On Jan. 25, North Hills RP Church in Pittsburgh celebrated Pastor Harry Metzger’s 25th anniversary as their teaching elder. Over 10 percent of RPCNA churches have a pastor who has served his congregation at least that long, and several other congregations have pastors who have served over 20 years. Recently the Witness interviewed Pastor Metzger along with Pastor Phil Pockras (40 years at Belle Center, Ohio, RPC) and Pastor David Coon (45 years at White Lake, N.Y., RPC) about the blessings and challenges of a long pastorate.

Is a long pastorate something you sought? Why or why not?

Harry Metzger: I do not think that I necessarily sought a long pastorate, but I simply believed that if I could remain faithful, and continue to grow in my faith and ministry skills, a long pastorate would be the likely outcome.

Philip Pockras: Only eight years into coming to Belle Center in 1985, Harold Harrington was about to retire from Rose Point. I was urged by several people there to candidate. I had been the associate pastor there before taking on New Castle and then Belle Center.  All of my wife, Judy’s, family were there.  Harold had been my pastor when I was a student at Westminster Seminary and he was then the minister at Broomall RPC.

I asked him when he thought it would be time to move along from Belle Center. He gave me two simple questions:  Do you think that you’ve come to a point that you think your work is done there?  Is it time for someone else to lead Belle Center to further faithfulness? In my mind and heart, the answer to both questions was a pretty hard no.  So I never candidated there or anywhere else.

David Coon: I first arrived in White Lake in September 1978 as part of a 2-year “sink or swim” project with support from the Coldenham-Newburgh congregation. Prior to that, White Lake Mission Station had only summer preaching from seminary students for the previous decade; however, with the recent arrival of a young covenant family in the area, prospects of a new work arose. I was there to explore that possibility. At the end of that period, we would either continue the work or close it. Who knew that, with God’s blessing, the support of Coldenham-Newburgh congregation, and the prayers of a host of people, the emerging White Lake congregation would surpass that of the previous mission station.

What factors were part of your decision to stay in one congregation long-term?

HM: Obviously, the call of God was the reason I stayed in the North Hills congregation for 25 years. Although there were a few opportunities to serve in other places, I never felt the clear call to move on to another congregation, nor did the elders believe that it was time for a change. It has been a blessing to serve here and the people, including the elders and deacons, have been very kind to my family and me.

PP: Besides matters in my previous answer, there were several factors.  My wife loves it here. My sons, now 38 and 34, have a real hometown, not the commonest experience for PKs. We have lots of ties here now, and many opportunities for ministry. And God is continuing to bless my work here.

DC: I remained in White Lake on the basis that God would continue to bless the ministry there. This was confirmed in the lives of the White Lake members by their personal and corporate growth in biblical understanding, in Christian nurture and service to others. Even now, as I reach “retirement age,” I continue to serve, resting upon the Spirit’s leading and provision until His blessing of another man to continue the work.

With a long pastorate, what are the benefits to you and to the congregation?

HM: The long pastorate allowed me to develop deeper relationships and deeper trust. A long pastorate also allows for more of the pastor’s vision and passions to be realized in the church and in the lives of the people. Part of a pastor’s goal should be to “impart” his life to others (see 1 Thess. 2:8.). I do not believe this is something easily accomplished in a few years.

There is also less stress from longer pastorates. I clearly remember gathering with my family in the living room of our house in the Chicago area, my first pastorate. After all of our furniture was out of the house and the cars were packed. We were preparing to leave to move to Pittsburgh. We formed a circle to pray. The tears that my wife, my children, and I shed are very distinctly recalled even to this day. We were leaving dear people who had invested in our lives, and we had invested in their lives. I think it would have been very difficult to have done that several times in my career.

For the church, a long pastorate allows for consistency and stability and develops greater trust. The congregation also knows the pastor and his gifts and weaknesses. The church can more easily adapt for these, knowing that the pastor is not likely to leave soon. In addition, more intimate, loving, and committed relationships are formed over time.

PP: There is the blessing of seeing children you’ve baptized growing in godliness, getting married, having their own children, and so on, to yet another generation.  I baptized grandchildren of a man I baptized by profession of faith.  There is the blessing of networking in the community that can’t really be done in a few short years.  I have served (using the Explanatory Declaration!) on village council. I have served families in other congregations at times when their own minister was away or unavailable.  I serve as part of the chaplain staff at our local hospital and have gotten to see it move from a local hospital to more of a regional health center.  The congregation gets continuity of pastorate without long times of vacancy, an increasing difficult situation within our Synod.

DC: You get to know the people, so their strengths and weaknesses can be addressed in preaching, teaching, and pastoral care. You can bond with the elders and deacons to work together as a team to multiply and enhance your efforts. The long view enables you to see the fruit of your labor within and outside the congregation. My teaching career in the community for over 30 years expanded our opportunity to get to know and be known by many families in the community. This facilitated interaction with them as they participated in our after-school Bible club, youth group, programs at White Lake Covenanter Camp, Shepherd’s Pantry, small groups, and Senior Lunch. The White Lake church is known in the community as a center that loves Jesus and wants to share His love.

In those inevitable instances of church conflict or tension, what strengthened you and the church?

HM: Thankfully, I’ve not experienced a lot of tension or conflict in the church, but in the couple of times that I did, I think that knowing that I was committed to the people and that the elders and others in the church were committed to me was very helpful.

PP: I was trusted, and people knew that I loved them.  At the same time, I made mistakes, largely those of omission.  People knew me and knew that it was not of neglect or apathy, but weakness.  As I continued to work here, more and more I experienced much love in return.

DC: The strength of our maturing relationships within the session has been a great resource in dealing with church conflict and tension. Taking time to talk through issues is time well spent. There were times when we did not agree but we sought to resolve disagreements in a Christ-honoring and brotherly way. People were able to set aside personal preferences for the sake of the unity of the body. We also utilized resources from other presbyters in Atlantic Presbytery to come alongside our session to be an independent, big-brother influence for resolving matters that were hard to resolve on our own. It has been exciting to see White Lake members develop a growing awareness of and appreciation for leaders and members of other congregations in Atlantic Presbytery, and the denomination at large.

When you felt signs of weariness or discouragement or dryness, what helped you get through difficult stretches?

HM: Psalm 119:50 says, “This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me.” God has always been faithful. During the times of discouragement or weariness He has always brought a verse of the Bible to encourage and enlighten me.

PP: The ordinary means of grace—Word, sacraments, and prayer. Much prayer.  One of my favorite and frequently quoted verses is James 5:15b.  There have been desperate prayer, expectant prayer, joyfully thankful prayer, and weeping prayer—often.  A great blessing, of course, is Judy! But Christian fellowship with local pastors is a blessing.  We are a couple hours away from other RPs, at least.  My closest fellowship is with the local Methodist minister. His wife is Judy’s best friend. They, too, have been here in Belle Center for an incredibly long time, for Methodists—31 years!  Ties got a little better, still, when their congregation disaffiliated from the United Methodists.

DC: Second Corinthians 1:3–4 has been a touchstone in my ministry. It is never easy for a pastor to experience a setback. Pastor and congregation have experienced some challenging times together. The Apostle Paul tells us that we go through these experiences to draw near and more fully rely on Christ. Amid pain, we take special comfort from God’s promises. That has been the experience of my wife and me. God has used our difficulties to share the promise of Christ’s presence with others in similar situations. And we know it is of the Lord, because those circumstances usually point out Christ’s strength in our personal weakness. White Lake is truly a community of souls being renewed by the living Christ. I had always dreamed about serving in a prestigious, “put-together” church, but that would have only fed my ego. I have found greater joy serving in a place where Jesus gets the glory by using our simple gifts in a glorious pattern of His love multiplied.

What have been some of your greatest joys in your long pastorate?

HM: The greatest joy for me is to see people mature in their faith. It is very thrilling to see people in the church, even after 25 years, still eagerly growing and seeking opportunities to serve. I have had the privilege of seeing people who were not even born when I arrived in Pittsburgh now becoming young adults, some even getting married and having children. To see them still walking with the Lord and seeking to serve and minister on their own is a great blessing.

PP: Marriages and baptisms. Seeing new converts. Seeing those under discipline coming to deep and real repentance. Seeing my own weaknesses covered by faithful ruling elders. Godly fellowship with my ruling elders and deacons outside of formal meetings. Knowing that I’m loved and cared for, as well as seeing people understand my love and care for them, and their forgiveness when I slip up!

DC: God has blessed me to minister to people in every type of situation. It has been humbling but deeply satisfying to realize that it is not about me; it is about being used of God to meet people in their need. My wife has played a strategic role in this ministry too. She helps organize things and is recognized by other women in the congregation as a hard worker and one who shares Christ’s love with others. It is a blessing to see people come to trust Christ as their Savior and have a growing desire and understanding for God’s Word, prayer, and service. I have been blessed to see elders and deacons function on their own to shape and implement a unified vision for our congregation. This is exemplified by the return of a son of the congregation who said, “God has called my family and me back to this area to build up Christ’s kingdom, and we are committed to His cause.” David Klussman is the first native son elder to be installed in the congregation in over 70 years. We pray it is just the beginning of the next iteration of the White Lake congregation.

As a veteran pastor, what advice would you give a seminary student or young pastor?

HM: First, guard the things that are precious to you (your relationships with God and your family, your commitment to God’s kingdom, your love for people and the church, etc.). Second, stay in love with God and continue to be in awe of Him. Third, cultivate a joyful and cheerful heart (see Prov. 15:13, 15). Fourth, express gratitude to God and others often. Fifth, be friendly and develop friends in the church. Last, remember that pastors are called to serve. We trust Jesus to build His church. Building the church is not your job, but His.

PP: To consider this as a possibility! Don’t see your first pastorate as a stepping stone to someplace more prestigious and better paying. See how God will use you to bless you and that tiny congregation. Don’t leave until you have a clear inner call to move from this post where the great Shepherd has put you.

DC: Get a thorough education and understanding of biblical truth and Reformed doctrine. Couple that with a heart for people. You are not the great fountain of learning to enlighten everyone. Your job is to understand what the Bible says and explain it in a compelling way that leads others to know, love, and serve Christ. As His servant, lead the way by serving them and encouraging them to use their gifts to work together, meeting needs inside and outside the Christian community. To better understand the needs of the community, spend time in community causes suited to your gifts, interests, or pressing need. Get involved and rub shoulders with others so you form connections, and they know the sincerity of your concern for them. You also need outside interests for your own personal growth and renewal. I have found my spirits lifted by regular involvement with local vocal and instrumental ensembles.

Is there something else that you would like to share?

HM: Longevity in the ministry is a mutual commitment. It requires recognizing and celebrating the gifts of others. Adaptability and continual renewal are needed to prevent stagnation. Seeking new avenues of ministry and service is a way to keep the life of the church fresh, while also encouraging greater participation from the congregation.

PP: There is potential peril in a long pastorate, for the minister and the congregation. For the pastor, there can be much temptation to become complacent.  This will not do! As I’m getting older (now 70), it can be easy to justify letting things drift. For the congregation, the peril can come after a long pastorate. When the new guy comes with ideas of his own, and new ways of looking at things, thoughts pop up in people’s minds, “Phil never did it like that!” “But Phil always did it this way!” Pastorates directly after a long and useful one are often hard. And often don’t last long. The congregation and the new pastor must be patient with each other. And they must remember that God took away their old minister for his and the congregation’s good and for God’s glory. Things will be different, but God will be glorified.

DC: We are all concerned about the growing need for ministers of the gospel. This accentuates the need for us all to be a praying people: a people walking humbly with God united before the throne of grace, pleading with the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers.