District versus Church Pastors

In the early years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, God's people made no plans for church pastors as we know them today. As the infant church developed, the ministers itinerated between the little companies of believers, bringing inspiration and understanding to the precious souls. However, as churches began to multiply, and the congregations began to increase, a desire naturally arose to have full-time gospel workers associated with these churches . . . . As would be expected, some of those in the new Adventist Church looked to pattern the work of the Seventh-day Adventist ministry after the churches from which they had come. But Sister White insisted that the role of the minister, as in apostolic times, was to move into new territories in order to enter into front-line evangelism where the message was non-existent or particularly weak.

Instead of keeping the ministers at work for the churches that already know the truth, let the members of the churches say to these laborers: "Go work for souls that are perishing in darkness. We ourselves will carry forward the services of the church. We will keep up the meetings, and, by abiding in Christ, will maintain spiritual life. We will work for souls that are about us, and we will send our prayers and our gifts to sustain the laborers in more needy and destitute fields." Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 30

As a general rule, the conference laborers should go out from the churches into new fields, using their God-given ability to a purpose in seeking and saving the lost. Evangelism, p. 382

If the ministers would get out of the way, if they would go forth into new fields, the members would be obliged to bear responsibilities, and their capabilities would increase by use. Ibid.

Thus, the early Seventh-day Adventist church began to develop district pastors. These were not district pastors as we understand them today--pastors in charge of two or more churches--but rather pastors who were each appointed to an area in which to conduct evangelistic meetings. It became common for the conferences to divide their territories up into districts and to appoint a pastor to proclaim the Word in each district.

We can speak from the experience that we had in the Hamilton Church in Newcastle, Australia. The pastor appointed to our district would preach once a month in our church. However, it was most extraordinary for the pastor to attend a business meeting or a board meeting, and certainly he took no part in a nominating committee. This is true even if he and his family had become members of our church. The pastor kept too busy in soul-winning endeavors and in Bible studies to spend time in an activity that the laity of the church could wholly and more effectively handle themselves. This practice was in harmony with Sister White's counsel,

Not a few ministers are neglecting the very work that they have been appointed to do. Why are those who are set apart for the work of the ministry placed on committees and boards? Why are they called upon to attend so many business meetings, many times at great distance from their fields of labor? Why are not business matters placed in the hands of businessmen? The ministers have not been set apart to do this work. The finances of the cause are to be properly managed by men of ability, but ministers are set apart for another line of work. Let the management of financial matters rest on others than those ordained to the ministry.

Ministers are not to be called hither and thither to attend board meetings for the purpose of deciding common business questions. Many of our ministers have done this work in the past, but it is not the work in which the Lord wishes them to engage. Too many financial burdens have been placed on them. When they try to carry these burdens, they neglect to fulfill the gospel commission. God looks upon this as a dishonor to His name. Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, pp. 254, 255

The world is to be warned. Ministers should work earnestly and devotedly, opening new fields and engaging in personal labor for souls, instead of hovering over the churches that already have great light and many advantages. Ibid., p. 255

The above was excerpted from Organizational Structure and Apostasy, by Colin and Russell Standish, pages 65-66.