Therefore, my dear Friends, keep your watch everyone in your hearts continually, that you may not be betrayed from that pure life, that yields virtue unto your souls, and nourishes up unto eternal life. —John Burnyeat

Questions: Is your church/meeting a safe and supportive place for those trapped in systems of poverty? Does your church/meeting treat each other as family? In what ways does your church/meeting already embody the characteristics Paul describes in 1 Timothy 6:11? How might your community improve in this area? What does it mean to serve Jesus as King, according to this passage? Which of these is most difficult for you?

I’ve been a pastor among Friends for over thirty-five years. It is an honor to serve the church for the sake of Christ. Yet like any vocation, it has its ups and downs.

What is different about pastoring among Friends as compared to other denominations? Much is the same: pastoral care for people’s well-being and spiritual health, preaching biblical messages that offer practical application, and administrative support for the structures of the church.

What are the particularities for Friends pastors? Well, there is a leadership dance. It’s not really true that Quakers don’t dance! We run into such questions as, who really has oversight? Who has the responsibility of decision-making? How do you listen to the Spirit and to everyone else and make solid decisions? The church is a team, but pastors at various times are a coach, general manager, one of the players, a cheerleader, or equipment manager. Pastors can get too much credit or too much blame. Whether you are from a pastoral or nonpastoral meeting, you have leaders. It takes intentional discernment to find a balance for your church family when it comes to living, learning, and growing together, led by the Spirit.

Paul’s teaching on leadership can rub Quakers the wrong way, appearing too male and too authoritarian. It may even lead to pastors being paid too much! (1 Timothy 5:17). I remember being interviewed at a church, and one dear elder jokingly said, “You stay humble, and we’ll keep you poor.” He actually became one of my favorite people! This hard-working and kind man was always ready at a moment’s notice to help with any need of our family.

Historically, Friends have been cautious about pastors becoming too high and mighty. Paul’s advice to not be hasty in appointing people to leadership (1 Timothy 5:22) may help us avoid some pitfalls. Friends’ values of spiritual maturity, equality, integrity, and the ministry of all believers are essential and should go beyond the circle of Friends. Christ is the true Shepherd of the church, after all.

I appreciate Paul’s counsel to look at the church like a family where we don’t speak harshly to others, we respect those who have walked the path longer than ourselves, we have a bond of love, and we learn to be honest even when it means confronting bad behavior. Timothy had a big task to lead in a time of challenge. The same is true today.

–Paul Almquist in “Friendly Perspective” from 1, 2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon; 1, 2, 3 John: The Jesus Movement