Pastor’s Corner Aug 2007 (Pastor Yip)

Pastor’s Corner                                                                                 Pastor Yip  

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.  But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”   Eccl 4:9, 11-12

 

                This passage brings out the importance of having co-laborers working together as a team.  As our church becomes more multi-congregational with a diversity of languages and cultures I am more convinced that only a team of pastoral staff with diverse backgrounds and gifts working in unity of heart and purpose can meet the needs and lead the church to grow spiritually.  I am very thankful that the Lord has brought such a team together in our church.  Not only do we serve together, we also eat together (very important!) and share and laugh together.  This teamwork has led me to reconsider my role of being the senior pastor.  Traditionally a senior pastor is regarded as a CEO with the other pastoral staff working under him and for him.  There are strengths and weaknesses in this model; but we the pastoral staff are not working in this way.  So after a prolonged time of prayerful consideration I want to clarify my role as that of a team leader of the pastoral staff rather than as the CEO-type of senior pastor.  As a team we make decisions on major issues together.  We emphasize open communication, participation, and shared leadership.  Each staff is accountable not to me but to the whole team and to the church through the Board.  Consequently my job description is as follows:

1.             Be the team leader of the pastoral staff and coordinate the whole ministry of the church.

2.             Mentor and develop the pastoral staff.

3.             Preach and teach.

Furthermore, in order to devote more time to mission my ministry for the church will be cut to 2/3 full-time as of September this year.

                On a more personal note, as my son goes to university Mrs. Yip and I have moved from a house to an apartment so as to escape the drudgery of shuffling snow and mowing the lawn.  What a relief!

Staff News

After being with us for a year as an intern serving in the young teens ministry of GCGCNY and PGC Sam Sham will leave us in August to devote more time to his study.  Oliver Gan, the Mandarin intern, will also leave us in September after a faithful ministry in preaching, teaching, and among the young people.  May the Lord continue to guide them in their future ministry.  Welcome to Mrs. Carolyn Lee will join us as an assistant (not intern) to Pastor Lee to look after the children fellowship in September. 

  牧者心聲                                                                                  葉牧師

兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。再者，二人同睡就都暖和，一人獨睡怎能暖和呢？有人攻勝孤身一人，若有二人便能敵擋他；三股合成的繩子不容易折斷。  傳道書4 ﹕9 ﹐11-12

 

這段經文讓我們看見同工以團隊方式一同工作的重要性。當我們的教會逐漸發展成多堂會會眾﹐需兼顧多語言及文化的同時﹐我愈更深信﹕唯有透過一隊來自不同背景和擁有不同恩賜﹐又能同心合意﹐懷著同一目標合力服侍的教牧同工團隊﹐才能滿足各方面的需要﹐並且帶領教會靈命不斷成長。我十分感謝神賜給我們教會現在的同工團隊。我們不但一同事奉﹐也一同用膳(這實在很重要)﹐彼此分享﹐一同歡笑﹗這隊工使我再思自己作為主任牧師的角色。過往一貫的傳統﹐主任牧師被視為行政總裁﹐而其他的同工則是在他以下﹐協助他工作。這個模式有其長處短處﹐但我們的同工隊卻不是這樣運作﹗  所以﹐經過一段長時間的禱告考慮後﹐我想澄清我的角色﹕不是一個行政總裁﹐而是一個同工隊伍的領袖。作為同工隊伍﹐我們一起議決重要的議題。我們著重的是開放的溝通﹐參與﹐和分享領導。每一位教牧同工不是是向我問責﹐而是向整個教牧團隊﹐及執事會問責。故此我的工作內容如下﹕

 

1. 作為教牧同工隊伍的領袖﹐統籌全教會的事工。
2. 作為教牧同工的屬靈導師﹐培養他們的事工和生命
3. 講道和教導

 

再者﹐為了擺上更多時間在宣教上﹐在9月開始﹐我在教會的事工將會減少至2/3時間。個人方面﹐隨著我的兒子已進入大學﹐師母和我已經從獨立屋搬遷往一個柏文單位﹐不再歲要常為剪草掃雪而操勞﹐實在舒了一口氣﹗

 

同工消息

 

經過一年在恩典堂及萬民堂中少年事工實習的Sam Sham弟兄﹐將離開我們繼續他的學業。另外﹐國語堂的實習傳道甘濟碩弟兄將在9月份完成他在我們當中忠沙的傳道和教導事工。願神繼續賜福及帶領他們未來的服侍。

我們亦歡迎Carolyn Lee姊妹在9月份開始協助(非實習) 李傳道照顧兒童事工。