministers. Ask them, politely: “What is it you do besides wait for your turn to preach?” Anyone who has anything else going on in their walk with Christ will tell you, right off, “Oh, I visit the nursing home once a month,” or, “I volunteer for such-a-thing,” or, “I have a little bible study for some friends who won’t go to church.” Or, “I pastor an online ministry.” Something. If they just stammer into silence or refer back to the church, “I serve on the thus-and-so committee,” they have nothing going on. If they have nothing going on besides being the donut in the on-deck circle, they are likely not hearing from God.   CONTINUED

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