Pastor Scott Racut has been appointed to Chapel UMC, Park UMC, and Perry UMC effective July 1, 2025.
His first Sunday will be July 6, 2025.
I believe that clergy have roles as both administrative and spiritual leaders of the tend to use a relational model of leadership, which involves people that associate freely in a joint endeavor… [T]he leader must establish relationships with participants based upon trust, respect, and empowerment. A leader in the church must raise up and empower the laity.
Church members choose to be associated. There is no management relationship there. The exception to this is the pastor assigned the responsibility of managing staff in a larger church. Still, even in this setting, the management does not extend beyond the employed staff. Furthermore, the pastor is not afforded personal power over the church members… I feel that the church body should hold most of the decisive power and thus the authority. By default, the pastor is part of the leadership process. However, their success depends as a leader depends on building healthy relationships. Relationships are critical for good pastoral leadership. Leadership in the church must be Spirit-based; we must intentionally exercise care in being Spirit-led and respecting the church body.
The church was born of the Holy Spirit and exists in large part to influence the human Spirit. Jesus calls His followers to a relationship that is transformational and that asks to forsake all. The process of transforming disciples into a community of leaders was and is predicated by a simple willingness to follow and learn. Jesus nurtures the human Spirit through a bonded relationship with Himself. If we, like the disciples, willingly follow, we experience transformation and will be empowered by the Spirit to lead as a gifted and called body. As spiritual leaders of the church, we need to be like Christ. Christ led, not managed His disciples. Jesus taught them to be leaders, as we need to teach our church body to be leaders.
Spiritual leadership cannot happen without Christ-like the spiritual leadership model emphasizes leadership as a function of the Spirit-filled community, with each member being transformed and gifted to contribute to the leadership process.
The pastoral leader is an essential part of the leadership process but only a part of the greater whole. Pastors are called to spiritual leadership on the same basis as members – a transformed character that demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit and specific leadership gifts given by the Holy Spirit to allow for effective contribution to the growth and success of the Jesus’ model of spiritual leadership is that of patiently and consistently demonstrating a life that nurtured and molded followers into a community of spiritual are called to this same servant-leadership role. Pastors facilitate spiritual leadership with the members by supporting character transformation and discovering the gifts imparted upon each member by the Spirit. Ministry done this way allows the pastor to encourage the ongoing transformation and preparation of the church for an inclusive process of spiritual leadership communally.
In summary, my view of spiritual leadership is participating in the process of change with those called to service. It is also about drawing people into the community of faith and assisting in their assimilation into the body. Thirdly, being intentional enabling others to take up the mantle of spiritual leadership and join in the reproduction process of building God’s kingdom.
FAMILY
Wife: Stacy
Three adult children: Savannah, Sarah, and TaylorEDUCATION
Methodist Theological School in Ohio (Currently working on Course of Study)
Kent State University, Associate of ArtsMINISTRY EXPERIENCE
Minerva UMC 2021—May 2022 Colebrook/Windsor 2020—2021 HarpersfieId/Rock Creek 2019—2020 New Leaf Associate 2018—2019