Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In last week’s Update, I wrote that it was the 18th anniversary of my becoming President and Pastor General of our denomination. It was also, of course, the 18th anniversary of the death of my father, Joseph W. Tkach. My dad had the unique, and in some ways unenviable, opportunity to be the appointed successor of our founder, Herbert W. Armstrong.
As the church’s second Pastor General, my dad led the church through the most challenging decade of its history. He presided over tumultuous changes, which resulted in the abandoning of some deeply entrenched doctrinal errors, but also in a massive downsizing of our church, as many rejected the reforms.
This journey of change was often circuitous. Understanding did not come to my dad all at once. He often made course corrections and restatements along the way. But, in retrospect, we can see how one issue led to another as understanding unfolded.
Last week, Ted Johnston sent me an article he had written following my dad’s death in 1995. It was a tribute to my dad’s courage and vision during his ten years as Pastor General. Ted was pastoring two congregations in western Colorado when he wrote the article. Today he is a senior member of our administration and one of my close friends and colleagues. Ted compiled the article from letters that my dad published in the Pastor General’s Report, spanning the time from the commencement of dad’s administration in January 1986 until just before his death in September 1995.
Reading Ted’s article reminded me of how much we all owe to my dad. It has been said that only those who have served as the President of the United States can really appreciate what that office is like. I can say the same about being the President of GCI. As the years of my presidency have gone by, I have understood more and more the pressures my dad was under and the courage and vision he possessed in leading us through our many changes.
As October is pastor appreciation month, I have republished Ted’s article (“A journey of change,” linked above-left). I am sure it will bring back memories for those of us who shared those turbulent times and give valuable perspective to those who either are too young to remember or are new to our fellowship. The article documents an amazing, perhaps historically unprecedented story of change within an entire Christian denomination for which God gets the glory, but my dad deserves our deep thanks.
While I am not sure who designated October as pastor appreciation month, I am grateful that there is such a focus during one month of the year. Of course, pastors ought to be appreciated all year long—as the apostle Paul noted in 1 Corinthians 12, they are one of the Holy Spirit’s gifts to the church. However, pastors are only human and can grow weary and discouraged (see this month’s issue of Equipper at http://mindev.gci.org/Web%20Documents/Equipper8.10.pdf). This can happen especially when there are critics and naysayers in the congregation. So it is a good thing when church members encourage their pastors, thanking them for their ongoing efforts.
One of the most encouraging things I hear from people is that they are praying for me. And I must say that there are times when I feel lifted by the thought that I have many prayer partners. I believe that my own prayers are not equal to the encouragement I receive when others tell me that they are praying for my health, strength and inspiration from God.
It is no accident that God inspired the title and role in the church known as pastor to mirror for us his own shepherd’s heart and mind. In today’s atmosphere of freethinking, rugged individualism, the pastor’s role as the shepherd of a congregation who is called to guard the flock from bad theology may be one of the hardest dynamics to implement in our culture. So as pastor appreciation month begins, let me be one of the first to say to our pastors, “much thanks and congratulations for your perseverance and faithfulness.”
With love in Christ’s service,
Joseph Tkach
PS: For those reading this who are not pastors, I encourage you to say thanks to your pastor this month. For ways to do so, see http://www.lifeway.com/Article/HomeLife-Pastor-Appreciation-Five-Ways-To-Say-Thanks?emid=jhowe-pastorstoday-article-pastorsappreciation-20130930.
Your dad made our denomination’s headquarters approachable by using his gifts of hospitality and love for God and people. He set the example he demanded of us by working smarter not just harder. He was real, approachable, and always available. He was a pastor’s pastor. I loved and respected him highly; as I do you.
I well remember observing Mr. Tkach around Pasadena and Big Sandy and interacting with him, noting that he was a true servant of God and God’s people and genuinely loved all of the brethren. One day he asked me to come to his office and he asked me, “Franklin, are you with us or against us?” I told him I was having difficulty understanding the changes, but knew I didn’t want to be part of any effort to take control of the college away from the church under his leadership. He encouraged me to keep praying and studying and I was blessed in doing so. I therefore keep a special remembrance of him.