Integral pastoral leadership model in the context of multicongregation configuration: the case of Central Peninsula II

Abstract

Over the millennia, and in different churches, there has been confusion over the role of the pastoral leader. The Seventh-day Adventist pastoral leaders have not been immune from this phenomenon. Sometimes viewed as evangelist-pastor and church administrators, many pastors have suffered from vocational stress, as a result. After studying spiritual gifts as well as the shepherd or pastor metaphor that the Bible refers to, the researcher developed integral pastoral leadership model. During his tenure as a district pastor of Central Peninsula II from 2010 to 2012, its strategy was implemented in all its four facets, and improvements were incorporated along the way. While the researcher has not “done the work of the evangelist,” in terms of reaching people outside the church, the multi-congregation district grew by thirteen per cent during the period under review. This model entailed a comprehensive pastoral strategy for the churches involved. Over the three years of his tenure in the district, the model has been annually reviewed and modified as feedback and new ideas came from the church leaders the researcher worked with. The researcher developed a pastoral leadership theology framework that served as a basis for the pastoral programme. At the end of the tenure, the following participants were surveyed to assess the effectiveness of this pastoral leadership strategy: 1. 25 elders that went through the programme between 2010 and 2012 2. 14 student pastors that were mentored with this model between 2010 and 2012 3. One of the 14 students who implemented it in a neighbouring district as well as in the researchers’ previous district from the beginning of 2013 4. The researchers’ pastoral colleagues in pastoral ministry in the Cape Conference, Transvaal Conference, Trans-Orange Conference, Southern Africa Union Conference, Southern Africa Indian Ocean Division, professors in pastoral theology at Helderberg College, Andrews University, Adventist University of Africa, Oakwood University and other part of the church organisation. Observable benefits include positive feedback wherever the programme was implemented as well as interest from other district pastors who would like to implement the integral pastoral system, in part or as a whole.