Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry

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Summary: What the world and clergy ought to want!
Review: Willimon's collection of essays regarding the vocational life of a minister has some beautiful reminders. I particularly loved Willimon's claim that vocational ministers are simply "the chief sinner in a ministry of sinners." If such an understanding does not knock one off a pedestal, nothing will! I felt the major benefit of the book was Willimon's discussion of what it means to be a pastor to God's people. Willimon does a concise job of explaining many of the various roles and activities expected of the clergy by any congregation. Further, he tends to show clearly some of the problems which clergy will encounter as they take up or refuse particular roles thrust upon them by the congregations which they will serve. Willimon's book ought to be required reading for any clergy who are feeling worn out, depressed, or otherwise spiritually assaulted. Willimon's emphasis that God calls all Christians to teach a world what is worth wanting rather than teaching a world how to get what it wants, his discussions that pastoral fatigue is a result of one's inability to enjoy the various and manifold intrusions of God into church lives, and his reminder that the role of the clergy is one of "attack" and "rearrangement" and not "relation to the average Joe" ought to serve as an instruction manual for one called to the vocational ministries in the post-Christian culture of the West.
I did find in the book, however, a presumption of the Gospel or an understood world view rather than a clearly defined summation of the teachings which the vocational minister is supposed to teach. This seems somewhat ironic given the author's emphasis on the fact that we no longer live in a Christian culture as well as the upheaval occurring in many mainline churches today. Having read other books by Willimon and having heard a few of his sermons, I have no doubt as to his theological assumptions. But I do wonder whether the teaching is plain for someone just picking up this book for the first time.

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Summary: A True Ministers' Handbook
Review: I was recently ordained into the ministry and began reading this book shortly thereafter. Willimon provides a sophisticated and theologically-sound approach to defining ministry as well as touching on the personal life of the minister. He addresses the "hush-hush" issues of ministry burnout and women in pastoral ministry. This is a well-written handbook for ministers. Strongly recommended!

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Summary: A Hard-Hitting Look at Pastoral Ministry
Review: If you are considering the ordained ministry, "Pastor" will either reinforce your call or knock you to your senses. Willimon examines both the theology and praxis of the pastoral role. He examines the traditional images of pastor and draws a clear and challenging picture of the ordained minister in the context of the counter-cultural mission of the church.

Co-author of "Resident Aliens," Willimon bases his understanding of the pastor on the assumption that the church's role is to proclaim a radical new reality. He calls us to expand our view of evangelism and conversion beyond the altar call to that of "the destruction and reconstruction of worlds." (p. 231) Specifically, he means, the destruction of a world formed by secular or pagan thought to one created by the proclamation of scripture. The purpose, he says, is to form a prophetic community that dares to speak the truth in love - both to one another and to society.

Willimon confronts the difficulties of pastoral ministry. It is not for the faint-hearted. The Good News, he says, is both attractive and repulsive. He describes the pastor's duty to preach boldly despite human ambivalence regarding their desire to be free of "the sin that clings so closely." (Hebrews 12:1)

I found this job description of shaping a robust community that builds up each other in truth and speaks prophetically to the world to be exciting and challenging. It is a ministry of the Word and Sacrament in its fullest sense - in that we are forming people by the Word to be sacramental signs and symbols to the world in which we live.

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Summary: Review of Willimon's book "Pastor"
Review: This was one of the best pastoral books I have read. Willimon's book contains great depth while at the same time explaining what may be difficult theological language for those who have not studied at seminary. His vision of the church as a community of accountability striving toward a focus on God's kingdom is exactly the vision of the church given to us in the Bible. Willimon gives us practical ways in which we can carry this mission out. He does not water down the gospel, but also leaves room for human sinfulness. This is a must-read for all pastors- giving us back the vision of the way the church should be and a reminder about why we're in this ministry to begin with!

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Summary: Finding an Identity
Review: Willimon's Pastor is a very thorough and comprehensive look at ordained ministry, from the calling itself to preaching, pastoral care, and leading worship. Finding a pastoral identity these days is difficult, and I found of particular interest his study of the various images held in our culture of what/who a pastor is (executive, therapist, preacher, etc.) and his suggestions for a new image, an image that, whatever it is, needs to be decidedly countercultural, classical, and able to critically asses needs around them.
I enjoyed Willimon's incorporation of the lives and teachings of a good number of the Christian giants on whose shoulders we stand (Augustine, Baxter, Luther,etc). In an age where pastors are trying to explore the newest technique and model to reach a people who are trying to inundate themselves in the novelties of this world, it seems to me that old ways are often the best ways, and Willimon is wise to point the reader to a more classical direction with a mind to apply it to today's world. However, as comprehensive and thorough as Pastor is, it perhaps might be a bit too thorough in that it is not concise, and Willimon says in 330 pages what would better serve pastors if he said it in 200.
In following Willimon's classical references, I would strongly recommend a pastor take some time to read Richard Baxter's The Reformed Pastor as a shining example of tried and true Gospel pastoring and ministry.