mgpcpastor's blog

Last night (Friday, May 6) Donald Broadwater was inducted as pastor of the Wattle Range Charge. After the Service Don and Gloria were informally welcomed by the congregations of the Charge along with representatives of the community and other churches.

Inductions (installations, settings apart) can strike some as curious combinations of worship and administration. Formulas are read out, steps (a narrative of the process leading up to the calling of the pastor) are narrated, and questions are asked. They speak of a diligent care that the local congregation and denominational connection have taken to ensure that the man who will serve as pastor is committed to the understanding of the Scriptures which the denomination holds and has a life and conduct which befits those who would serve and lead a local church.

Our service last night was little different from most Presbyterian inductions.
After the formal parts of the induction, Ian Touzel, having supported the vacant parish through the call process, gave a brief charge to Don, and then to the congregation. His words were direct, scriptural and warmly applied.

Then Don was invited to preach and conclude the service.
I have grown to not really understand why inductions have taken a form in which the pastor of the new parish basically says ‘I do’ or ‘Yes’ nine times and nothing more.
Everyone’s there to see him installed. Probably more folks than will be present to hear him at the next regular service.
Induct him, charge him up, get him in the pulpit and let him rip.
As Don said last night, if you like what you hear come back.
Instead, the custom has arisen where the occasional preacher is a visitor.
Modesty and humility aside, if the new pastor is not the best choice to preach their inaugural sermon in their new pulpit on the occasion of their setting apart why come and hear them next week?

Don preached a fine sermon from 1 Thessalonians 2:8 that left no-one in doubt about the nature of the ministry which he and Wattle Range will share.
Here are some notes about what was termed the Apostle Paul’s perspective on ministry.
As always, anything that doesn’t make complete sense is due to my poor note taking skills.

In his letters Paul was always responding to what was said about him.
Responding to this or that charge from others.
In doing so he moves the focus from himself to Jesus. He did not desire notoriety or fame, but understood suffering was his portion.
1 Thess. 2:1 He responds to the charge by pointing out his coming had not been in vain. Something had happened as a result of his being there. He didn’t shy away from telling how God had used him in the lives of people. His work was not fruitless or futile.
On his way he had gone through some hardships, but they did not stop him.
The challenge: stay focussed. Paul rose to that challenge.
We live in a culture where doing the right thing is an optional choice based on the benefits which doing so brings to us. We are called to do the right thing regardless because it is right.
Paul was entrusted with the Gospel. He spoke the Gospel. There was no other motive.
In 1 Corinthians he mentions that he is compelled to speak the Gospel. ‘Woe to me if I don’t preach the Gospel.’
His aim was to please God, not people.
Neither does Paul use his apostleship to gain leverage over the people.
He was gentle among them. Gentle with the tenderness that parents (and others) generally show to young children.
It was truth wrapped in compassion and love.
The significant and great doctrinal truths to which Don had given assent in his induction boil down to loving God and walking with Jesus.
Paul shared the Gospel and they shared themselves.
This is no surprise because the Gospel is the good news of God’s reconciling work.
We have to be desirous of sharing our lives, not just the truth.
The Gospel creates a surplus in our lives which overflows to bless many. We don’t expect others to do this work.
The church is the body of Christ sent to be God’s incarnational love present on earth.
We are witnesses of His grace.
In John 13 Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, a powerful mark of humility.
We invest our lives in one another, to do this we need the right attitude.
Paul shows we do it because we have become dear to one another.
Spend time with Jesus, then spend time with people.
It is this witness of shared and genuine love for one another in the body of Christ that those outside notice and want to enquire about and understand. A Gospel opportunity.
Don concluded by affirming prayer them all to grow together, share their lives and serve the living God.