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The HPC Shepherding and Visitation Program

Reality of Shepherding

The idea of God as a shepherd is very well known, even by those outside of the church. Think of the popular imagery of Ps 23. What is not as well known is that the Lord has ordained the offices of spiritual leaders to be the shepherds for the congregation. In Jeremiah 23:4 we read, “I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord.” Those put over God’s people, even in the Old Testament, were to care for and tend the needs of the flock of God.

Jesus repeated this emphasis in his post-resurrection appearance to Peter–John 21:15-17.

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

The Apostle Paul, instructing the elders at Ephesus in Acts 20:28-30, again used the shepherding metaphor “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.”

Peter also, in giving instructions to the elders of the church, exhorts all elders to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 3:2-5)

Elders, both Teaching and Ruling, are not a board of directors meant to run the business of the church; they are to Shepherd the flock of God. We intuitively recognize that sheep are not simply told how to eat and stay safe from predators once and week at the coral, and then allowed to roam the fields all week alone. Rather, the shepherds are with the sheep; they know the sheep, and the sheep know and trust them. So too, pastoral care from a Session to the congregation cannot be done on a weekly basis at the public gathering for worship. Instead, it is the responsibility of shepherds to go out and seek the sheep (Luke 15:4), and to seek to exercise earnest, caring pastoral care in their daily lives.

Christianity is not an ethereal religion of principles to imbibe, or aphorisms to learn, or examples to follow. It is a pilgrim’s journey that takes place embodied and in common with other believers. Thus, we must practice our faith together in community. Shepherds monitor and enhance the formation of the community of Christ, the flock who is the church. Elders, then, need to know how well relationships are forming in the congregation, and whether or not there is a real, loving new community being created and experienced. This cannot be done through email, phone call or letter–it must be done in person, and routinely! We believe that this Biblical mandate for such shepherding care is best accomplished by using the time tested model of routine elder visitation to the flock of God.

What Visitation is Not

A shepherding visit is not a mere social call at which you can chit-chat with your elders. It is a time of poignant and honest discussion about the reality of redemption of Christ in your daily life.

This is not a time for the religious police to come to your home and judge you! This is not a time for you to put on your best façade and prove that everyone is ok! We all struggle with sin and temptation, discouragement, disappointments, and doubt. It is our hope that you will feel free to talk about those things with your shepherds who care for you, and who are accountable to God for you.

This is not a time for official people to come and see how well your kids know the Bible or the catechism–although a knowledge of those things is good to have!

This is not a time for the officers to harangue you for missing a Sunday or two of worship, although, as those who care deeply for your spiritual state, they will be concerned for any who are too-long absent from the public worship of God.

What Visitation is

Visitation is a Biblical mandate. It is the Session’s duty to monitor and diligently oversee the flock of God. The Lord castigates unfaithful shepherds in Jeremiah 23:2 for failing to “visit/attend” the people of the land, and your Session takes seriously that warning about how we are to care for you!

Visitation is a time for the congregation and the elders to discuss how fruitful (or not) the preaching and teaching of the Word has been. Just as the pastor proclaims the Word of God publicly on the Sabbath, so too God’s Word must be taught and applied in the home through regular elder visitation. Through such routine encouragement of the shepherds, the congregation can grow in its daily, ‘mundane’ faithfulness in the Christian walk.

Currently, only those who are most desperate–at the end of their rope–reach out to elders for help. By then it is often when a situation has come to a point of no return, and so there is little that an elder can do to be of substantial aid. But imagine if you knew your elders, you trusted them, you knew that they cared for you, and you could go to them when your marriage is rough, but not desperate; when that habitual sin is starting to bother you, but has not yet hurt those closest to you. We believe that elder visitation is key to developing real relationships of mutual trust and accountability so that we can all do daily battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil to maintain and grow our faith

So what will be done at a visit?

Elders will pray with and for you.

They will discuss a passage of Scripture with you.

They will discuss your physical and spiritual health, your struggles and trials.

They will discuss accountability, faithful child-rearing, fulfillment of membership vows, worship attendance, duties of fathers and mothers–expect challenging questions!

They will talk to your kids and emphasize the importance of catechism.

They will encourage you to family worship and to daily faithfulness.

As the elders routinely visit, the family and elders grow to know and appreciate each other more, and this more intimate knowledge between sheep and shepherds reflects the reality of the new community that is Christ’s Church. Such intimacy and care will be a living example of true community and love, as opposed to the isolation and individualism of our culture. We look forward to seeing the Holy Spirit work in our church as the shepherd and the sheep grow in love and trust for each other.

~Many resources were consulted in the formation of the above, and the author makes no claims to originality.