CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACKET - Ryan Fields

MY ASPIRATION: I believe that pastoral leadership is best provided by a team of pastors and elders caring for and overseeing the flock together. Such leadership, shaped by the gospel, might be best described as “leadership from below,” following Jesus’s teaching (Matt. 20:24 ‐ 28) and example (John 13:1 ‐ 17) that in the kingdom leadership and greatness means service and humility. I thus strive by God’s grace and the Spirit’s empowerment to practice servant leadership that seeks to know others, love others, and lead them toward greater maturity and flourishing in Christ. This is ultimately so that the congregation I serve can better be about the work of ministry set before them. Indeed, I believe that the biblical vision is that the elders give vision and oversight to a church’s ministry, the deacons and church staff facilitate that ministry, and the congregation as a whole does the ministry (Rom. 12:4 ‐ 6, 1 Cor. 12:4 ‐ 6, Eph. 4:11 ‐ 16). I thus aspire to help the church better grasp and live out this biblical vision as part of the wisdom found in Christ. Toward that end I watch that my life and doctrine increasingly conform to the gospel (1 Tim. 4:16), for the life of the world, the good of God’s people, and glory of God. How do you view your involvement with various age groups within the church? A pastor is a shepherd for the entire flock of God, not just for a portion of it. While of course there will be various areas of responsibility that the pastors of a church will distribute based on gifting and job description, I believe it is very important that pastors feel a responsibility for the entire congregation and that every segment of the congregation feels known and cared for by its pastors (not just one particular pastor). In that way I think the senior pastor should interface with ministry to the various age groups of the church. This could mean dropping in on a children's Sunday school class, shooting hoops with the youth before or after their Sunday evening gathering, showing up at an on-campus event where there will be college students from the church, hosting a dinner for young married couples, teaching a class on the joys and challenges of parenting little ones, visiting a small group that has a good amount of "empty nesters," being very intentional to greet retirees on Sunday morning, going to visit the elderly in their homes or in the hospital as needed. I believe strongly in inter-generational ministry. When the various generations share the wealth of what they have and are experiencing with other generations, there is often growth in Christ and a building of relationships that goes beyond merely peer relationships. It is partly the responsibility of the senior pastor to see that this is happening within the church community. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Describe your expectations and philosophy of team relationships within a multiple-staff environment? The senior pastor must be an evident shepherd leader skilled in mentoring others and equipping God’s people for gospel ministry. Doing this well means being a "team player" who loves working with people and is able to delegate and coach in accomplishing goals. The "teams" of the elders and the staff are absolutely critical in this regard, and the senior pastor's professional and relational responsibilities should center around these two teams

9