ࡱ> g \bjbjVV 4r<r<\D*( $!<aaa&aaa]@NPP#~M0*U""]]"q$aa*" : Lecture 2.3 Call to another congregation 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Tom accepted the invitation with the understanding that he would spend part of his time improving his French, and after a few years he would resign and try to plant a French-speaking church in that city. (1/31) 1.2 There is much to be said for long pastorates. The opportunities that they give for developing deep relationships with the people, the growing influence for good that a pastor can have as those relationships develop, the healthy discipline of continually having to break fresh ground in preaching, the long-term goals that can be striven for, the enrichment to the congregation as the pastor matures over the years in gifts and graces; these are all arguments for a pastor putting down roots and remaining in a charge for a considerable length of time.(22/31) 1.3 A change of heart may be more fruitful than a change of congregation (12/152) I need not change of place nor people, but of heart, in order to be more useful. (12/152) 1.4 A church that hangs on the person of its minister will die with him: What happened to this church of the "mature Christians"? A year after Scholte's death it disbanded. He had "patronized" it, paid for its building, preached for nothing, but never given it a form or zeal to perpetuate itself. It hung upon his person and died with him. (8/183) 2. PREPARATION 2.1 I sometimes think that the Lord is making my way easier to leave this place, by various occurrences. But what matter change of place if the Lord go with us? (12/148) Sometimes I think my heart is drawn considerably toward working among the perishing multitudes at home in such places as Glasgow. My heart is toward the perishing multitudes in towns, if ever I leave this place. Enabled to set apart a good part of this day for prayer regarding Glasgow. In my ordinary reading, Jacobs going down to Egypt occurred. That seemed a word in itself. I lay at Christs feet, trying to look up in His face and get from Him counsel, strength, knowledge of His will, all I need. I discover that very small distractions may become very great temptations. I have been at Glasgow considering about the proposal of my removing to that sphere. I feel I should work with all my might and lose no time. What masses of souls there! Lord, guide me well! (12/157, 162, 166) 3. CONSIDERATION 3.1 With some fear and trembling lest my unsanctified heart may have misled me, I have this day written my decided answer to the Jewish Committee, declining the call to Constantinople. I am led to apply Acts 16:7 for Constantinople is just opposite the coast of Bithynia. I have assayed to go to the coast opposite Bithnyia, and the Spirit suffered me not. That is, I do not feel the Holy Spirit has stirred me up to that work, or qualified me for it; while yet, did I know it as His will I would go tomorrow. Some light upon my way. The Committee have given up as hopeless in the meantime the attempt to supply my people for three years, and now call me to go for life. This I have no light at all do to. It seems contrary to Gods way of training me hitherto. Other circumstance in the matter have led me to think the Lord is not opening up this way for me. My brethren are now all against my going. And last of all, my own soul has never felt called. (12/122) Then I am moved to come to Edinburgh by the providential aspect which things seem to me to bear. The district is most needy and destitute. The place is my native town and full of irreligion, full of luke warmness also, which thing, it seems to me, God might make me useful in testifying against. Also, my intercourse with Mr. Candlish would be perhaps useful in many things; and my preaching to his people give such large opportunity of usefulness among the intellectual classes, and among many of my old school-fellows, who are anxious for my coming. I feel that I might help in the study of prophecy, especially if Horace goes away. (12/43-44) 3.2 What will cause a minister to remain where he is? Perhaps what kept Titus in Crete. He stayed on there after the apostle Paul left in order to 'straighten out what was left unfinished' (Titus 1:5). There were things that still needed to be done (such as the appointment of elders), situations that needed to be tackled (particularly the problem of false teachers) and truths that needed to be taught (both to the church as a whole and to particular groups), and until these things were done it was Titus's duty to stay where he was. So it is with many a minister today. (22/21-22) Once more, John Stott prayed, considered and consulted: but having acknowledged the letter briefly in early August, he finally wrote to decline. Apart from the reasons which had applied to the invitation to become Principal, he cited his elderly parents (his fathers health was failing fast and his mother moving into her late seventies) and the fact that he had set his hand to the Clubhouse project in All Souls parish, and felt an obligation to see this established and given permanence. Once again he was asked to reconsider his decision but this did not present difficulties. His course was clear, and he declined. I am honestly persuaded that I dont possess the necessary qualifications. At 37 I am much too young, especially with coadjutors older than I, and I could scarcely succeed in uniting the diocese. More important still, I have not the spiritual maturity, experience or gifts for such an influential position of leadership. Again, I am not married, and I feel sure you need a married Archbishop. Further I am not an ecclesiastical statesman. Religious controversy is anathema to me, and although I have been drawn into it against my will, I find it distasteful and difficult. I have rescued to stand for Convocation two or three times here because it is not my line. I feel called more to the ministry of the word and to pastoral ministry. Another point concerns my family responsibilities. As my father has just died, it would not be easy to leave my widowed mother in her old age. (4/320-326) 3.3 As with the other ways in which he takes men from the pastorate, the Lord's reasons for moving them on are always varied and often, to some degree, a mystery. We will touch on some of them later in the book. Some relate to the pastor himself The Lord considers his health, perhaps, or the opportunity that he will have to develop his gifts and usefulness, or the fact that he has suffered so much at the hands of hostile church members, or the level of maturity that he has reached that peculiarly fits him for the challenges of a new situation. And some, of course, relate to the congregation that he is leaving. The impact of the closing weeks of the old ministry; the challenges to faith as the people look to the Lord for the supply of their future pastoral needs; the chastisement of those who are justly deprived of a ministry that they have sinfully undervalued (22/30) 3.4 Often during those eighteen years of seclusion, Mr Bonar wondered what might await him in the future, and if his work might not someday lie in a wider field. Several invitations came to him from other places, but he did not see Gods call in any of them. It needed a very clear indication of His will to make him think of leaving his beloved flock. While in London at one time, he wrote to his brother-in-law, Mr. William Dickson: Many an upbraiding do I meet with for what they count the folly and absurdity of continuing to feed a few sheep at Collace, rather than agree to plunge into the mass misery of souls here. But nevertheless, I am not moved from my belief that the Lord may mean to work more in a very small spot than in a great city, while, at the same time, He may use country shepherds to go up now and then to the city, and tell what things the Lord has made known to them. (12/416) 3.5 Some days since Dundee Chapel was settled; Robert MCheyne chosen. I am now rejoiced at this, and think that perhaps it is a mark of Gods kindness to this parish as well as to myself in giving me more leisure and more preparation. (12/42) 3.6 Have glanced now and then at what God may have sent me to do, but as yet no opening. There are two great lessons to me at present: willing to be nothing, if God so please and prayer for the past opportunities being blessed. I feel as if God had put me now for a time in a lower place of His vineyard, with less work. (12/49) I believe that Christ desires to subdue in me the disposition of the sons of Zebedee, for I have often greatly wished and expected to be honored in the Church. Now I feel that I am not cared for, and in St. Georges I am counted heavy and lifeless. I think Christ is casting me more upon His simple power and favor. God has placed me a step lower in the esteem of men by this delay. I am not more drawn back from the eyes of men. I felt this much as first, but now I am content to be meanest of all and servant of all. It is remarkable that this week and last I have been better able than before to persuade the poor and careless people in Rose Street to come out. And yet again God has set me by. He accounts that the reason may be either to reserve me for some honorable reason in His cause afterwards, or He is to remove me to praise Himself above. (12/56-58) 3.7 Have been much at a loss by hearing that my uncles application for Glammis is likely to succeed at the very time that I have got the presentation to Collace. If I had to write my letter of acceptance before hearing anything of the other place, I would not hesitate a moment to bind myself up to Collace, for I think Providence has led me to it, and the people in the parish and around have been led to expect and wish for me. I feel somewhat as in the case of coming to Edinburgh from Jedburgh, that the fear of displeasing my uncle is the only very strong argument in favor of Glammis. I have heard many things about Collace which seem to make it a likely field of usefulness, and a field which the Lord will bless; and my impression is that there the Lord might pour out His Spirit. Whereas, I have no one such feeling about the other place. It seems to me that if I choose it, it will be choosing earthly comforts at the loss of spiritual blessing. God seems to arrange this matter that my uncles heart is turned thus far, that he is quite satisfied with my resolution. Coming in this afternoon, after being busy all day, was told that the matter was settled, Glammis being given away. Thus I am at perfect liberty, and have set my face to seek the Lord more earnestly than ever. (12/62-63) 3.8 The traditions of the church are not so definitely Evangelical as in Prebendary Websters time, and I shall need much grace, tact and firmness to deal with the present situation and win the confidence of the people. The Parish contains opposite extremes of wealth and poverty and it is not easy to make the Church a spiritual home for both. Financially we have to face heavy deficit on both capital and revenue accounts. Such are some of the difficulties. (4/211) Should a minister leave because he's facing difficulties? It is often the Lord's will that he continue his ministry in spite of them. How helpful, in so many such cases, is the prophet Jeremiah. We know what difficulties he facedwidespread resistance to the truth, enemies who were out to get him, very little fruit to show for his years of hard work. And there were times when he wanted out! But the Lord had assigned him his post and by his grace he stuck to it. We have in him the most steadying, encouraging, humbling and inspiring of examplesone that has helped many a sorely tried minister to submit to the Lord's will and stay where he is. (22/21-22) 3.9 'All ministers', writes Hezekiah Harvey, 'are not called to the pastorate; and it is sometimes the duty of those who were once called to that position to leave it and enter a different department of ministerial work. An example of this latter category would be the minister who is called from the pastorate to the work of ministerial training. When the Rev. James Denney was appointed in 1897 to the chair of Practical and Systematic Theology in the Free Church of Scotland College in Glasgow, he said in his farewell sermon to his congregation, 'I shall still be a minister of the word of God, a servant of Christ in the gospel; if it were not so, I should certainly not go ...' Many things change when such a move is madethe number of a man's hearers, the frequency with which he addresses them, the range of his subject matter, the intellectual level at which his instruction is pitched, the purpose for which it is given. But the ministry of a seminary professor remains a ministry of the Word of God. And how far-reaching for good when discharged faithfully! A biographer of Dr. Thomas Chalmers writes that 'to influence in a right direction a considerable proportion of the future ministers of his native land was, in his [Chalmers'] judgment, a more important function than to fill one pulpit or superintend one parish anywhere. (22/14,15) 3.10 I honestly dont think you could expect me, therefore, in this very difficult situation to say I would consent to serve if elected. Nor do I think it wise that I should be nominated, though, naturally, if Synod were to invite me, I would give the most serious and earnest consideration to their invitation. But I cannot commit myself at this stage. I am very sorry if I am making things more difficult, but I can only write what I feel. Be assured of my prayers. We of course only desire his will and glory. (4/326) 3.11 I was considering, too, that my having little preaching was equivalent to God restraining me from work by sickness or any cause like that. Now I would have been satisfied had the cause seemed inevitable; why not also now? (12/50) 3.12 To-day announced my conviction to my people that if I did not go to Glasgow I fear I should be acting the part of Jonah. Nothing but the conviction of a call would have led me to leave this place. And I fear lest my work here would never prosper after-wards. (12/173) 3.13 I have now written to Edinburgh accepting the invitation to come there, and I have been somewhat confirmed that I am right by coming upon Jer. 33.3: Call unto me etc. And being led to much prayer in the evening of yesterday, the chapter read in family worship was John 14.1 Let not your heart be troubled And further still, while in Edinburgh I had got a book, Elijah the Tishbite, which James accidentally mentioned in the letter in which he told me of this new situation and which John praised very much. In this book I found two chapters most exactly suited to me, respecting the state of perplexity in which God sometimes leaves His servants, in order to make them feel better at other times, the blessedness of God taking His own will and way with them. (12/44) 3.14 In some way or other the Lord will certainly guide us. We may have to wait for some considerable time, as Paul and his companions did before it was clear that they were to go to Macedonia (Acts 116). But as surely as light arose for those ministers, it will arise for us as well. (22/21-23) 4. CONSTERNATION 4.1 In deep perplexity. Mr. Candlish has offered me the situation of assistant and parochial missionary among his people, and I am much urged on every side, so that this season seems to be turned into sorrow and anxiety instead of rest. Have written to John Purves, telling him how I feel moved by circumstances. Got a letter from John Purves which moved me exceedingly, wherein he beyond measure dreads my going away, and I think does so very much upon the ground of the work that will be left incomplete. I have come again to Jedburgh, and am now in the very depths of perplexity. (12/42-44) HYPERLINK "https://sites.google.com/site/ministryproject/home/samuel-davies/sd-attachments/172.pdf?attredirects=0"Trouble with decision making: Davies had always been extremely reluctant to make any decision that would force him to alter the course of Never had Davies been "cast into such anxious perplexities." Never had he felt himself "so much in need of divine direction, and so destitute of it." As he told his congregation when taking leave of them, "My difficulty was not to find out my own inclination which was, pre-engaged to Hanover, but the path of duty; and the fear of mistaking it, in so important a turn of life, kept me uneasy night and day." To resolve the conflicting claims upon his loyalty, Davies decided to present his dilemma to the Presbytery of Hanover for a final decision. HYPERLINK "https://sites.google.com/site/ministryproject/home/goog_1253909073892" (13/172, 173)  4.2 I have felt this day far more intense sorrow than ever before. Altogether I have felt of late somewhat as I suppose death would make me feel in parting from friends. I do nothing but go alone and weep over them and prayFor some days it seemed as if I had passed through a sort of death in coming away. Being still in some measure very depressed I was cheered by conversing with Horace Do not think that we are indifferent to your trial in prospect of leaving an attached and prayerful flock. I passed such a trial when I left Collace for Glasgow. But I have never for a moment regretted it, though no minister could have parted from a more affectionate people. It was in order to win more souls that I left them, and the Lord gave me what I sought. (12/48-48, 376-377) My heart seemed to sink within me, at leaving the family and city where I had enjoyed so many sweet and pleasant days. I went from New York to Wethersfield by water; and as I sailed away, I kept sight of the city as long as I could. However, that night, after this sorrowful parting, I was greatly comforted in God at Westchester, where we went ashore to Lodge; and had a pleasant time of it all the voyage to Saybrook. It was sweet to me to think of meeting dear Christians in heaven, where we should never part more. (3/53-54) I never dared pray for this. I kept praying that His will might be done, and I kept disbelieving that I might be His will! Often I humbled myself before Him and assured Him I had no personal, ambitious wish for the post, and would not be personally disappointed if He passed me by in favour of someone else. But did earnestly ask that our beloved church might be spared the ordeal of a false apostle. Then came His answer. Emotions of all kinds overwhelmed me. I was honoured and humbled, reassured and frightened, grateful and fearful. Looking back, I can only conclude that the long periods of uncertainty and perplexity through which I passed were allowed for this purpose. I was constantly restrained from leaving dear H. E. S., and surely it was for this. I wondered why He kept me so long in doubt. In my short Christian experience I had grown accustomed to his gracious clarity of guidance. But now I was in darkness! Yet I held on in blind, and sometimes impatient and wavering faith, obeying His Be though there until I bring thee word. Then the light brokeAgain and again in this last days My grace is sufficient for thee have been ringing in my ears. Were it not for this, and for the lovely letter Ive received I think I should be overwhelmed by the responsibility: as it is, Im wonderfully at peace. But I do need your prayers. I know you will give them to me Deliverance from pride in success, and from depression in setback; patience and love, wisdom and vision, humility and moral courage. These and many other graces do I need. (4/250) 4.3 (4/320-326) 5. VALEDICTION 5.1 And a special object of their prayers has been that the seed sown may spring up into fruit ere long. The attention and concern of the people is very encouraging, because though it be not itself conversion, yet it is a token for good. (12/47) 5.2 It was three and twenty years, the 15th day of last February, since I have labored in the work of the ministry in the relation of a pastor to this church and congregation I have spent the prime of my life and strength in labours for your eternal welfare. You are my witnesses that what strength I have had, I have not neglected in idleness, not laid out in prosecuting worldly schemes, and managing temporal affairs, for the advancement of my outward estate and aggrandizing myself and family; but have given myself to the work of the ministry, laboring in it night and day, rising early, and applying myself to this great business to which Christ has appointed me How exceeding beautiful, and how conducive to the adorning and happiness of the town, if the young people could be persuaded, when they meet together, to converse as Christians and as the children of God. This is what I have longed for: and it has been exceeding grievous to me when I have heard of vice, vanity and disorder among our youth. And so far as I know my heart, it was from hence that I formerly held this church to some measures, for the suppressing of vice among our young people, which gave to so great offence and by which I became so obnoxious A contentious people will be a miserable people. The contentions which have been among you, since I first became your pastors, have been one of the greatest burdens I have labored, under in the course of my ministry not only the contentions you have had with me, but those which you have had one with another, about your lands and other concerns because I knew that contention, heat of spirit, evil speaking, and things of the like nature, were directly contrary to the spirit of Christianity and did, in a peculiar, tend to drive away Gods Spirit from a people Let the late contention about the terms of Christian communion, as it has been the greatest, be the last. I would, now I am preaching my farewell sermon, say to you, as the apostle to the Corinthians, 2 Cor 13.11: Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. (3/328) 5.3 In the time before he leaves the church for his new field of service he should be careful to see that his ministry is cordial, friendly, and positive. The closing days of his ministry in the church are not the time to whip the people for their past misdeeds. Rather, he should use the time to patch up misunderstandings and restore relationships with people with whom he has had difficulty. He should do his best to leave the church as a friend to everyone, and his sermons should be positive messages of encouragement and motivation to the people. It is important, also, that he avoid a lame duck mentality during the period. Because he works as a pastor in behalf of the kingdom of God as well as of a particular parish, he will be wise to work as hard as ever in his closing days at a pastorate, to work as though he were going to stay there forever. During the week of his departure, it is proper for him to pay special visits to people with whom he has enjoyed a particularly meaningful relationship. If he leaves in a loving and gracious spirit with a positive attitude, it will be a sweet and honorable parting, and the people he leaves will have fond memories of him. (19/107) 5.4 There is ease in committing and preaching my sermons; the great opening for usefulness here; the favour in sight of man given me; the hope of having done well to a few immortal souls, though I do not know even one that I can say I have altogether awakened. Resolved this forenoon to spend my time in prayer and thanksgiving and reviewing all my life in this place. My last Sabbath is fixed to be the 18th of December. I lament the sins of coldness and earthliness; wandering in prayer; seeking to benefit others without being benefited myself; something of discontent at little annoyances; chagrin and envy; opportunities lost; sick persons ill-advised; my class of young people too little taught Christ; and in all my preaching very inadequate setting forth of Christ and the Spirit. I have been taught also to be content with sharing in the work of saving souls with other, and not to seek the whole honour to myself. And this very great lesson I have so far learned, that God alone, in the absence of friends, with none to sympathize can be the joy and portion of my soul. Another experience I have found is this, joy beyond all others and beyond all other times in meeting for prayer and thanksgiving. (12/44-45) 5.5 The story of my subject, Joseph unexpectedly coming to the Cross, led me to see how easily God could raise up instruments for Jedburgh if I left it. I feel every way drawn to come to St. Georges, yet on account of John Purves, I can decide nothing till I have seen him. Acts 20.22 was upon my mind, and the context led me to see that it may be right to leave a people, even though much trouble was coming in afterward, and the work appeared to be stopped and broken off. I have come again to Jedburgh, and am now in the very depths of perplexity. As to leaving things undone here, I believe that God sent me only to commence and that other instruments will be raised up whenever the people are come to trust only in God. I perceive that many deep impressions may be left by my departure upon the very people from among whom I have gone. (12/42-44) On my brother withdrawing from Green Street, God provided for the district a devoted young Minister, admirably adapted for the work, Rev. John Edgar, M.A., who succeeded in drawing together such a body of people that they hived off and built a new church in Landressy Street, which is now, by amalgamation, known as the Barrowfield Free Church of Glasgow. For that fruit too, while giving all praise to other devoted workers, we bless God as we trace the history of the Green Street Mission. Let him that soweth and him that reapeth rejoice unfeignedly together! (6/569,60) 5.6 'But who will take my place?' If a minister is to leave his congregation, one of his primary concerns, if he has a truly pastoral heart, will be with this question of a successor. This was Moses' concern as he drew near to the end of his time as leader of Israel: 'Moses said to the LORD, "May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the LORD's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd"' (Num. 27:15-17). His sense of the deprivation the people were about to suffer and of the need that there was for someone to take his place drove him to prayer. And in the answer God gave to Moses, what an encouragement for the minister today to pray likewise! 'Take Joshua son of Nun ... At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out and at his command they will come in' (Num. 27:18, 21). (22/22-21) 5.7 The best advice I can give to a person regarding his successor is to advise him to stay out of his successor's way. If a successor asks, his predecessor may choose to inform him of vital information regarding the congregation. It is my policy, however, to withdraw from the scene as much as possible and let my successor enjoy the spotlight.. When he establishes himself and becomes secure enough in his ministry to invite me back for some festive occasion, I will return gratefully, remembering, however, that I am only his guest. When members of his parish call me and suggest that there are problems with his ministry, I listen attentively in order to try to defuse the situation, try to make no prejudicial statements, and refer the caller back to his pastor or to the appropriate denominational official, if I see that mediation is indicated. Under no circumstances will I interfere. When I meet my successor, if he wants to tell me his troubles, I listen attentively and pray with him. But I will not enter the situation or deal with any of his people in his behalf. My ministry in community is a thing of the past. I have friends and I have memories, and those will suffice. (19/118) 6. SUBMISSION 6.1 Dare anyone dispute the Lord's rights in this regard? He is King over his own kingdom, the Chief Shepherd of his own flock, the I lead of his own body, the Overseer of all our souls. He has an incontestable contestable liberty to consult the highest interests of his church and, as seems best to him, to move ministers of the gospel from one place to another or to keep them where they are. (22/29) What should be their posture as they wait for it to be disclosed? One word sums it up better than any other. Throughout the whole process, the attitude of all concerned should be one of submission: the Lord's will be done. A lovely example of what submission looks like in practice is to be seen in the following 'expression of ... continued attachment', recorded by the congregation of the Free High Church in Kilmarnock, Scotland, when their minister, the Rev Thomas Main, to their deep regret, accepted a call in 1857 to a church in Edinburgh: The union that has so long subsisted between him and his flock having been one of unbroken harmony and love, they fondly hope that though the tender tie which bound them together as pastor and people be dissolved, the same affectionate feeling and sympathy for each other may continue to exist. Their prayer is, that the blessing of the great head of the Church may rest abundantly on him in that portion of the vineyard to which he goes, and that the Spirit's influence may ever accompany his labors, both in public and private, making him instrumental in drawing many sinners to Jesus, and in building up and comforting His people in their most holy faith.' This submission on the part of a congregation is to have its counterpart in the submission of its ministereither to stay where he is or to leave. In 1930, after eleven years as minister of a Free Church of Scotland congregation on the Isle of Skye, the Rev Kenneth MacRae found himself asking, 'Why am I kept here?' but then added, 'Let me wait patiently upon the Lord. A century earlier, Hugh Heugh of Stirling gave expression to the same submissiveness: 'I could remain here, or go anywhere, if only I could distinctly hear the voice of His authority bidding me.' And again, 'If I know myself, I have no other wish than thisto know the will of Him whom I desire to serve, and to whom, ere long, I must give an account., A third example, from an earlier century still, is the Rev Thomas Boston. When called from the Church of Scotland in Simprin to the Scottish Borders parish of Ettrick we read that, 'leaving all in God's hands, he was willing from the first to go or stay as the Lord might give His word'4 For a final example we cross the Atlantic. When Dr H. Thornwell was called to leave the South Carolina College in 1845 for a church in Baltimore, Maryland, he wrote to his friend Dr Breckinridge as follows: 'Had it been in my power to choose my own field of labor, I should never have thought of leaving South Carolina; but I bow to the will of a sovereign God, and acquiesce, without a murmur, in the plain intimations of his providence.' In the light of our Saviors Lordship, there can be no better attitude than that. (22/32-33) 7. THE TRANSITION 7.1 Felt last night and this morning many fears lest in Edinburgh I should grow weak and cold, or be led by reputation. The prayers of last night will be a witness against me if I yield to self-gratification, or seek my own advantage, or become cold. (12/46) 7.2 But in spite of everything All Souls stands in a wonderfully strategic position for the Gospel and there are no limits to what God can do, save those set by our little-faith. Next door to us is Broadcasting House with its hundreds of employees; across the road is the Langham Hotel with visitors from all parts of the world and nearby is the Regent Street Polytechnic. In the Parish are a number of great business houses, and the Middlesex Hospital affords opportunities for work amongst students and doctors. It should be possible to arrange lunch-hour or after-business services for many of the young people who work in the West End. We have our own Church School with six hundred children and hope to restart a Sunday School. And surely Oxford Circus should be a great place for Fishing! Please pray that we may know just how to enter these many doors for the gospel. (4/211) 7.3 A pastor enjoys a peculiar bond with those who precede him and those who succeed him in a church. Often when a new pastor comes into a situation it appears to him that everything the former pastor did was wrong. Because it is still his honeymoon period, the people may be praising him and criticizing his predecessor. It is easy to fall in with such talk rather than discourage it. It would be good for the new pastor to remember that one day he, too, may be in a similar spot. Homer Kent, Sr., gives sage advice: Every pastor should make it a strict policy to refrain from speaking disparagingly of his predecessor. Failure at this point is bound to react unfavorably on the present pastor sooner or later. No matter how adverse his opinion of the former pastor, the latter in all probability has some friends in the congregation. Why incur their enmity at the start when no possible good can result from uncomplimentary remarks? Individuals in the office of pastor may fail at times, but the office is one of honor, and to disparage the person of one who holds it or who had held it is likely to dishonor the office. Failure here gives evidence of lack of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). (19/116) 7.4 Books giving advice to new pastors used to warn the pastor that under no circumstances should he discuss his new church with his predecessor lest it color his opinions and thus his actions toward the people whom he serves. Such advice may be in order if the new pastor is easily impressed and incapable of making up his own mind, but usually it is not. In the last two churches I served, before agreeing to become pastor I made it a point to sit down with my predecessor and try to get an objective view of the congregation. Rather than flavoring my view prejudicially, his comments gave me rich insights into the congregation. They enabled me to tread softly in certain areas and avoid making some of the mistakes my predecessors made. It also gave me a better picture of the power structure of the church so that I knew from the start that was really in charge. I was thus able to spare the time it would have taken me to learn the power bloc. I could begin to work immediately with those who determined what would or wouldn't move in that church. (19/116-117) 7.5 In addition to getting to know my predecessor beforehand, I did my best to praise his accomplishments before the people and to hold him in honor. When significant anniversaries approached I invited back as many of my predecessors as possible to take part in the celebration. When families in the church invited a predecessor of mine to conduct a wedding or a funeral, I have tried to stay out of the way. Often I merely attended the event without taking an active part in it, preferring to allow my predecessor his place in the sun, rather than attempting to participate in the event because of my pastoral office. Unless the family and my predecessor especially wanted me to participate as a show of unity between the two of us, I have stayed far in the background. In turn, when I have been invited back to a former parish to conduct a special event, I have declined as graciously as I could saying, "Look, I love you people and I would be delighted to come. I'm honored that you asked me, but you have another pastor now, and, in deference to him, I would appreciate it if you would ask him instead of me." (19/117,118) 7.6 I believe statistics show that the greatest mortality among ministers is during the first three years after settlement. Now one, at least, of the causes of that is, that most young men put "too many irons into the fire " at first. Without stopping until their pulpit preparations have become easy to them, they set up a Bible-class, a cottage-meeting, a mission station, and so on, and go into each of them with all the fervor of juvenile enthusiasm, until warned by failing health, when it is too late, they abandon some, or may have even to look for another sphere. (21/263) )*:?A      G J K P Q R  ȽveWM㯽<!hmP5CJ_H mH nH sH tH hmPCJOJQJh.@hmP5CJOJQJ h\hmPCJOJPJQJ_H hmPCJOJPJQJ_H  h}ohmPCJOJPJQJ_H hO.5CJOJQJ\hmP5CJOJQJ\hZCKhmPCJOJQJ\hmPCJOJQJ\hmP5CJOJQJh hmP5>*CJOJQJhZCKhmPCJOJQJhZCKhO.5>*CJOJQJ)*:;@A    K L Q R   \ ] l m r s [$\$gdmPgdmP$a$gdmP   \ ] ` l m q r s ,=cd#8ȺueuUuUuuUuUh@jWhmP5CJOJQJ\h{RhmP5CJOJQJ\hmPCJOJQJ\h*hmP5CJOJQJ\hmP5CJOJQJ!hfhmP5>*CJOJQJ\hmP5>*CJOJQJ\hZCKhmPCJOJQJ\$h}ohmPCJ_H mH nH sH tH hmPCJ_H mH nH sH tH 'hi@hmP5CJ_H mH nH sH tH s de78IJOPT [$\$gdmPgdmP8;INOPrtdUC5hmPCJOJPJQJ_H #h\hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H hmPB*CJOJQJ\ph$harThmPB*CJOJQJ\phharThmP5CJOJQJ\h{RhmP5CJOJQJ\hmPCJOJQJ\hZCKhmPCJOJQJ\hmPCJOJQJh{RhmP5CJOJQJhmP5CJOJQJhfhmP5>*CJOJQJhmP5>*CJOJQJbq. 4Lhij?#E#I#J#κκκκκκκΦΦΖΖuj\h>#hmP5CJOJQJhmP5CJOJQJ#h\hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H hmPCJ_H mH nH sH tH 'hi@hmP5CJ_H mH nH sH tH 'h0hmP5CJ_H mH nH sH tH $h}ohmPCJ_H mH nH sH tH hmPCJOJPJQJ_H  h}ohmPCJOJPJQJ_H #D#E#J#K#&&&&''''))t,u,{,|,1111c3d35555C;gdmPJ#K#$7&&&&&&''''))s,t,x,y,{,|,----q..//0>011111[3d3²¤–vfhc7hmP5CJOJQJ\ht^hmP5CJOJQJ\h.@hmP5CJOJQJ\h.@hmP5CJOJQJh5 hmP5CJOJQJh5 hmP5CJOJQJ\hmP5CJOJQJhmPCJOJQJ\h>#hmP5CJOJQJ\hZCKhmPCJOJQJ\hmPCJOJQJ%d355555688B;D;J;K;G=O=P=Q=R=X=Y=?>@>E>ǵᤐ}mbWIbhZCKhmPCJOJQJ\hO.CJOJQJ\hmP5CJOJQJhmPCJ_H mH nH sH tH $h}ohmPCJ_H mH nH sH tH 'h0hO.5CJ_H mH nH sH tH !hmP5CJ_H mH nH sH tH #h>#hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H hmPCJOJQJ\hmPCJOJPJQJ_H  h}ohmPCJOJPJQJ_H C;D;J;K;O=P=R=X=Y=?>@>F>G>T?U?[?\?_B`BfBgBCCCCCCE [$\$gdmPgdmPE>F>G>T?U?[?\?e?f??@_B`BeBfBgB_C~CCCCCCCCײ壑rrdSEh,8hmP5CJOJQJ!hfhmP5>*CJOJQJ\hmP5>*CJOJQJ\ h}ohmPCJOJPJQJ_H hmPCJOJPJQJ_H #h6hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H h,8hmP5CJOJQJ\hO.CJOJQJhmP5CJOJQJhZCKhmPCJOJQJ\hmPCJOJQJ\h*hmP5CJOJQJ\CCCDDDDzD{DDDAEEEEEEgFhFiFFؽoT>+h thmP5B*CJOJQJ\aJph4jh thmPB*CJOJQJUaJph%h thmPB*CJOJQJaJph.jh thmPB*CJOJQJUaJphhmPB*CJOJQJ\ph$harThmPB*CJOJQJ\phharThmP5CJOJQJ\hmPCJOJQJ\hZCKhmPCJOJQJ\h,8hmP5CJOJQJ\hmPCJOJQJEEIIIILLNNTTTTTTTTTUUUUzXZ\ [$\$gdmPgdmP 1$7$8$H$gdmPgdmPFFFIImInIoIIIIIIIfJhJ KLLн|qgWJW|?hmPCJOJQJ\hmP5CJOJQJ\h>#hmP5CJOJQJ\hO.CJOJQJhmP5CJOJQJhZCKhmPCJOJQJ\4j?h thmPB*CJOJQJUaJph.jh thmPB*CJOJQJUaJph%h thmPB*CJOJQJaJph)h thmPB*CJOJPJQJaJph4jh thmP5B*CJOJQJU\aJphLMNNTTTTTTTTTTTTUUUUVⷦsh]Ph@hhmP5CJOJQJ\hZCKhmPCJOJQJhO.5CJOJQJhmP5CJOJQJ!hRhmP5>*CJOJQJ\hmP5>*CJOJQJ\'hi@hmP5CJ_H mH nH sH tH !hO.5CJ_H mH nH sH tH !hmP5CJ_H mH nH sH tH h.:hmPCJOJQJaJhmPCJOJQJ\hZCKhmPCJOJQJ\h2hmP5CJOJQJ\VVgYYYZZ[<^>^B^C^D^^^^Y__%`e`Ūo\I8 hZCKhmPCJOJPJQJ_H $hZCKhmP@CJOJPJQJ_H $hZCKhmP@CJOJPJQJ_H 'hL(qhmP5@CJOJPJQJ_H 'hL(qhmP5@CJOJPJQJ_H $hZCKhmP@CJOJPJQJ_H h|hmP5CJOJQJ\hmPCJOJQJ\hmP5CJOJQJ\hg9QhmP5CJOJQJ\hZCKhmPCJOJQJ\hZCKhmPCJH*OJQJ\\=^>^C^D^bbbbcgggg k kImJmNmOm q qqquuuu [$\$gdmPgdmPe```~aaab`bbbbbbbcZddddeefgggɻɨɚwgWgLL?hO.5CJOJQJ\hmPCJOJQJ\hZCKhmPCJH*OJQJ\hc7hmP5CJOJQJ\hmPCJOJQJh2hmP5CJOJQJhmP5CJOJQJhZCKhmPCJOJQJ\$hZCKhmP@CJOJPJQJ_H hmPCJOJPJQJ_H  hZCKhmPCJOJPJQJ_H $hZCKhmP@CJOJPJQJ_H $hZCKhmP@CJOJPJQJ_H ggggMhhiijjj k kklHmJmMmNmOmp q qqqrsȺȺȺغاvhWhWFW h}ohO.CJOJPJQJ_H  h}ohmPCJOJPJQJ_H hmPCJOJPJQJ_H #h6hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H hmPCJ_H mH nH sH tH $h}ohmPCJ_H mH nH sH tH hZCKhmPCJOJQJ\hL(qhmP5CJOJQJ\hmPCJOJQJ\h|hmP5CJOJQJ\hmP5CJOJQJ\rssuuuuuuuvvw=x>xyy||*|+||||@}}}P~ͽtfTfffffBB#hhmP5CJOJPJQJ_H #h\hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H hmPCJOJPJQJ_H  h}ohO.CJOJPJQJ_H hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H $h}ohmPCJ_H mH nH sH tH *h|hmP5>*CJ_H mH nH sH tH hmPCJ_H mH nH sH tH  h~hmPCJOJPJQJ_H  h}ohmPCJOJPJQJ_H  hZCKhmPCJOJPJQJ_H uuu^w_wyy||#$67<=<=BCs 77]7^7gdO. 77]7^7gdmPgdmPP~~~~~ _݀ŁƁ#$'+567;<= ;<=ABC[\Ķ|ėėnaQėh5 hmP5CJOJQJ\hmP5CJOJQJ\h! hmPCJOJQJ\hc7hmP5CJOJQJ\hmP5CJOJQJhZCKhmPCJOJQJ\!h! hmP5>*CJOJQJ\hmP5>*CJOJQJ\hmPCJOJQJ\#hhmP5CJOJPJQJ_H hmPCJOJPJQJ_H  h}ohmPCJOJPJQJ_H \RjstyzB(p6zCk пⒿnehmP5CJ_H #h%hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H #h*YhmP5CJOJPJQJ_H hO.CJOJPJQJ_H hmPCJOJPJQJ_H  hZCKhmPCJOJPJQJ_H  h}ohmPCJOJPJQJ_H #h*hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H hmP5CJOJPJQJ_H hZCKhmPCJOJQJ\$styz XYZ[\ [$\$gdmPgdmP.WX\Ѿ$h}ohmPCJ_H mH nH sH tH h)hmP6CJ\]_H hmPCJ_H h)hmPCJ_H h)hO.5CJ_H  21h:pmP/ =!n"n#n$n% ?DyK yK https://sites.google.com/site/ministryproject/home/samuel-davies/sd-attachments/172.pdf?attredirects=0DyK yK https://sites.google.com/site/ministryproject/home/goog_1253909073892n $OJPJQJ^J_HmH nH sH tH T`T 4Normal(CJOJPJQJ^J_HaJmH sH tH DA D Default Paragraph FontRiR 0 Table Normal4 l4a (k ( 0No List ^`^ tt Medium Grid 2(CJOJPJQJ^J_HaJmH sH tH Z^@Z (M0 Normal (Web)dd[$\$OJPJQJmH sH tH 4U`4 (M0 Hyperlink >*phPK![Content_Types].xmlN0EH-J@%ǎǢ|ș$زULTB l,3;rØJB+$G]7O٭V$ !)O^rC$y@/yH*񄴽)޵߻UDb`}"qۋJחX^)I`nEp)liV[]1M<OP6r=zgbIguSebORD۫qu gZo~ٺlAplxpT0+[}`jzAV2Fi@qv֬5\|ʜ̭NleXdsjcs7f W+Ն7`g ȘJj|h(KD- dXiJ؇(x$( :;˹! I_TS 1?E??ZBΪmU/?~xY'y5g&΋/ɋ>GMGeD3Vq%'#q$8K)fw9:ĵ x}rxwr:\TZaG*y8IjbRc|XŻǿI u3KGnD1NIBs RuK>V.EL+M2#'fi ~V vl{u8zH *:(W☕ ~JTe\O*tHGHY}KNP*ݾ˦TѼ9/#A7qZ$*c?qUnwN%Oi4 =3N)cbJ uV4(Tn 7_?m-ٛ{UBwznʜ"Z xJZp; {/<P;,)''KQk5qpN8KGbe Sd̛\17 pa>SR! 3K4'+rzQ TTIIvt]Kc⫲K#v5+|D~O@%\w_nN[L9KqgVhn R!y+Un;*&/HrT >>\ t=.Tġ S; Z~!P9giCڧ!# B,;X=ۻ,I2UWV9$lk=Aj;{AP79|s*Y;̠[MCۿhf]o{oY=1kyVV5E8Vk+֜\80X4D)!!?*|fv u"xA@T_q64)kڬuV7 t '%;i9s9x,ڎ-45xd8?ǘd/Y|t &LILJ`& -Gt/PK! ѐ'theme/theme/_rels/themeManager.xml.relsM 0wooӺ&݈Э5 6?$Q ,.aic21h:qm@RN;d`o7gK(M&$R(.1r'JЊT8V"AȻHu}|$b{P8g/]QAsم(#L[PK-![Content_Types].xmlPK-!֧6 0_rels/.relsPK-!kytheme/theme/themeManager.xmlPK-!0C)theme/theme/theme1.xmlPK-! ѐ' theme/theme/_rels/themeManager.xml.relsPK] \  8J#d3E>CFLVe`grsP~\\LNPQSTVWYZ[]^_abds C;E\us\MORUX\`c=h>>AnAA\XXt8@0(  B S  ?_GoBack^^ Ya{}pw $$%%%%b&j&&&&& ))))88;;<<<<==CC,F4FGGwHHJJNNUUN[T[u^{^7`?```aa ddKdVde eee(e3e#u)uuuuucwjw>x@xDxMxxx^4 6 s w O n  Z$a$|$%''))>3A3;;G4H:H>HJJ3K7K LL`#`DeGefjhjKnPngujuxx~~(.^333333333333333333333333333333PPqqN N IIx$x$))--I3J3W5X5E6E6Z7[7e:e:;;AALLLLMMBVBVZZ____MeMeiimm;z;zA{A{~~xy[^`YZ  `@CJOJQJ^JaJh.```  hh`@CJOJQJ^JaJh.Pn'O.bKmmP\^@\X@UnknownG*Ax Times New Roman5Symbol3. *Cx Arial7.@ Calibri3*Ax Times7@CambriaK,Bookman Old StyleACambria Math"qhe &j &?y H?y H&nn24P3qHX $P42!xx ChrisLucy Oh+'0 px  ChrisNormalLucy3Microsoft Office Word@^в@&PP@PP ?y՜.+,D՜.+,P  hp  (Puritan Reformed Theological SeminaryH  Title 8@ _PID_HLINKSA wFhttps://sites.google.com/site/ministryproject/home/goog_1253909073892vighttps://sites.google.com/site/ministryproject/home/samuel-davies/sd-attachments/172.pdf?attredirects=0  !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdeghijklmopqrstuvwxyz{|}~Root Entry Fq&PPData f1Tablen"WordDocument4SummaryInformation(DocumentSummaryInformation8CompObjr  F Microsoft Word 97-2003 Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q