Well seeing as you all are members of the "priesthood of believers" then you have a responsibility to do all those things.
Read the Acts of the Apostles. It clearly shows how all these duties were distributed.
At least that is what this Catholic has been told by a number of his separated Brethren on numerous occasions.
Personally I believe that any one that has the ability to get an M. Div. is worthy of my respect even if he is not a member of my faith. On the other hand the guys that rent a store front and a couple hundred folding chairs for "Bob's House O' god", not so much.
>>Personally I believe that any one that has the ability to get an M. Div. is worthy of my respect even if he is not a member of my faith. On the other hand the guys that rent a store front and a couple hundred folding chairs for “Bob’s House O’ god”, not so much.
With all other things being equal, I agree. But add on 20 years to that M.Div and many pastors become lazy and jaded. They are simply tired of serving. Many, especially in the UMC where pastors are “sent” by the Bishop, think that they have failed in their career because they are serving a congregation of less than 200. But, this is their career and their retirement is tied up in that denomination. To quit at age 50 with no other degree and little practical experience in the world of business just isn’t practical.
So, they serve and count the years to retirement with more of a civil servant attitude than that of an actual servant.
Bob can quit whenever he wants and go back to selling shoes or working in the factory.