I want to clear something up.
Some on the blogosphere are referring to me as “Pastor” Carlos Shelton. I do pastor/teach at my church and am on the leadership team. I have not been given the title “Pastor” though I have pastored while doing my church plant and also have been a Youth Pastor.
I do not take the title of office as it is being applied to me because it has not officially been given to me yet.
Pastoring is a gift where one gently loves and guides the people in the congregation. Many people who are not even in the “leadership” role can have the gift of pastor and also love and guide and others. Ephesians 4: 11-13 states:
11. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12. to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13. until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Notice the phrase "It was he who gave"? God gave these people as a gift and gifted them so do this work and service for the Body of Christ. It is not a "title of authority" though most denominations do use it that way.
I am a Pastor, but again do not take that as a title of office, but as a gift. To apply it to me as a title as Ingrid and Pastorboy do is not accurate.
I am ordained, but because some thought the organization I was ordained through was not “legit” to their specification I rarely mention it anymore. But, since I am not officially been instated by the Vineyard Denomination as a “Pastor” in title, I hope that those referring to me as such will stop as it misrepresents me and what I do.
Thanks,
iggy
7 comments:
Thanks Pastor Iggy ...
:-)
I just wanted to say hello since I haven't commented in forever and all I could think of was something stupid ... I gotta get better.
Oh ... and best wishes getting rid of the title.
I am hoping to get rid of it, I hope to earn it.
It is Ingrid and John Chisham who seem to want to bestow me with the official title. I'd rather Vineyard do that as they acknowledge I am already operating in that "gift".
= )
iggy
At least Mrs. Schlueter removed the quotation marks from "pastor" this time when she referred to me.
Such grace!
Her whole post on us was so loving and gracious and merciful...
You could tell that it was not personal with her at all!
; )
I mean if she will attack Ray Comfort she will attack anyone.
iggy
How did you get from Carlos Shelton to Iggy?
DP,
It is a rather boring story...
i started an online radio station and needed a DJ name. I also had an iguana named Phenix (who died).
I thought iggy would be a cool DJ name... and found it easier to type than Carlos.
I also used it way back when chat forums were just taking off. I would hangout and witness to vampires and answer bible questions. "iggy" also means "to ignore" in chat lingo. So to iggy someone is to ignore them. People thought that was cool... = )
So over the years since 1998 (I think) I have called myself iggy.
Blessings,
Carlos
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