I just finished a short collection of writings by Charles Brown (1806-1884), The Ministry (Banner of Truth, 2006). Brown was a minister in the Presbytrerian Church of Scotland, and offers some helpful guidance in his remarks to young ministers. He briefly treats the issue of pastoral visitation, noting the necessity of both public and private ministry of the Word:
After a long ministry I do not hesitate to express my belief that . . . the most diligent visiting of the people from house to house will be of small power without good preaching on the Sabbaths, on the other hand, the best preaching will lose much of its power without the systematic visiting of the flock in their homes. (84)
This is right in line with what the aspotle Paul recalled of his own minitry to the Ephesians in Acts 20:20, but it was a foreign concept to me until my pastoral ministries class in college. If the fundamental role of the pastor is above all to “oversee the souls” of his people, then careful attention to both public and private ministry of the Word is non-negotiable. How is this visitation best undertaken, particularly in a day when it will be an unfamiliar (if not strange) practice to our members? I am in no position to instruct here, but it would appear that it begins simply with some grasp of the weight of the office and a love for your people. In my little experience, I have found that when members recognize that you take seriously knowing them and caring for them, then addressing various issues in their lives with the Gospel flows much more naturally than it otherwise would.
I have much to learn in this area, and would love to know how other pastors handle visitation, particularly if any conduct such “systematic” visitation as Brown refers to here.
I agree- with Brown’s point and yours.
Certainly the palce to start is in teachign the people that the pastor’s calling is not simply to fill a pulpit but to oversee souls. AS they understand that and see your cafre for them then this systematic followign up will not seem so odd. In our day it might not be dropping by the families in the evening. It could also be done over lunches, etc.- anytiem when we have significant conversation about the state of their souls, how they are doing in their families, what benefit they are derivign from the sermons and their own bible eading, how they are fighting sin etc. I am currently being reminded that we really need to ask pointed questions about sin so as to shepherd well.
Thanks Dr. Van Neste,
Preaching certainly paves the way for us – we have spoken before of the “Word doing its work,” and there is nothing to bring about convictions about oversight like God’s Word. We are currently looking at key texts on the church on Sunday nights, and I believe the Lord is using it to teach us all.
Another thing that has struck me as I am beginning to try to put some of these things into practice, is that many church members do not find this nearly as strange a concept as I would imagine. Certainly there will be some who will find any “pointed questions about sin” to be offensive, but to my surprise (and delight), many others, simply because you are the pastor, are ready to discuss these matters. Sometimes there is even a little smile as if to say, “I was wondering when you would be getting around to this.” I think sensitive church members often understand the pastoral office better than I do myself.