OKLAHOMA CITY (BP) – By Tuesday, Sept. 16, Todd Fisher’s inbox told him that pastors were struggling with how to approach the latest cultural hinge point.
Folks were upset, they told Oklahoma Baptists’ state executive. The pastor had mentioned Charlie Kirk’s death in his sermon … or he hadn’t mentioned his name directly … or he hadn’t mentioned anything at all.
“I lost count,” Fisher told Baptist Press. “It prompted me to make a post because I realized what a widespread issue this was. And the guys were taken aback by what they heard. They were surprised as well.”
The post generated nearly 100 comments from those like Fisher’s Alabama peer, Rick Lance, alongside 200 shares. As they share the Gospel, how are pastors to address a current issue on the level of Kirk’s assassination without introducing division? Is it even possible to do so?
Wading into such topics, no matter how clear-cut they may seem to a congregation, is almost certain to bring disagreement from some members. That’s the reality for pastors even as 80 percent of churchgoers say they want him to talk about current issues from the pulpit.
Fisher thinks many pastors weren’t aware of the cultural sway Kirk had with church members, and thus how hard his death hit.
“They didn’t understand the breadth and depth of his influence, especially among younger members,” Fisher said. “It caught them off guard. I’d guess about 70 percent of the pastors who contacted me had members upset because he didn’t say enough.”
The “not enough” came partially from pastors mentioning distressing times in the country or something similar, but not mentioning Kirk by name. The other 30 percent felt Kirk didn’t need to be mentioned at all.
“Pastors are put in these no-win situations where it doesn’t matter the decision they make, they’re going to upset somebody. That’s just kind of the picture we have going today. Things are complex and our culture so polarized,” said Fisher.
The last five-plus years have contained many such points for pastors. Stress from leading a church during COVID led about half of pastors to consider leaving the ministry. Those predictions ultimately didn’t materialize, but challenges in the ministry remain when it comes to those types of events.
“It’s difficult for pastors to navigate,” Fisher said.
He encourages pastors to build a team now that will help them navigate such times with support and feedback. It could be staff. But in many, if not most, churches the pastor may be the only staff member. Secure feedback while not underestimating your own understanding of your people.
“One thing I share with pastors is that they are the under-shepherd of the local church,” said Fisher, who has 30 years of pastoral ministry experience. “Build on your knowledge of your congregation. Craft your response on what’s going to help, console, encourage and give them wisdom while staying focused on the Gospel.”
Cultural issues that accompanied COVID had a benefit in showing pastors the importance of leaning on others.
“In situations like this, leaders in the church are very instrumental. They can help the pastor know he’s not on an island, making the decisions by himself,” said Fisher. “I think we learned that from the pandemic. You have to make these incredibly difficult decisions, and we started the practice of reaching out to others in the church for help.”
Church members are central in the process, of course. They were the central audience Fisher addressed in his Facebook post, after all.
“Pastors are people,” he said. “It’s difficult for others to know what it’s like being in the first chair, to grasp and understand how hard it is to make those decisions while keeping things focused on the gospel mission of the church and moving the church forward. Pastors, in general, want to lead from consensus. They want to build unity in the church, but that isn’t always going to happen when you make decisions that upset some people.
“There’s no reason to call your pastor a name or treat him with disrespect. That’s just kind of cruel.”
The burden spreads, he added, to the pastor’s wife and children. “I just wish people understood the gravity and full ramifications when you treat your pastor like that,” Fisher said.
“I would encourage pastors to keep everything focused on the Gospel,” he added. “God has called you to be a pastor. It can be a difficult task at times, but God is going to give you the wisdom and provision you need to do what He’s called you to do.”