Why the big, central pulpit instead of a stool and a plexiglass lectern?

From time to time, I like to revisit topics I have addressed before. Such is the case with this article that offers explanation for our pulpit. The various features of our church architecture and layout are based on things we see as biblically important. Our building looks a certain way for a specific reason. Our choice of furnishings and the particular layout of the pulpit, baptismal, and communion table are purposeful.

It’s not that other types of church buildings or layouts are unbiblical or wrong. For example, it seems the big, central, wooden pulpit is rare in new church buildings. Many modern churches opt for a stool or chair in front of a plexiglas lectern for their casually dressed pastor to sit and teach or “talk with” his congregation. I do something similar on Sunday nights and in other teaching venues. Certainly, the Word of God can be taught or preached in different set ups. The bible doesn’t prescribe the arrangement of furniture in a church worship setting.

The sitting pastor with small plexiglas lectern on Sunday morning definitely communicates casual, informal, personal interaction. It seems such a setup is intended to make the pastor come across as non-threatening, even a bit less authoritative. The pastor in that posture is about to have a conversation or fire side chat, it would seem. I suspect this is a reaction to the stereotypical yelling, pulpit-pounding, fire and brimstone, white-suit wearing preacher. The stool and lectern approach are meant to put people at ease as they listen to a “message” from the bible. The pastor’s choice of casual dress while teaching or preaching Sunday morning tells the congregation – “Hey, I’m one of you! Let me tell you what I’ve learned this week.” I think much of the trend toward a casual set up for teaching/preaching Sunday morning has come from current generational pressure. Millennials and Gen Z’s are characterized as being skeptical or dismissive of authority. The traditional big, central pulpit with the pastor wearing a suit or robe is a bit offsetting to a generation that doesn’t acknowledge levels of authority readily.

So why do we, at Redeemer, opt for the setup we have? Why the big, central, wooden pulpit? Again, Whatever your set up, something is being communicated. Our intention is to communicate importance and authority. The most important activities of the church are signified by the furnishings we have- the pulpit, the baptismal, and the communion table. The ministry of Christ’s church is the ministry of the Word and Sacraments. Our furnishings are meant to make a statement about the priorities of the church. As for the pulpit in particular – it’s big, central, and strong, for a reason. It’s meant to promote the preaching of God’s inspired, inerrant, sufficient, and authoritative Word as the central activity of the Church. The pulpit is bigger than the preacher. The pulpit requires the person who brings the Word to stand up and step into it. It demands the preacher consider the solemnity of the role he is exercising when preaching the Word, leading the congregation in prayer, or otherwise leading elements of the worship liturgy. Yes, the big, central pulpit is meant to exude authority – the authority of the preached Word primarily. The authority is not based on the preacher, but on the Word that is preached. In our church, the pastors wear robes, so the congregation’s attention is not on his clothes, but rather the role he is filling for that hour. Some will say – “the robe distracts me…it reminds me of when I was Catholic.” I say, skinny jeans, untucked shirts, and preachers in sneakers distracts me. The pulpit manned by a minister in a robe communicates reverence and authority. This set up promotes the bible being preached. Teaching is explaining what has been written and how it may apply, which is important and should happen in multiple ways in the life of a healthy church. Preaching however, is proclaiming the truth of the Word, and exhorting the congregation to believe and obey. The pastor is commanded to “preach the Word” (2 Timothy 4:2) as part of his essential shepherding duties and our pulpit set up serves to assure this practice. The pulpit set up is a reminder to the pastor and the people about God’s authoritative Word. There is a sense in which pastors come and go, but the big, solid pulpit from which the Word is preached, will remain for generations. A preacher “filling the pulpit” is a great way to describe what a faithful pastor should be doing. He should know what the pulpit is meant for (preaching the Word) and do the task. So many important messages can be relayed by architecture and set up.

To be clear – I would rather go to a church that has a modern set up with the stool and plexiglass lectern where the pastor believes and preaches the bible faithfully than one with a traditionally arranged big, central pulpit, and the pastor does not believe or faithfully teach the bible. The essential priority for a biblical, healthy church, is a right view and teaching of the bible. I do have some anxiety however, concerning what many modern set up communicate about the convictions of a given church leadership. But thankfully for everyone, Jesus is the head of His church, not me.

In the Lamb,
Pastor Tony