I'm really enjoying this book as I learn about the importance of pastoral shepherding, the history of eldership, and the practical application of Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 5:1-4.
One anecdote that I wanted to share on our blog was the story of Dr. Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), one of the most renowned and influential Presbyterian minister in Scotland.
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| Dr. Thomas Chalmers |
"Thomas Chalmers truly had the heart of a shepherd. At that time it was not uncommon for those who shepherded rural congregations to visit their families annually: 'It is the acknowledged duty and in rural districts the general practice of clergymen of the Established Church of Scotland to make an annual visitation of their parishes, when every house is entered and the general condition of each family as to education and church attendance is ascertained.'
When Chalmers became pastor of the Tron church in Glasgow he understood that personal shepherding ministry was not merely something for the rural population but for the city as well...Therefore, he set out to visit every family in his parish personally. 'Its population was not exactly known, but it was believed to contain somewhere between eleven and twelve thousand souls. To visit every family of such a population within a year or two was a Herculean task, yet Dr. Chalmers was resolved to accomplish it.'"
(11,000 or 12,000 souls. WOW!!!! Unbelievable. I don't know how Dr. Chalmers did it, but this is real commitment to pastoral shepherding.)
"Needless to say, the visits were very brief, surprisingly allowing no time even for a prayer. On one occasion a dear old widow pleaded for a prayer to which Chalmers replied, 'If I were to pray in every house I enter, it would take me ten years to get through the work.' His visits consisted of a series of brief but pointed questions as to the state of church attendance and education in the family.
Early in his ministry at the Tron he realized that his success would require the active involvement of his elders. This was not going to be an easy transition for many of them. 'Some of the elders of the Tron Church were excellent men, but their chief duty was to stand at the plate, receive the free-will offerings of the congregation as they entered, and distribute them to the poor by a monthly allowance.' Under Chalmer's leadership, they were going to do more than "stand at the plate." In order to accomplish the "Herculean" task of caring for the people, the city was divided into parishes, each having at least one elder and one deacon. He developed the shepherding skills of his elders by taking them along when he visited people in their district.
Here is a picture of Chalmers on visitation with an elder:
'Well,' he [Chalmers] said, looking kindly over the shoulder upon his elder, who, scarcely able to keep pace with him was toiling up a long and weary stair, 'Well, what do you think of this kind of visiting?' Engrossed with the toils of the ascent, the elder announced that he had not been thinking much about it. 'Oh! I know quite well,' said Dr. Chalmers, 'that if you were to speak your mind, you would say that we are putting the butter very thinly upon the bread.'"
I hope you all enjoyed reading this section from the Shepherd Leader. Timothy Witmer goes on to say that from Dr. Chalmer's diary, we know that he would see 230 church members in one day! How he was able to do these visitations and still prepare sermons is beyond me. But it encouraging to know that God still raises up these mighty shepherds for His people! Praise God for His faithful provision of shepherd leaders for His Church, and may you and I be faithful in supporting the church leaders God has given us.
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