Pastor Eric Schumacher

Statement of Faith

The final authority for Christian belief and practice is Scripture alone. Therefore, I seek to derive all my theological conviction from the plain teaching of Scripture.

I am happy to provide a written statement on any issue requested. I can affirm that I am fully orthodox, protestant, and evangelical in the historical sense of these terms. I believe in congregational church polity.

I am baptistic in that I believe that baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, upon a credible confession of faith. Based on the model of Acts 2:27-42, I believe that baptism is required before being added to church membership.

Conversion and Call to Ministry

I was raised in a Lutheran church. At the age of seven, my mother shared the gospel with me and I professed faith, though I am not certain that I understood the gospel or was actually converted. Between the age of seven and my entering college, I grew little in my understanding of spiritual things, the Scriptures, and the Christian life.

During my first year in college, I became involved with Campus Crusade for Christ. At their Christmas Conference, during an evangelism-training seminar, I more fully understand the gospel. I realized the meaning of Christ's substitutionary death on the cross as a payment for my sins and his resurrection from the dead. I understood my need for repentance and personal faith in Him.

During my time in college, I became more active in Campus Crusade for Christ. I participated in an overseas missions trip, campus evangelism, and was active in the leadership of our campus group. I also had the opportunity to teach at campus meetings, work with a local pastor in a preaching internship, and preach in a few local churches. It was through these opportunities that God gave me a passion for preaching and teaching His word to His people. Pastors, friends, and family confirmed this calling and my gifts as I sought their counsel.

While I was in college my view of baptism changed from that of my Lutheran upbringing. I was baptized by immersion in water in a local church. I understood that I could not return to a denomination that 'baptized' infants. In my search for a seminary that shared my theological convictions, I enrolled in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. I chose this seminary because of its high view of Scripture and reputation for standing firm in Christian truth.

During my time in seminary, God solidified my desire to be a pastor in a local congregation. I desire to see strong congregations that are God-centered and Bible-saturated. I believe that the expositional preaching of God's Word, accompanied by His Spirit, will produce passionate followers of Jesus Christ who are zealous for spreading the message of God's glory in the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the peoples of the earth. The purpose of my life on earth is to pursue passionately a vision of who God is for us in Christ, to be satisfied with that vision, and to help others to do the same.

Role of the Pastor

I believe that the New Testament (and not tradition, experience, pragmatics or preference) is the final authority on the role of the pastor in a New Testament church. I take the role of pastor very seriously, as I believe that I will one day give an account for those who I have been called to keep watch over (Hebrews 13:17), a church obtained with the blood of Christ (Acts20:28). I believe that a long-term pastorate, if possible, is usually best for a church.

The office of pastor (or elder or overseer-the words are used interchangeably in the New Testament) is one of the two existing scriptural offices of the church. The other is the office of deacon. They both serve important but different functions.

The pastors/elders are regularly referred to in the plural (Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:5; 1 Timothy 4:14, 5:16; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1, 5). When it is possible (that is, when gifted and called men are available), I believe it is expedient to appoint a plurality of pastors/elders to keep watch over the church, as Paul instructed Titus (Titus 1:5). When such men are not available, I believe it is a pastor's duty to look for such men and to train them for such ministry (2 Timothy 2:1-2). Most of these men will not be paid staff but gifted and called members of the congregation who are essentially permanent in their membership. From my experiences, both in pastoring alone and in observing a church with a plurality of elders, I feel an elder team holds many advantages, aside from following the pattern of Scripture. It provides accountability, support, counsel, and assistance in the exercise of pastoral duties. It also gives the church permanence in leadership and continuance in ministry that is not upset if the "staff pastor" should be called away. I know my gifts and weaknesses and therefore know that I will minister best as part of a team. I know that baptist churches differ in their pastoral structure. I am willing to work within different set-ups, though I will guide the church toward what I feel is a biblical model.

    The basic role of a pastor is:
  • to teach God's Word (Acts 6:2-4; 1 Timothy 3:2, 4:6-16, 5:17, 6:2b; 2 Timothy 2:1-2, 2:14-15, 2:24-25, 4:1-5; Titus 1:9, 2:1, 2:7, 2:15; Hebrews 13:7; Jeremiah 3:15).
  • to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and present them mature in Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16; Colossians 1:28).
  • to exercise spiritual oversight over the local church (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:5, 5:17; Titus 2:15;1 Peter 5:1-5).
  • to pray for the sick when called upon (James 5:14).

The abundance of Scripture references reveals that the task of teaching the Word is primary for a pastor. Teaching is the primary way in which a pastor will exercise spiritual oversight over the congregation. His teaching of sound doctrine provides instruction which leads to unity and maturity (Ephesians 4:11-12). Such teaching also includes correcting false doctrine so that people might come to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:24-26). This teaching is not limited to preaching, though the preached word should remain central in the life of the church. The teaching of the pastor may include discipleship classes, Bible studies, personal discipleship training, personal or corporate instruction in the practice of spiritual disciplines, written materials, catechisms, etc.

Because the task of teaching is so important to the role of the pastor and the health of the church, a pastor should work hard at preaching and teaching (1 Timothy 5:17). He should be diligent and devoted in the task of teaching and practicing sound doctrine (1 Timothy 4:15-16). Preaching, teaching, leading, counseling, and instructing in the faith from the Word should consume the majority of his efforts. Unless providentially hindered, sermons should not be improvised or partially prepared. Lazy preachers, ear-ticklers, and money-lovers will only harm the church and will answer to God.

The congregation should desire and expect the Word of God to be taught to them. They should seek to protect and encourage their pastors' time for study, prayer, and preparation. Such an attitude will be rewarded through the fruits of his labors and blessed by God.

Because the pastorate carries with it such weighty responsibilities, godliness is imperative. The pastor must demonstrate godliness to those inside and outside of the church. Therefore, Scripture gives moral qualifications for the pastor (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:7-9). I am committed, by the grace of God, to holding myself to these qualifications and believe that I meet them.

I believe that the office of pastor is limited to men who fit the Scriptural qualifications. I believe that women are gifted by God for service in the church body (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) and should be strongly encouraged to use their gifts to minister to the Body of Christ (1 Peter 4:10). Such gifts and ministries are indispensable to the life of the church (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). However, the Scriptures do not permit a woman to teach the Bible and Christian doctrine to men or to exercise authority over men within the Christian community (1 Timothy 2:12). Therefore, any position in the church that includes either teaching men or exercising authority over men should be limited to qualified men. Since the office of pastor includes such tasks, it is not open to women, but only to qualified men. This does not reflect any inequality in worth, since our worth stems from our creation in the image of God and our redemption in Christ-not in the roles we serve in (bear in mind that not all gifted and valuable men are qualified the office of pastor!). Women should be strongly encouraged to be actively using their gifts in the church. The Scripture commands the older women to teach the younger women how to be godly (Titus 2:3-5). Women are free to pursue and should be encouraged in any ministry position that does not violate the principles of 1 Timothy 2:12 or is not excluded elsewhere. Women build the church and exercise an important influence over the church's future by teaching in children's ministries, women's ministries, prayer, Scripture reading, music ministry, missions and an almost endless list of ministry needs.