On Being a Pastor

Title: On Being a Pastor
Authors: Derek Prime & Alistair Begg
Publisher: Moody Press, 2004
Pages: 310
Begun: April 13, 2009
Completed: June 6, 2009

Prime and Begg have produced an impressive work on pastoral theology in On Being a Pastor. Mostly written in an informal style and very practical in content, the two pastors share their experiences in the pastorate. Prime ministers at Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh, Scotland and Begg currently ministers at Parkside Church in Cleveland, OH.

The two men discuss myriads of situations a pastor must face in his ministry including a minister's devotional life, his family life, pastoral care, study, counseling, delegation, interpersonal relationships with his congregation, and interpersonal relationships with his fellow elders. Overall, I found the work helpful. There were many good ideas as well as some that I really didn't care for. Though I do not entirely agree with all their suggestions or practices, I appreciate their overall thrust and philosophy. Here are a couple of statements from the first part of the book (the more objective section):

"Before ever we are shepherds and teachers, we are first and foremost sons of God, and our spiritual life demands to be nurtured...God wants us and our fellowship with Him more than He wants even our pastoral and teaching ministry, important as it is." (85-86)

"Right teaching always leads to Him and shows the relationship of all other truths to His saving work and His supremacy in God's purposes." (56)