Listen carefully to the metaphors people use in regards to ministry. They can tell you a lot about a person’s style of leadership, belief about Church structure, evangelism, etc. They seem innocuous enough, but they speak volumes in many ways.
I have been involved in some interesting discussions recently and a certain question has been bantered about.
“Are you a shepherd or a rancher?”
This is a question that many of us have been struggling with.
What does that mean? We can go in a lot of different directions. But what we come up with I believe has many implications for what kind of leader we are and want to be, and what we believe about ministry and the congregation.
Dictionary Definitions:
Shepherding: To herd, guard, tend, or guide as or in the manner of a shepherd.
Ranching: To manage or work on a ranch.
I can tease this out more, but I’m going to be posting more extensively on this issue.
But let me ask you a few questions:
- What are your initial thoughts, observations on that question?
- Do you see yourself as a rancher or shepherd?
- Is one preferable over the other? Why or why not?
I will then pick up on this issue later in the week.
