What Should a Lutheran Pastor Be Doing?

A pastor’s main responsibility is to faithfully manage the public administration of God’s Word and sacraments in a local congregation. He is expected to specialize in and continue to learn about these things. He must know theology because the congregation wants to learn from him. He is expected to love the congregation enough to care for them individually as needed. He should consider himself welcome in their homes and their personal lives. He must be there for them throughout all the special times of need that they will have. He is to minister God’s Word and sacraments to them often especially when they need counseling, are sick, reach old age and finally pass on into eternity. He comforts those who are left behind and encourages them to have hope for their own eternity. Some of his congregation may have special physical, mental and spiritual needs and the pastor must also make every effort to accommodate their spiritual growth. When some of his flock strays onto evil and hurtful ways the pastor shepherds them back on the right path. He pays close attention to them when drugs, alcohol and other substances are involved because he knows they can easily believe they can’t harm us. He helps them recognize and turn away from inappropriate relationships. He is especially mindful of relationships that cause them to follow a faith different from the one true faith. He shows how these strange beliefs can turn them away from God. If some of his flock refuse to listen and willingly follow sinful ways the pastor makes every effort to help them turn from our misdeeds and become restored into the fellowship even if that means that he must recommend the need for the body of believers to exclude the wayward from the fellowship until they can come to restoration. The pastor teaches his congregation how to properly use their sexuality in a God pleasing manner both in and out of marriage. He equips them with the skills that they need in order to have good relationships with others especially the opposite sex. When the time comes for some of them to marry he uses God’s Word to prepare the couple to enter into a union that is God pleasing. After they are married he helps them to keep their union strong in the Lord. If needed, he help them with the matters of divorce and remarriage. If God should so bless them with children, the pastor helps his congregation discover how to care for them before and after birth. The pastor helps all recognize that God has called them into service through his divine calling. He helps the flock find out what that special task is for each of them and then enlists them into that service. He equips them so that they will be able to accomplish the mission that God has given them. When they are fully equipped he empowers them for ministry and lets them function. He encourages his flock as they take on the tasks put before them and is there to help them evaluate their work so that they can better do His mission.