Wanted: ordained minister
- he/she must preach like Billy Graham
- must have pastoral skills like Mother Teresa
- must have stewardship money raising skills like Tony Robins
- must be veru happily married with two children,
one boy and one girl, who by the way must be perfect angels
- life partner must be perfect as well and willing to
put the same number of hours in the church as their minister husband or wife
- must have a desire to fulfill their
churchly duties and yet be willing to take on substantial responsibilities at presbytery - possibly chair it
- as well as seek involvement in our community
- especially important to conduct all the responsibilities mentioned
above and yet be available 24 hours a day for counseling of church members
- must be willing to work for a touch
over minimum wage.
- Oh yes...if male must look like Tom Seleck.....if female must look like Rachel Welch.
Be honest with me....isn't this what we all would love for our minister?
I have a confession. As a kid growing up in Leaside Presbyterian Church, at about 5 or 6 years old decided I wanted to be a minister.
In the early 80's when I was going through a rough period in my life, some of the members of our congregation suggested to our minister that he should encourage me to join the ministry. I decided to see what the possibilities were and met with ministry and personnel at church office.
I thought I knew the trials and tribulations that ministers go through after having been on our church board, including 2 years as board chair. I didn’t even have a clue. What I learned then and what I’ve learned since is as follows.
there are feelings of isolation
- there is a lack of people to talk to
- the image they need to portray - near perfect
- the frequent relocations
- there is burnout - the more you give the more the congregation expects
- it is difficult for boundary setting or saying "no" to people
what about the work stress
- the committee work with long hours and uncertain results
- expected to know all the answers
- expected to be able to please young people, teenagers, young couples,
middle aged and seniors
financial concerns
- there is a high percentage of financial problems in the first five years as a minister.
To say that ministers aren't perfect is stating the obvious - one minister
in the church I grew up in ran away with the church secretary.
In another church where we were members,
we had an ordained minister with 25 years experience including over
10 in the mission fields in Africa, who was doing a great job at pleasing
almost everyone in the congregation. We also had a newly graduated
diaconal minister. After many services, the young diaconal minister
would go in to the minister's study and proceed to tell him the errors in
his sermon. The board chair spent most of his time as referee and
counsellor to both ministers.
No matter how good a minister's sermon is there will always be some of the
congregation that will not agree.
At the time of the introduction of inclusive language in the
United Church, ministers had to contend with great divisions in many
congregations.
What about when the ordination of gays and lesbians? There were a
large number of congregations that not only created divisions in the congregations but caused mass exodus from congregations to start new congregations that would conform to the majorities views.
No matter what their personal views, ministers must work with both sides of
each issue and try to make everybody happy - an almost impossible task.
If we are honest with ourselves, it is true, we do expect perfection
of our "normal just like us" ministers.
I bet you that they get angry and shout at their kids, once in a while.
I bet they and their spouses get angry and have arguments, once in a while.
If they hit their thumbs with a hammer, I bet that they may even say a
naughty word, once in a while.
So why am I spending all this time telling you something, that when you
think about it, we really already know?
Very simply, knowing it is not enough. Doing something about it: that is
another thing.
When David preaches a really good sermon, don’t just think it, tell him!
Why not, sometime when you are passing the church, and you see his car, why not drop in for a chat; not to bear your soul or complain, but just to have a conversation with a great guy and a talented preacher?
Why not sometime, just out of the blue, send him a note and say something like: "just a note to say that I think you are doing a good job."
There is a difference between putting someone up on a pedestal and giving them the respect they are due.
When was the last time you hugged your minister?
