The "Shepherding" Pastor

In his book Pastoral Theology Thomas Oden uses John 10:1-18 as reference for the viewing of the pastoral role as a shepherding role. In this passage of Scripture, Jesus refers to Himself as a shepherd and His own ministry in turn is one of shepherding. The role of the pastor as shepherd is similar to the role of Christ as shepherd. As Christ knew His flock, so must the pastor know his flock. Christ knew people on an intimate level and the pastor must invest in the lives of those within his congregation in an intimate way. The pastor must know the people to whom he or she speaks. Just as Christ knew the very names of every one of His own in the shepherding analogy, so too the pastor ought to know the names of those to whom he or she is ministering. Jesus said that the shepherd does not climb over the wall to get to the sheep. The shepherd enters through the gate. In the same way, the pastor must go through the proper means to become a pastor and not simply force his or her way into some kind of pastoral position without proper training and authorization. The flock is described as recognizing the shepherd’s voice. The congregation listens to the pastor to the extent that they recognize when someone else says something that does not sound like what the pastor would say. The shepherd takes the flock into places where they can receive proper amounts of food and nutrition. The pastor leads the congregation into places where they will grow spiritually and receive what they need. The shepherd leads the sheep, keeping a look out for danger. The pastor looks out for the congregation, leading them away from what would harm them and leading them toward what would do them good. The sheep trust the shepherd because the shepherd has always been faithful. The pastor must also earn the trust of the congregation – a task which often takes a considerable amount of time. Just as sheep do not want to follow someone they do not know the congregation will not likely want to follow a pastor they do not know. Just as Christ the good shepherd laid down His life for His sheep, so too must the pastor be willing to lay down his or her life for the congregation. The hired-hand may desert the sheep, but the good shepherd will not abandon them at the sight of danger. The good pastor has invested his or her own life in the life of the congregation. The pastor is attached to the congregation. Someone who comes in just to do something and then move on does not lose anything if the church loses. The good pastor loses with the church because they are a part of the church. Finally, just as the flock is united under the shepherd, the congregation in Christ is united under the Pastor in Christ.