Pastor

I just got off the phone praying with someone who thought that my prayers with them might be meaningful and helpful.

Whether they are or not is not for me to say.

I think all prayer is meaningful and helpful.

Am I a pastor?

Well, I had the title, job, and role for 47 years and I still have that as one of my roles on a more part-time basis. I might be semi-retired. Whatever that is.

This is me. I really do not think pastor is primarily a title, job, and role. It is more of a function and a gift. If I am watching a flock of sheep and have to excuse myself a moment, I might grab you and you walk by and ask you to watch them till I get back.

I do that with a certain confidence that you can handle it till I arrive and take over.

Keep them together.
Don't let the wolves get them.
The dog will help.

But I will keep coming back, because it has become more than just a temporary function for me. It permeates everything. It informs my thinking, prayers, and compassion - soul care, community care, care for people.

As long as you are out there and reach out to me in that function, I guess will be pastor someone.

I can't resign because there is no person or organization to whom I can submit a letter of resignation.

So, it is more than a function also, because that function comes and goes.

The same word does not always mean the same thing in every context, not even every biblically context exactly.

So, I say this loosely, humbly, and tentatively. For me, pastoral ministry is a calling and one that I sense I will have until I take my last breath and present myself before the Great Pastor.