Journal: Grace Journal
Volume: GJ 05:2 (Spring 1964)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

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GJ 5:2 (Spr 64) p. 28

Book Reviews

The Pastor and His Work. By Homer A. Kent, Sr., Th.D. Moody Press, Chicago, 1963. 298 pp., $4.50.

The Pastor and His Work comes from the pen and experience of Dr. Homer A. Kent, Sr., who for fifteen years was the pastor of the First Brethren Church in Washington, D.C., and for the past twenty-three years has been Professor of Practical Theology and Church History at Grace Theological Seminary. Both his pastoral and teaching ministries have adequately qualified him to write this volume in which he shares both his experience and his theory with his readers.

Dr. Kent divides his consideration of the pastoral ministry into four areas:

Part I, The Pastor and His Personal Affairs, deals with the pastor’s personal life, his study, his books, his ethical conduct, and his wife. Each chapter is tinged with reality and contains many practical suggestions that will be beneficial to every reader.

The Pastor and His Public Ministry is the subject of Part II. In this section Dr. Kent discusses the Sunday morning worship service, the Sunday evening service, the midweek prayer meeting, the evangelistic meeting, the public invitation, the taking of confessions in the public service, administering baptism and communion, the dedication of infants, the wedding ceremony, the funeral, and the pastor’s ministry as a public servant. Each chapter abounds with many ideas and will serve as a handbook to guide the reader as he seeks guidance in relation to each area.

The Pastor in His Administrative Relationships, Part III, discusses matters pertaining to licensure, ordination, candidating, organizations of the church, the financial problem of the church, the Sunday School, and the “Seventy Group” (a group designed to develop the members of the church into soul winners). These subjects are all given adequate discussion. The first three chapters of this section would be particularly helpful to one seeking his first pastorate or to one who is counseling such a man.

The final section, Part IV, The Pastor and His Visitation and Counseling Opportunities, deals with the important subjects of pastoral visitation, sickroom visitation, and pastoral counseling. In dealing with pastoral visitation, Dr. Kent gives nine good reasons why the pastor should engage in such a program, then eight characteristics such a program should have, several suggestions as to how the visitation program can be organized, and concludes with setting forth some results that such a program will yield. It is refreshing to read such a re-emphasis upon an area of the pastoral ministry that is neglected and disparaged by many. Concerning sickroom visitation and pastoral counseling, Dr. Kent lists suggestions which will be of value to those...

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