Wayne Austin
Intro – people have been through tough times this year – and of course good times. I have been asking you of recent weeks - "what is God doing in your life?" How has he changed your life during this time? Has he revealed anything new to you? As we as a church have waited to see who it is that God has to lead us - are we getting impatient? Or have we faithfully been praying for that person and for God's will to be done?
Interregnums while we wait for a new priest are I am sure for a good purpose. Waiting is never easy, and in waiting we can get impatient or discouraged. But we can also take an attitude to really seek God and learn to trust him fully, depend on him, and deepen our relationship with him. What has God taught you during these past 9 months of the interregnum? Some I know have definitely grown in their faith because they have truly been seeking God through personal reading of the Bible more regularly - as Roger encouraged us to do in his Wine Press comment today. And intentionally through dedicated personal time in prayer - whether brought about because of difficult times in their lives - or maybe because of genuinely seeking God's will for our church and his provision of new leadership. Some people have taken personal responsibility for their faith development I know.
For me, I am very grateful for the opportunity given me to serve in this role during the interregnum. 15 months ago I had never remotely considered the possibility of being involved in such a role. From a personal point of view it has proved to be a very valuable time of discovery and confirmation for me of what my calling in ordination truly is – and what it isn’t - as I have truly had to depend on God for his guidance, and his enabling. Without that I could not have coped.
Five years ago I was in the middle of studying a paper through Laidlaw College on Discipleship. I had one of those "God moments" when the Lord clearly spoke to me making something jump out at me from the text. It was a definition of a pastor……”A pastor is someone who cares for God's people and equips them to do the work of Christian service.” That struck an immediate chord with me. I knew immediately it was what God wanted of me. As a result of that simple definition of a pastor I started exploring the possibility of ordination, praying, speaking with respected confidents, undergoing thorough interviews, study and training. I was ordained in 2007. But that wasn't the end of the training. God's preparation is for a lifetime and over the time since that has continued - sometimes very painfully. And the training will continue I know. The bible tells us we are a work in progress - gradually being transformed day by day to be more and more like Christ. And it is only he who can achieve that in us - by the Holy Spirit changing us from within.
That definition of a pastor comes really from that passage in Ephesians 4. The word equip in Greek is 'katartismos' - which means "the furnishing of." If we moved into an empty house at least we would have a roof over our heads to give us shelter, but for it to be fully functional and useful for the purpose it was designed it needs to be furnished. The same applies for us as Christians. Our purpose as a follower of Christ is more than just sitting back knowing we are promised eternal life as a member of God's family - that assurance we have as soon as we accept Jesus into our life. No it is much more! It is be equipped to obey Christ's command to go and make disciples - to continue his work here on earth.
We equip, or furnish, God's people by teaching God's word and applying it to daily life, helping people discover their gifts, and giving them opportunities to put those gifts to work. Just the way Jesus trained and equipped his disciples. It is a bit like the coach of a sports team or a conductor of an orchestra - it is helping every member to play a useful and fulfilling part. For the Christian it is in the ministry of Christ.
I am blessed that I have had that calling affirmed for me during my time in this role. This time last year I was at a retreat day at Waikanae and at lunchtime one of the other participants put a scrap of paper on front of me. He didn't know me very well at all - yet he had a word of knowledge for me. I have since learned that he does have this gift and others have had similar experiences with him. This word was just written on this scrap of paper. But this word of knowledge confirmed some 4 years after receiving that prompt to explore ordination what my calling really was. God speaks to us in various ways – we have to be alert to those “God moments”. I never ever did feel called to be a parish priest. God is faithful and patient and gracious though. He wants the best for me - and he has plans for me. But for that to happen there is a certain way we have to behave - with the attitude of Christ (Philippians 2:5-8).
Some of the words written on that scrap of paper last November said……"Hold lightly to the trappings of role but rather establish a common heart and mind to serve one another.” And “It's time - God's time, not simply your time. Honour God and see God at work.” The message for me was - that we need to be humble like Christ and to do things his way. Not get ahead of him because he really does know the path we are to take, and when to take it.
What God has shown he has for me to do - and the different ways he has shown me that - he also wants to show you - that he has something very special - the very best for you too.
So please continually seek God - through personal reading of the Bible and intentionally in dedicated personal time in prayer. Knock on doors - be willing to have them shut on you - but God will lead you through the right one - in his time - not yours.
Waiting - what is it for? I believe it is to build up our faith and trust and reliance on him. Otherwise it could be all about what we do - not about what God is doing in and through us.
The other aspect of my time in this role that I feel is very helpful to have learned is this - no one person can do everything. Well we all know that don't we? Well do we - truly?
What I am about to share should not be taken in any way that I have any inside knowledge on what stage the nominators are at in their search for a new vicar. I can assure you I know absolutely no more than you do. But having spent 9 months in the vicar type role I feel I do have some insights that I should share that will be helpful to our understanding when that new Vicar does come.
At our parish consultation 9 months ago we came up with a wish list for our new Vicar.
· Ability and desire to equip and encourage the body to fulfil their giftings
· Vibrant and energetic person of God with integrity and authenticity
· Faith and vision to lead and grow our church moving forward
· Spirit-filled, Bible-based passionate leader
· Willing and able to inspire and empower others to pursue their gifts
· To fulfill Christ’s mission within the church and in the community
· Faithful to God
· Serving, loving, joyful to all generations
· Feel a call to Churton Park
· An emphasis on mission
· A strong leader who can delegate and equip us – the flock
· Missional focus
· Equipping leadership
· Spirit-led
Whew! One of the consultants that day said in a quiet aside to me “Jesus could even struggle with that lot!” Well we know Jesus wouldn't struggle- but he is the only person who wouldn't.
In our reading from Ephesians Paul spelled out what we often refer to as the five fold ministries - "It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers."
I can see in that list above, that we expected all those 5 ministries of our new vicar! That is an unrealistic and unfair expectation of course. Fortunately our nominators rationalised the expectations somewhat to this - as published in the Wine Press a few weeks ago. It is to be a person who:
· demonstrates a passionate love for God and His Word in order to show His love for others
· builds relationships with others in order to share faith
· is Spirit led in their walk with God and in the encouragement of others
· can equip and empower others to influence the community
I am sure we wouldn't disagree with any of this - and it is very much in line with what Paul says is the purpose for those specifically called to such roles in that Ephesians 4 passage.
But don't we so often have huge expectations of our Vicar?
For some it is very important that he or she is a dynamic preacher (sometimes referred to as prophesy) so they have a persuasiveness and power in speech.
But then it is absolutely vital they care for the flock too as a pastor isn’t it? To have someone who has the gift of watching over a group of people and growing them in their spiritual and personal lives by nurturing and guiding them with wise counsel. Well - we all want that don't we - to be loved and cared for?
And if they happened to be an evangelist and draws the people into church with an unstoppable passion that enables them to regularly lead others to Christ - well isn't that their job?
And taking initiative to reach into the community - taking an apostolic role to pioneer new territory to make major in-roads with the Gospel message. Well isn't that what we stated we want our church to focus on in our parish consultation - to reach out into the community?
And of course it is absolutely essential they are great teachers to be able to expound the truths of God’s Word to build up the Body of Christ. Well that is vital too! Non-negotiable!
And all that is not taking into account what has truly surprised me this year - that a great amount of your vicar's time will be taken up in just day to day administration and the organisation of simply running the church. Now I really believe this is a ridiculous aspect of the life of your ordained leader - that they spend years being trained theologically only to spend a disproportionate amount of their time behind a desk. Crazy - when their calling will have been from those 5 fold ministries we have just looked at. I believe that has to be changed somehow.
And so I want to encourage you that when a new permanent Vicar is appointed – please be understanding of what the role does and doesn't include, and your expectations of the person. Make sure they are supported and encouraged and given time to live a balanced life.
That is where we have a vital role to play - you and me.
It obvious the vicar cannot do it all. We must support the person - be encouraging - and be willing to be obedient to God's call on your life and how he wants you to serve him.
John F Kennedy, ex president of the USA, was a great orator who made many stirring speeches. One included these famous lines - "And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world ask not what America will do for you. Ask what together we can do for the freedom of mankind."
I take the liberty to paraphrase these lines for our application………
“And so my fellow members of Churton Park Anglican Church, ask not what your new Vicar can do for you. Ask what you can do for him or her.”
‘My fellow members of Churton Park Anglican Church, ask not what our church is doing to reach out into the community. Ask what you individually - and we together - can do to connect people and Christ.”
I encourage you - seek God's best for you - and be what he wants you to be.
