Welcome to the World of a Pastor also known as Pastoral Theology Course Notes Lesson One

Dr. Dennis Carter Psalm 37:4

Index to Lessons Lesson One Lesson Two Lesson Three Lesson Four Lesson Five Lesson Six Lesson Seven Lesson Eight Lesson Nine Lesson Ten Lesson Eleven Lesson Twelve Lesson Thirteen Lesson Fourteen Lesson Fifteen Lesson Sixteen Lesson Seventeen Lesson Eighteen Lesson Nineteen Lesson Twenty Lesson Twenty-one Lesson Twenty-two Lesson Twenty-three Lesson Twenty-four Lesson Twenty-five Lesson Twenty-six Lesson Twenty-seven

THE Myth of the Perfect Pastor 90 percent of pastors work more than forty-six hours a week. 80 percent believe pastoral ministry has affected their families negatively. 33 percent say that being in the ministry is an outright hazard to their family. 75 percent report a significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry. 50 percent feel unable to meet the needs of the job. 90 percent feel they were inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands. 70 percent say they have a lower self-image than when they started in the ministry 40 percent report a serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month. 33 percent confess having been involved in some inappropriate sexual behavior with someone in the church. 70 percent do not have someone they consider a close friend. These statistics are heartbreaking. They show how difficult the struggle is for many pastors and how much they need your assistance. "PERFECT" My father-in-law, Dr. John R. Waters used to say, 'Brother Dennis, we have a perfect Bible, a perfect Savior, and a perfect salvation, but you and I are not perfect." We see that in the fact of what different Christians disagree about all the time. Christian schools vs. public schools, speaking in tongues, Christian-sponsored boycotts, sex education, Rush Limbaugh, the ecumenical movement, playing the saxophone in church, Halloween, interracial marriage, Christians in politics, Sunday night services, true Christians in liberal churches, The Lord's supper, Christian counseling, faith-promise giving, women wearing makeup, women cutting their hair too short, clapping in church, traditional vs. contemporary worship, Hollywood movies, drinking wine, watching TV, eating out on Sunday, playing cards, women wearing pants, the King James Version, picketing abortion clinics, men wearing beards, using credit cards, divorced men serving as ushers, home schooling, mixed swimming, smoking, rock music, Christian rock music, women working outside the home, birth control, guitars in a church service, working in a restaurant where they sell beer, working as cashier where they sell cigarettes, pocket knives, guns, the rebel flag, divorced deacons, divorced preachers, and The Baptist Bible Trumpet articles are just a few things we can name. My father-in-law taught a great truth above: We are all imperfect in some ways and areas of our lives. He taught me that we as imperfect people can get caught up in the issues and forget to feed the flock of God, visit the flock of God, and do the work of a true shepherd. Some times we're so busy fighting and making a point that we forget the main point - to preach the word and live a life that pleases God. By these, folks will know where you stand on any one of the above issues. Dr. Waters used to say at Faith Baptist Church, "Will Mr. & Mrs. Perfect please stand up!" Some will probably read this article standing rather than sitting down! Thanks, Dr. Waters, your life and teaching helped me.

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Contact writers:
Dr Dennis Carter, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, Spartanburg, SC
Pastor Steven Mays, pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Laurens, SC