Pastoring

Over the years I have often wondered about the title ‘pastor’. I know it refers generally to a minister of a church, usually a local congregation. Some religious denominations use the title ‘pastor’ for their minister rather than Reverend, Minister, or whatever. Of course priests in the Roman Catholic denomination are often referred to as ‘father’.

I've given this matter a bit more thought in recent years for two reasons. First of all, after many years of being a Congregationalist – United Church of Christ congregant, then a Presbyterian for a long time, I am now a Lutheran. The latter church refers to its minister as ‘pastor’. I've observed this pastor for over 8 years now and am in awe at her gifts to lead the congregation in a very real way.

My ministers of previous decades were more formal, also well educated, and approachable but still ‘proper’. I endowed them with arms length professionalism. I did not approach them often as a fellow human being, but rather as a congregant. They were spiritual leaders and counselors. Not men of common cloth.

Our pastor is a woman and very real. She laughs, relates well with others, and is part of our lives. She is approachable. Professional but very human. She is a leader, a shaper, a lover of fellow human beings. She is not on a pedestal to be admired from afar. She is down to earth and one of us!

Then Pope Francis ascended to the papal throne of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. I thought, oh Lord, here’s another pope to get used to. Another authority figure to abide by in the news for the next 10 to 20 years. My experience of popes has not been a good one. Even memorable ones were limited by their catechism.  Anti abortion, anti-gay, anti so many other things. Bearers of rules and edicts without acknowledging the human suffering such edicts seemed to ignore.

But Pope Francis is different. He talks much about pastoring and how the church needs to pastor to its people. Caring for, loving them, understanding their circumstances, their hurts and agonies, their struggles on this planet. Pope Francis embodies the entire ethos of pastoring, in my mind. Very similar to our pastor at our little Lutheran church in Warrenville, Illinois.

Pastor Wende West celebrated her 10^th anniversary of serving our church. The celebration was hilarious. It honored the many time we have shared with her in agony, struggle and happiness. We have grown depth of human-ness and wisdom with this pastor. She has shepherded us well through life and death, sickness and health, baptisms, weddings and funerals. She has held our hands in hospital and listened to our pains and doubts long into the night. She has celebrated with us and wept many tears as well.

She has accompanied us on the journey of our lives and our faith. I truly think this is the core of the definition of pastoring.

Pastor Wende worked in churches in many roles before finally deciding to enter seminary and become a full time pastor. She was 52 when she began her studies for the ministry. She served as a youth pastor in Wisconsin for a few years before receiving the call from our parish as senior pastor. That was 10 years ago. She has grown admirably in the role. She has led us admirably in our journey of life and faith as well.

Wende meets us where we are. Being a gay couple she has been open and loving of our pain through the years. She has witnessed my struggle with alcohol and workaholism. She has been along for our ride with aging and slowly failing health. On that journey we have examined serious issues and celebrate their intellectual oddities and excitement. We have cried together and laughed deeply and often.

A compatriot of life’s journey is a good description of a pastor’s role. She keeps an eye on faith, on a healthy relationship with God, and with the teachings of the church. She allows each of us to believe as we are able to believe. Some of us have wildly differing views of Christ, his role, his life, and his purpose. Some think him divine. Others of us do not. A model certainly, but divine? No.  And Wende works with us despite those differences.

Along the path we have all grown with strength, purpose and balance. We are accepting of life’s challenges and victories. We have learned to weep and laugh together and alone. We are strong in this handling of life and its many changing faces! We have been led well, shepherded. We can now endure in spite of the losses and impenetrable challenges. It is just the way it is.

And so too Pope Francis. And Wende West. Two pastors leading their flock with dignity, compassion and wisdom through many phases of the same journey.

Being human, being there with us, yet allowing us to follow at will…these are the marks of a pastor.

With this in mind her sermons and actions are easy to understand and integrate within my own life. She was called to pastor. And pastor she does!

November 4, 2014