The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction

By Eugene H. Peterson

Any pastor who needs and wants to get back to basics will do well to absorb this book. Eugene Peterson, well known as "a pastor's pastor," here speaks words of wisdom and refreshment for pastors caught in the busyness of preaching, teaching, and "running the church."

In The Contemplative Pastor Peterson highlights the often-overlooked essentials of ministry, first by redefining the meaning of pastor through three strengthening adjectives: unbusy, subversive, andapocalyptic. The main part of the book focuses on pastoral ministry and spiritual direction "between Sundays": these chapters begin with poetic reflections on the Beatitudes and then discuss such themes as curing souls, praying with eyes open, the language of prayer, the ministry of small talk, and sabbatical--all with engaging, illustrative anecdotes from Peterson's own experience.

The book ends with several meaning-full poems that pivot on the incarnation, the doctrine closest to pastoral work. Entitled "The Word Made Fresh," this concluding section is a felicitous finale to Peterson's discerning, down-to-earth reflections on the art of pastoring.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Release date: Oct 22, 1993
• ISBN: 9781467418874

Eugene H. Peterson

Eugene H. Peterson (1932–2018) was a pastor, scholar, author, and poet. He wrote more than thirty books, including his widely acclaimed paraphrase of the Bible, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language, his memoir, The Pastor, and the bestselling spiritual formation classic A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. Peterson was founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland, where he served for twenty-nine years before retiring in 1991. With degrees from Seattle Pacific, New York Theological Seminary, and Johns Hopkins University, he served as professor of spiritual theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, until retiring in Lakeside, Montana, in 2006.

Book preview

REDEFINITIONS

I

The Naked Noun

If I, even for a moment, accept my culture’s definition of me, I am rendered harmless.

AHEALTHY noun doesn’t need adjectives. Adjectives clutter a noun that is robust. But if the noun is culture-damaged or culture-diseased, adjectives are necessary.

Pastor used to be that kind of noun — energetic and virile. I have always loved the sound of the word. From an early age, the word called to mind a person who was passionate for God and compassionate with people. And even though the pastors I knew did not embody those characteristics, the word itself held its own against its exemplars. Today still, when people ask me what I want to be called, I always say, Pastor.

But when I observe the way the vocation of pastor is lived out in America and listen to the tone and context in which the word pastor is spoken, I realize that what I hear in the word and what others hear is very different. In general usage, the noun is weak, defined by parody and diluted by opportunism. The need for strengthening adjectives is critical.

I find I have to exercise this adjectival rehabilitation constantly, redefining by refusing the definitions of pastor that the culture hands me, and reformulating my life with the insights and images of Scripture. The culture treats me so amiably! It encourages me to maintain my orthodox creed; it commends me for my evangelical practice; it praises me for my singular devotion. All it asks is that I accept its definition of my work as an encourager of the culture’s good will, as the priest who will sprinkle holy water on the culture’s good intentions. Many of these people are my friends. None, that I am aware of, is consciously malign.

But if I, even for a moment, accept my culture’s definition of me, I am rendered harmless. I can denounce evil and stupidity all I wish and will be tolerated in my denunciations as a court jester is tolerated. I can organize their splendid goodwill and they will let me do it, since it is only for weekends.

The essence of being a pastor begs for redefinition. To that end, I offer three adjectives to clarify the noun: unbusy, subversive, apocalyptic.

II

The Unbusy Pastor

How can I persuade a person to live by faith and not by works if I have to juggle my schedule constantly to make everything fit into place?

THE ONE piece of mail certain to go unread into my wastebasket is the letter addressed to the busy pastor. Not that the phrase doesn’t describe me at times, but I refuse to give my attention to someone who encourages what is worst in

Reviews for The Contemplative Pastor

[cbradley_77 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Eugene Peterson’s The Contemplative Pastor introduces several ideas on how to have a rewarding ministry while addressing the tension between the expectations of the pastor and the role the pastor needs to have in ministry. Peterson proposes a pastor that is almost countercultural to the recognized idea of pastor. This view of the pastor both reaches back into the tradition for examples on how the pastor is supposed to live in the community of the church while at the same time providing a way to do that in the modern day church.

[nathanshaver_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The work of ministry is rapidly changing along with our culture. Eugene Peterson sensed the influence of business models, marketing, and gimmick on the church late in the last century. He takes us on a walk to consider our roles as Pastors and how we remain faithful to shepherding souls and teaching them to center on God. This book is an outstanding primer for any one considering the ministry, but would do every pastor good to reflectively take this journey with Peterson every other year if not every year. He is reminding us and calling us to remain faithful to the call to Direct souls to God!

[gthurman-401864 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've known about Peterson for years, but am just now getting around to reading him. Phenomenal stuff that I'm looking forward to digesting as I get further into reading.