The crisis in church leadership and the Bible : addressing issues in the practical theology of church leadership through the exegesis of selected portions of the Epistle to Titus

Abstract

The 21st century is marked by the widespread influence of post-modernism and the relativisation of truth. As such, confidence in the truth of Scripture is flagging, and nowhere is this felt more, ironically, than in the appointment and the working of pastors of the Word of God. Movements such as the historical Jesus research abroad, and the so-called “New Reformation” in South Africa, are calling into question long-held tenets of the Christian faith, as well as the inerrant nature of the Bible. The failing trust in the Scripture has also led to a diminished reliance on exposition of the Bible. This again relates to the training of pastors, as theological training today is marked by greater disdain for biblical subjects and a threatening rift between practical theology and biblical exposition. The aim of this study is to demonstrate how the trend might be countered, by applying an exposition of portions of the book of Titus relevant to the selection, appoint, and task of the pastor, to the current situation as it exists today. The exposition focused on the following excerpts from the epistle: 1:1–2:8, 3:12–15. The pastor was discussed as the exemplification of the Church elder, but it was also noted that all that applies to the pastor, equally applies to all elders of the Church. Emphasis was laid on the character of the pastor, the biblical requirements for the ministry, the appointment of pastors, the biblically mandated task of the pastor, the role of the pastor in defending and teaching sound doctrine, and how the teaching of the pastor is to filter down through the congregation, through the older men to the younger men, the older women to the younger women, and how a general ethos of relational ministry is to pervade the mindset of the whole Church (pastor and congregants) in all that they do. Through the exposition, it is seen that biblical exposition is still relevant, and has a role to play in all spheres of life and theology, including practical theological concerns such as the appointment and task of pastors.