Until My Elevation Comes
When did we start thinking of ministry in terms of "promotion", "elevation", or upward mobility? Whatever happened to the original concept of the minister as "servant"?
One of our dear brothers on BPN has been kind enough to send us these messages soliciting applications for "elevation" to the office of bishop. Let me say upfront this is not a criticism of the missive, the brother or his ministry. My concern is: When did we start thinking of ministry as elevation or promotion?
It's not just on BPN that I encounter folks claiming they were "elevated" or "promoted" to bishop, apostle, overseer, prophet after the initial lowly calling to ministry. I have been to many ordinations and consecrations where people were "elevated" to the ministry or to the bishopric. I have heard many a preacher claim they were serving in some area in the church until the Lord "called me higher up."
One preacher drew to my attention some time ago that we so dislike (and therefore disagree) with Jesus' idea of being servants that we skillfully and subtly augmented his term to "servant leader." Whoever shall be chief among you let him be your servant leader." Ah, Yes!
Now maybe this is all semantic drag and in reality those so elevated do really understand their roles as servants of Jesus and people. But could this be related to the manic urge to arrogate ever increasing honorifics, titles, accolades and distinctions among clergy particularly within the Black community?
Or maybe this is just the griping of a green-eyed preacher who has never been elevated from the pedestrian role of mere "pastor." Ok Bishop, when is the deadline for submitting that application for elevation?
Copyright 2009 Trevor Ducreay
One of our dear brothers on BPN has been kind enough to send us these messages soliciting applications for "elevation" to the office of bishop. Let me say upfront this is not a criticism of the missive, the brother or his ministry. My concern is: When did we start thinking of ministry as elevation or promotion?
It's not just on BPN that I encounter folks claiming they were "elevated" or "promoted" to bishop, apostle, overseer, prophet after the initial lowly calling to ministry. I have been to many ordinations and consecrations where people were "elevated" to the ministry or to the bishopric. I have heard many a preacher claim they were serving in some area in the church until the Lord "called me higher up."
One preacher drew to my attention some time ago that we so dislike (and therefore disagree) with Jesus' idea of being servants that we skillfully and subtly augmented his term to "servant leader." Whoever shall be chief among you let him be your servant leader." Ah, Yes!
Now maybe this is all semantic drag and in reality those so elevated do really understand their roles as servants of Jesus and people. But could this be related to the manic urge to arrogate ever increasing honorifics, titles, accolades and distinctions among clergy particularly within the Black community?
Or maybe this is just the griping of a green-eyed preacher who has never been elevated from the pedestrian role of mere "pastor." Ok Bishop, when is the deadline for submitting that application for elevation?
Copyright 2009 Trevor Ducreay
Comment
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Comment by Ebony moore on June 1, 2009 at 6:54pm
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Well said
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