Death of a Pastor

Yes, I'm already plugging my book. Yes, I'm energized and challenged by the thought of creating something for God's Kingdom. Yes, I'm using you for testing grounds. However, I hope that my thoughts, humbly penned, will guide you and direct you to a truer understanding of not just who you are, but who you can become.
Death of a Pastor is simple. I have been challenged by many colleagues and various Churches to elaborate on what I believe to be the single biggest challenge facing the church in this century. Often I find myself spouting off the talking points as if I was going on Bill O'Reilly. My thoughts would automatically lead me to mention topics such as the irrelevance of the traditional church to today's culture, or the moral and ethical decline in America. I must admit I caught myself in a political battle because I believed the next President would greatly shape the Church's future.
I could supply you with endless babble from the so-called "traditionalists". They continue to pour out the "Sunday School" answers left and right. "What we need more is for people to get back into "OUR" church." "We just don't pray enough." "You can't teach the youth of today anything."
God I believe has a different opinion. As I search the scripture I can't help but recognize our dependence upon true leaders. I'm not talking about Presidential leaders, but spiritual leaders that shape and guide our moral and ethical compass. Scripture drives this point home over and over from Moses to Elijah, from Joseph to Joshua, Peter to Paul.
There are far too many Pastors in America's churches. We marry, bury, and babysit. We appease and appeal, often finding no ground to stand on when those we "Pastor" abandon our challenges and Visions for the Church. The churches biggest challenge is figuring out how to kill the Pastor and resurrect a Leader. A leader after God's own heart, a leader that is emboldened enough to challenge the paradigms. To break away from the traditional Pastor/flock relationship and move a congregation of believers to pastor each other and avoid at all costs the lukewarm church of Revelations. I, as a sojourner, desire to kill the pastor, and resurrect a leader.