Over the 27 years of my ministry, I've had occasion to read advertisements from churches seeking a new full time pastor. It's interesting to me that the advertisement typically references biblical requirements from 1 Timothy and Titus as requirements for the new pastor and rightfully so.
In addition, there will be other requirements stated for the desired pastor. Typically it goes something like this:
- age: 30-50 years old
- minimum 5 years experience
- seminary graduate from a Southern Baptist Seminary
- must have Mdiv degree
Based upon the surveys, they prepare their advertisements and send them to their Baptist state newspapers and SBC.NET.
Is anything wrong with this process?
In my opinion, there is a lot wrong with this process. Is it possible that by advertising for a certain pastor demographic, they are trying to limit what God wants to do? I know that no one is purposely trying to limit God, but with non-biblical qualification, they may inadvertently try to limit God.
How might they limit God?
What if God wants to send a pastor who is younger than 30 or older than 50?
What if God wants to send a pastor who has less than 5 years experience?
What if God wants to send a pastor who is currently working on a degree or (oh no) has no degree at all?
Perhaps it would be good that we remember we shouldn't try to put a fence around God. You can't do it so why try?
God will send who He wants to pastor your church. Young or older.
Spend more time on theology than man-centered desires.
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