The Perfect Pastor

case you didn't know, Pastor Jim Townsley at Central Baptist Church, Southington CT, has come up with 25 criteria that potential Pastoral Search Committees will be looking for from now on. They are so vitally important that I (someone who's never been called to preach) will pass them on to those who are called to preach can be informed as to what your congregation is expecting from you---24/7/365(366).

The Perfect Pastor:

1. Preaches exactly twenty minutes and follows it with an invitation in which everyone is convicted but no one is offended.
2. Works from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. in every type of work from counseling to custodial service.
3. Is twenty-seven years with thirty years of preaching experience.
4. Is tall and short.
5. Is thin and heavy set.
6. Is handsome but not over-powering.
7. Has one brown eye and one blue eye.
8. Has his hair parted in the middle and straight on one side and wavy on the other side with a balding spot on the top revealing his maturity.
9. Has a burning desire to work with teenagers and spends all his time with the older folks.
10. Smiles constantly with a straight and sober face because he has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously at his work.
11. Invests twenty-five hours a week in sermon preparation, twenty hours in counseling, ten hours in meetings, five hours in emergencies, twenty hours in visitation, six hours in wedding and funerals, thirty hours in prayer and meditation, twelve hours in letter writing and administration, and ten hours in creative thinking.
12. Spends five evenings at home with his family, plus a day off, and always stops for interruptions.
13. Is a seminary graduate but uses only one- and two-syllable words.
14. Makes fifteen calls a day.
15. Spends all his time evangelizing the unchurched.
16. Attends all retreats; goes to all youth retreats.
17. Is always available in his office.
18. Has kids who are perfect.
19. Has a mother who is rich.
20. Has a wife who plays the piano.
21. Has a house that is large.
22. Has a bank account that is small.
23. Has his car in the shop.
24. Is paid too much and too little and gives it all away.
25. Is talented, gifted, scholarly, practical. popular, compassionate, understanding, patient, level-headed, dependable, loving, caring, neat, organized, cheerful, and above all, humble.

Though pastors must meet the qualifications found in Scripture, there are no perfect pastors.

The best of men are men at best.

No one is indispensable, and God can replace any man.

But laborers are needed to start New Testament Baptist churches all over the country. God uses men, and that means He uses imperfect people. Every preacher has his strengths and weaknesses, but God can use us if we surrender to His service.

The ministry of preaching is a high and holy calling and should never be diminished; however, God can call and use common men to do an uncommon work for Him.

SOURCE: Sword of the Lord, October 23, 2015. p. 9.