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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, APRIL 26, 1985
You associates and assistants should realize that the purpose of meeting
with your pastor once a week is to promote unified and harmonious leader
ship in the congregation. It is an opportunity for you to grow in under
standing of your pastor's approach and to get to know him better. This will
enable you to back up and support his office more effectively.
These same principles also apply to local church elders and deacons. Meet
ings with the elders and deacons sh.
ould be held about once a month. Again,
elders and deacons need this regular contact and communication with the
pastor in order to do their jobs effectively. These meetings give you the
opportunity not only to map out plans and responsibilities for the coming
month, but also to review and discuss the previous month's successes and
failures, as well as to give needed instruction and Biblical guidance to
the local leadership.
All associates, assistants and elders also need to recognize their
responsibility to keep the pastor informed of any development in the local
congregation that will in any way affect his ability to serve the brethren.
Ask God for understanding of His government. Sometimes it is easy for the
vanity of human nature to rise up and make you begin to feel that it is best
for the brethren to come to you rather than to the pastor. "After all," one
might reason, "the pastor may one day be transferred, and I will probably
still be here." Ask God for the humble attitude He describes in Isaiah
66:2. Don't allow yourself to develop the attitude Satan had of wanting to
assume more authority or responsibility than was rightfully his.
In times past, some associates, assistants and elders have found themselves
disagreeing with their pastor. Some have assumed that their pastor was
"off the track" simply because he did administrative things differently
than they would have done. In their vanity, they lost sight of the differ
ence between an actual heresy and a simple matter of administrative style.
Mr. Armstrong made it clear in the September 25, 1978 GOOD NEWS that one who
disagrees with his pastor should go to him about it with the desire to un
derstand. If the matter is only a question of style or personal approach,
and not something contrary to established Church policy, then the elder
should simply recognize his responsibility to back up the pastor's deci
sion. Of course, pastors need to be open to suggestion and constructive
criticism done in a right attitude. In James 3:17, we are told to be easily
intreated.
In the August 28, 1978 GOOD NEWS, Mr. Armstrong also explained that a case
of actual heresy or false doctrine that is intentional should be reported
immediately to Headquarters. An accidental mistake or oversight can be
handled by discussing it with the pastor. But clear, intentional heresy
should be reported immediately.
As mentioned earlier, however, some have assumed that the pastor was "off
the track" simply because his method of handling a matter was different
from their own. Much of this kind of problem could have been avoided by
regular, proper communication done in a right attitude of genuine concern
and love for superiors and subordinates. An attitude of real concern for
one's superior would not permit criticism of every little thing he does.
Instead, a subordinate should strive to support, uphold, strengthen and
pray for his superior, striving to make his plans and procedures work.
On the other hand, a supervisor who truly loves and cares for those under
his responsibility will not keep them in the dark about everything he is do-
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