The Exacting Price of Ministry
Marshall Shelley and Kevin Miller
Pastoral ministry demands a high emotional investment, especially in times of tension, and sometimes you wonder if there's a return.
—Marshall Shelley William Barclay defined a saint as "someone whose life makes it easier to believe in God." For a pastor caught in the middle of conflict, it's easy to question whether you're doing any good for God at all. You find yourself questioning not only your effectiveness in ministry but also your own standing with God. The biblical command to "make your calling and election sure" is never more difficult than amid relationship distemper. Even in the best of times, pastoral ministry demands a high emotional investment, and sometimes you wonder if there's a return. With the addition of conflict, you're tempted to conclude ministry is a total loss. Not long ago, 1 sat with Kevin Miller, then Leadership senior associate editor, on a park bench in downtown Denver, and together we listened to a pastor describe his first two years in his congregation. This young pastor was still shaking his head at the anger and accusations that had been directed his way. He still didn't understand the significance of it all, but he was beginning to see glimpses of grace, faint movements of God working in himself and the lives of people in the congregation. Kevin worked with this pastor to disguise the identities but to retell the story. It helps us gain a bit higher ground as we try to get some personal perspective amid the confusion of church conflict. The service had ended an hour ago, and Pastor Brian Wells had long since said good-bye to the last departing worshiper, but here he was, still lingering in the cool of the narthex. He didn't know why, really; all he knew is that he felt satisfied. He'd already sent ...
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