This morning I had a meeting with the chair of our congregation's Personnel committee. Regardless of the purpose, pastors always get nervous for these meetings. Even when the member is a good friend (which mine is) we still get skittish.
Today, my fears proved even more unfounded than all the other times.
Presented to me was a new job description that the committee and I had been talking about for several months. I had met with the chair to talk about big ideas, and the committee had met to put down some details. Today's meeting was a "final review" of sorts before we take it to the other Elders at next week's Session meeting.
The document is incredible. In my opinion, it walks the very fine line that epitomizes the Presbyterian Pastor's role in a community - hired by the Session for operational tasks and installed by the Presbytery for ministerial tasks. It recognizes and balances the long history of "strong pastoral leadership" in this congregation as well as pushes the congregation forward to live into the increasingly "open source" nature of not only our community, but the Church as a whole.
Best of all, it is theologically grounded, not just based on corporate ideas. It constantly references (although usually implicitly) the Mission statement that opens the document.
I'm not kidding: this is one of those "proud pastor" moments where you are really aware that the Spirit has been guiding a group of people to do some really amazing work, and that you've gotten to have a hand in the process.
So, here it is. To be clear, it has not received final approval from Session and might be changed, but I want you all to see one more example of what Ruling Elders do when they take seriously their calling to be spiritual leaders in guiding their communities towards faithfulness.
I'm not someone you'd probably like. Unless you like people like that...then you'd love me.