Adapting to the First Year of Pastoral Ministry: An Interview with Ken Simpson (Part Two)
Read Part One of this interview here.
Readers may listen to the interview here, or read the transcript below.
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JW: You’ve often told me and others that they really aren’t going to be seen as the pastor for perhaps at least 3 or 4 years. And I’m sure you don’t mean to suggest that it’s always that long—perhaps it may take longer to gain credibility, or even shorter in some cases. What are the factors that determine the time-frame for a pastor to be called and to earn some “relational capital,” as you’ve often put it?
KS: Every church is different and every pastor is different, so generally speaking, I think it depends on how receptive people are to adapt to change. Some are ready for change. Others are less excited about it. I think the pastor has to discern where the people are and how eager they are for change. The pastor has to be very patient, and especially in how he makes decisions. The pastor may go into a situation that calls for him to make some immediate decisions, and how well he makes those decisions will give him credibility or decrease his credibility. I think the church will judge his decision-making based on how well he was informed, how well he made a decision and executed it.
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JW: You’ve mentioned leadership and transition. I know since you’ve been at Calvary Fellowship, the church has gone through some transition in leadership. You’ve also brought on new ministers to the ministry team there. What principles guide the way you think about leadership and leadership development?
KS: The senior pastor has to give his staff his time. I have an open-door policy. Sometimes that can be a good thing (laughs), and other times it can be frustrating thing. But my staff knows they can get to me. They can come in and discuss concerns they may have, plans they may like to implement in their various ministries. I try to be a good listener for them. I have found that sometimes my staff just needs to talk out their vision; so letting them do so in a non-threatening way brings clarity in their mind about their vision. I think it’s important to create transparency and integrity. I spend a lot of time talking with my staff about integrity and leading with character. I want to encourage my staff. I want them to know that I support them, and I think it’s important for them to realize that they are going to get support and encouragement from the senior pastor.
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JW: What do you think is the biggest hurdle that pastors encounter when they go out for the first time in vocational ministry? To put differently, what is the biggest unexpected thing they will face?
KS: That’s an excellent question. It’s a hard question. To try to just name the biggest hurdle is challenging because there can be several. But I guess one of the things that comes to mind is feeling inadequate and dealing with frustration. There’s going to be things that will happen that you are not prepared for, that you didn’t see coming. Dealing with people who are struggling spiritually, relationally—there’s a lot of heaviness in people’s lives. People’s lives are very messy. When a pastor gets in ministry, he has this expectation that he needs to preach a good message—and he certainly needs to prepare and preach a good sermon. But there are also many more things that he is going to have to deal with in his ministry. At times he is going to feel that heaviness, and that leads to frustration—“How do I handle all of the struggles I am feeling in the congregation that I’m aware of?”
I have a good friend of mine who has often said every pastor needs a theology of heaviness. And that’s true. I think the tendency for some (especially some who have the gift of mercy)—they feel the full weight of every problem. This can be so draining emotionally that it takes a toll on a pastor. So I think the pastor needs to step back and have controlled compassion, realizing that he cannot fix every problem. So there’s a lot of heaviness, and with that heaviness and the challenges some pastors feel inadequate, and that can lead to frustration.
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JW: Just to be constructive, there are probably some people who will listen to this interview or read it, and they will be heavy-hearted, discouraged, frustrated, and perhaps ready to walk away under bad circumstances. Pretend the Helwys Society Forum is a platform for reaching these folks. What would you want to say to them?
KS: I would tell them first, reflect on your calling. God called you, and even though you’re feeling burnout and frustration that every pastor feels, go back to that call. Spend time in the Word, praying, letting God encourage you, especially when people have discouraged you. You’re God’s man, and nothing can encourage you more than to just be alone with the Lord, with the Word, praying, and reflecting on His calling on your life.
I think it’s also important for that pastor to really try to identify the issues that are bringing the heaviness, the discouragement, and really trying with the help of a trusted colleague or friend, what those issues are. I certainly have been helped by friends in the ministry who have pastored much longer than I have who have been open to just talking with me and helping me to process and identify some of the frustrations or disappointments that I have had. Every pastor needs a friend. Sometimes it’s really lonely out there. Pastors in smaller churches struggle just like those in larger churches with many members. It’s lonely at the top, as some have said. So I think it’s very important to speak biblical counsel from a trusted friend who can speak truth in your life.
JW: And certainly that counsel is important for pastors of all types and even discouraged lay persons. I was just talking the other day with a friend whose church was facing some problems. And I was thinking, “Well I wouldn’t mind having that problem as opposed to some of the ones we face.” Maybe those conversations with people outside of our bubble give us some needed perspective. These issues are challenging, heavy issues. I hate to end an interview on that, so maybe we can end on something a little lighter.
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JW: What are you reading these days? What do you like to read? What do you think pastors reading this will be benefited from by looking at?
KS: I enjoy reading books on the church and church health. I recently read a book entitled The Trellis & the Vine. I also recently read Thom Rainer’s book on membership. Another book that I picked up is called Parenting in the Pew. It deals with the importance of parents being intentional about nurturing their kids in the ways of the Lord. It has been a light read, but a very good book. I’m reading Dr. Picirilli’s book on discipleship. Excellent book. Very timely and needed today. And then I just completed Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman, and I enjoyed that as well.
JW: I always struggle with having more books to read than time to read. Do you have a set time you read each day? How structured are you in that?
KS: Probably not as much as I’d like to be. But I do most of my reading late-morning, early-afternoon, and then late at night. Sometimes on my days off I will find a very quiet place and just devote a couple of hours of just reading something that isn’t a part of my sermon preparation. I enjoy those times.
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JW: That’s all our time. I hope we can do this again. We appreciate you taking this time to speak not just to me, but to many Forum readers and listeners.
KS: I think you guys are doing a great work with the Forum, and I want to encourage you guys to continue providing great resources there for people to read.
JW: Thanks.
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In addition to the interview above, we were also able to ask Ken Simpson some additional questions. We don’t have a transcript, but readers may listen to it below. Thanks.
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