Mr. McGinty proved my mind on the subject of part-time pastors. We Baptists are good at labels: part time, full time, bivocational. You name it. We define it with a label. Now not every preacher is a pastor. I have known several pastors of part-time churches- that is, churches with less than regular weekly worship (preaching) services.
I have known some part-time preachers who were full-time pastors of up to four part-time churches. I also know some full-time preachers who are part-time pastors, for you may call your “pastor” and get the message that someone else is minister on call.
A full-time pastor’s role is best described in the question Jesus asked Simon Peter after his denial, “Simon do you love Me?” Peter’s definition of his answer to Jesus is found in his two letters to the early church, 1 and 2 Peter. A word of admonition: A minister who does not shoulder the duties of the pastor – visit those who are stick, in the hospital and home bound or care for the weekly “shepherding the flock”- falls short of his calling in the ministry.
James Clark
Oneonta, Ala.
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