Pastor, abbot, corps officer?

Larry Ashcraft asks if we need more abbots

I have been on vacation and have been reading a great deal. My ideal vacation — burning up on a beach and devouring books. I have read two so far that have stirred the blog juices. I feel it is time to cross into a subject that is near to my heart and probably a bit risky to discuss while being part of a quasi-military movement.

Generation Me by Jean Twenge is a must-read for those working with young adults. It is a candid look at generational differences and, in particular, a view of the generation my two sons belong to. I have also read Listening to the Beliefs of Emerging Churches, which is edited by Robert Webber.

Twenge confirms with hard data much of what I have experienced with the 20-something generation. This is a generation that really tends to be stressed and paradoxical — dreamers who love to question EVERYTHING. I think I may have been born several years too early.

It is this questioning and turning away from the traditional church which is problematic for our movement, which is big on “salute and go.” It is also problematic for traditional churches that are really big on pastoral authority. That is why so many emerging churches are embracing what is called “the new monasticism.” This is the formation of communities of faith that midrash and struggle with scripture and dogma in an open forum, even in worship gatherings.

This is a far contrast to the current trend in our movement where we see the label “pastor/commanding officer” used so frequently. It is sometimes amusing to see those enamored with the idea of being commanders when they have a congregation of 10-15 and not much influence outside of the walls of their building. In fact, the notion of commanding much of anything with this generation is almost laughable.

While I do not want suggest preaching is not important, I would suggest that what may be needed for this generation may be the development of abbots. In the monastic days, the abbot was the tour guide for those on the journey of spiritual formation in monasteries. Lest you think these monasteries were cloistered, think again. Many served the poor and reached out to those who needed relationship with Christ.

Pastors/commanders tend to preach and moralize while an abbot mentors and encourages those who are searching to find their savior in an almost communal theology.

This is risky for us. It means we can be challenged and must welcome it. After all, it really could mean healthier and deeper believers. The problem: this type of leadership and community means time and investment. It means that results will not be instant, unless the Spirit makes it so. In our statistic-driven, objective, management-by-goals church culture (when did we adopt a very worldly way of doing church?), this may prove maddening for some our more modern-leaning leadership.

So is it time for more abbots and less pastor/commanders? Is this a fad? Is it the new wave of our culture? Or am I just fooling myself?

Writer: Larry Ashcraft has been a Salvation Army officer for more than 25 years. He serves as the General Secretary for the North East Ohio Division in the USA Eastern Territory. Larry and his wife Janet founded of the Eastern Territory’s Project 1:17 School of Youth Ministry and Mission in 2001 and recently turned over the leadership of the school. Larry and his wife have two sons and a daughter-in-law who are their pride and joy. Larry enjoys sports, reading and good political debate. Larry and Janet’s joint passion is to see the emerging generation engaged and discipled for the mission of God, through The Salvation Army.

5 Comments to Pastor, abbot, corps officer?

1. thank you, thank you. Bang on . Interesting articles in October issue of The Hearld MB church. On track with you. If you can look up http://www.mbconf.ca/home/products_and-services/resources/publications/mb_hearld. Could you supply me information on the youth ministry and mission you set up? Iam 74 and we are praying for funds to hire a youth pastor. Sincerely Henry
Henry Armstrong on October 17th, 2008

2. …Ha guys, not that you need me to, i also concur,”band on”. But Larry, you know very well David did not work and work and work, write and write and write and write more… to convince the giant to change his mind and turn around; he hit him right smack between the eyes with a rock. Of course i do not mean that literally, but figurative (symbolic), so dont stone me, cheers. Keep writing guys, the tables may turn.
Henrys son on October 18th, 2008

3. With you here Larry. I think there is a place for commanding officers, but we also have need of abbots and actual, genuine seeking communities. I see myself far more as the latter.

   Grace,

   Aaron
aaron on October 20th, 2008

4. as someone part of that “20 something” generation everyone seems to keep making reference too…

   you’ve got it dude.

   now if only the “commanders” got it. i think, from my own personal experience, for them they can’t quite seem to grasp that by letting go of “their authority” and opening it up to a more monastical kind of way of doing church, young people probably would stick around and they’d get those oh so wonderful and important statistics they’re desperate for!

   for me i think it comes down to a fear of chaos and disorder that may arise as a result of the releasing of this commander’s authority. its almost as if they’re afraid of us questioning. i remember one instance where i had someone with “commander’s authority” tell me straight up that i shouldn’t question because it represented a failing of my faith, and that i should just believe it simply becasue its in the handbook of doctrine. not the bible, the HoB. i admit i had quite the chuckle at that one. but for my generation, as you mentioned Larry, we love to question and work things out for ourselves. get our hands dirty and try and make sense of it. for my job, the only real way of learning and understanding the equipment i work with (communication systems) is to take it apart, see all the different parts seperately, toy around with it and then put it all back together again. i think that’s kinda what questioning our faith is like.

   i’ll speak for myself here, but i think it resonates with alot of my generation when i say i don’t like just being told things and taking them at face value. in fact i hate it. (and this may offend some) but it reminds me of a culture of conformity and anti-individualism reminsicant of communist governments, and fascist dictatorships of a time not so long past. “here’s what we say, believe it or else”. i’m not trying to compare TSA to Soviet Russia in anyway, but i do think we stifle certain people’s individual journey’s by presuring them to “…just believe it ok?”.

   i had someone i met at work here, who once tried out an army corps. an “unchurched” person as she was, she wanted to question some of our beliefs and doctrines. not for the sake of being a rebel,(which i think is another common misconception made by “the authorities” when they have someone asking questions.) but because of who she is, a naturally inquisitive person that likes to discuss, debate and gain a greater understanding of this “religion” she was interested in. well apparantly we don’t do that and she was politely asked to keep her questions to herself, or find somewhere else to worship. she’s no longer interested in Christianity as a result of that experience.

   maybe we need to embrace individuals who like to question even if that means allowing the individual to explore and work out their salvation by whatever means. Maybe even if that means they end up at a theological position that offends some? sure why not? however that said, i think with that abbot like relationship, to bounce questions back,challenge, and provide a certain degree of spirtual authority and insight into scriptrual authority, it would allow a kingdom like representation of different outlooks on our faith and belief system.

   what i mean by that is, god made us all as individuals no? so in my mind i find it hard to believe that we should all relate to him in exactly the same way. for me that translates into having alot of people all with the same core beliefs (i.e. after all is said and done, god is love is he not?) but having had different experiences of god, and varying journey’s they could provide insight, encouragment and kingdom like community, to and with eachother, and in the end, as you said Larry, have a healthier and deeper faith, understanding and relationship with their creator. and by having an abbot like figure,they could provide some sort of centrality and non-agressive kind of authority in that myriad of faith journeyers. (and yes journeyer is a word, i looked it up lol) if that at all makes sense?

   just a few random thoughts from someone in that “20 something” generation.
Chris on October 23rd, 2008

5. hey, larry…
   we met once in Suffern (2004?)and had a meal with you, while we were comparing notes on SA youth leadership schools…. anyhow, my point in writing is to simply agree that rediscovering the concept of abbot makes heaps of sense AND… it strikes me that a lot of us who have dwelt in the tents of youth ministry for prolonged periods of time (like half of our 31 years as officers…) tend to emerge from that passionate arena with an abbotist approach to leading viz the ‘command’ mantle not only doesn’t sit well on our shoulders, but because of the time and energy (and affirmation…) we pump into youth work, being commanders doesn’t… seem… to feel right…
   Judith and I see ourselves as divisional leaders, rather than DC/DDWM. We still get welcomed in meetings around our patch as ‘the divisional commanders’, which irks me somewhat, but hey, peoples intentions are usually honest.

   However, if we stay long enough, maybe we can ‘abbotize’ some more of our hard working COs and centre managers, so they can continue an intentional, appropriate ministry long after we ‘perpetual youth secretaries’ have hung up the eppaulettes and decide for ourselves where we invest our God-given passions. GB, divisional abbot from Oz
gary baker on January 22nd, 2009

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