Called, Not Hired

There is much confusion in churches today as to whether a church hires or calls a pastor. I would like to suggest to you that a pastor is called by God to a specific congregation and the church acknowledges that call.

From a logical standpoint, if a pastor is hired by a church, then he could be fired by the church. This alone can be a detriment to a pastor's ministry. He will lack the job security that comes from knowing that God has placed him in a church. He will also be afraid that if he fails to preach adequate sermons, the congregation could let him go. This mentality will be also do damage to the pastor who runs into conflict with his congregation. The tendency here will be to run away from the conflict rather than face it and seek peace.

If, on the other hand, a pastor is called to a congregation, his ministry will be accompanied by the stability that God gives. The pastor will be confident that God has him in the right place, doing the right thing. The church will be confident that God has put the right man in their church. They will be more willing to work through difficult issues and more willing to listen to their pastor's teaching--even when he might step on their toes.

From a biblical standpoint, Jesus teaches these things in John 10:11-15:


"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. -John 10:11-15

So pastors, let us follow Christ's example and care for our congregations, even in the midst of turmoil and attack. Remember, you are called to your ministry by God. He will use you to accomplish His will in that place.