I came across this article today, and found it interesting...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anne-dilenschneider/soul-care-and-the-roots-o_b_680925.html
How do you define a pastor's job description or role? What do you think a pastor does all day or all week? As I've gotten into the ministry myself, I have much more respect for my pastor role models from years ago. So often people think a pastor only works one hour on Sunday... and I hear this often from folks, either joking or seriously (and sometimes it's hard to tell which). I am finding that sometimes (most of the time) being a pastor includes 2 job descriptions: the one you were officially given, and the one everyone creates for you as they go...
Having been a pastor now for 2 years (I celebrated my 2 year ordination anniversary on August 10th), and being in my first call (though I consider this the 5th church I've served--given Seminary student pastorates and extensive volunteer work), I am still amazed and baffled at times by all the things a "Pastor" does. I also continue to "add courses" (at least in my mental list) that I somehow missed or skipped in seminary (and I note--admittedly--I only skipped 2 class in 4 years, and one was a class I was auditing; I missed a few others for travel or illness in my 4 years, though). Some of these classes that would have been helpful I've mentioned on the blog before: Basic Church Maintenance, HVAC/Plumbing/Electrical repair, Mission Trip Construction, Accounting, Statistics, Child Development, Conflict Resolution, Communications, etc. [I note, though, I feel I got a really good education, and there was NO ROOM for any more classes in the schedule... it was FULL!]
Getting back to the article... I attended one of the handful of Seminaries that required a "Spiritual Formation" class, and really enjoyed the whole experience. But I am still not sure how we can get back to the pre-1920s "care of souls" job of the pastor. So much of what a pastor does, I am finding, is being "pastoral director", as the article calls it. There are certainly parts of that job that I enjoy and find I have some gifts for. There are other parts of the job that hopefully come with more experience, as I know I have lots to learn. But as far as care of souls... do clergy redefine that role, or congregations, or both? Where does it start and how do we take the first steps? Thee are days when I do a lot of it, but it often feels like such a small part of my job.
When I first started Seminary, a passage that really spoke to me about ministry was Mark 2. It's the story of the friends that lowered the paralytic through the roof to place him in front of Jesus. I felt it described the role of pastor--to help place people in front of Jesus, no matter what it took. As I continue to be transformed through the work of the Spirit, I have grown to resonate with the story of Luke 24 on the road to Emmaus (hence the blog name). I want to live daily on the road, looking for Christ along the journey, walking with Jesus, and engaging Scripture and God's work in the world, and seeing where and how and why those interact... I want to see how I am part of the greater Story of Faith, and how God uses that to direct and call me as I help others do the same. So how do all of these things work together?
On this August 13th, as I remember the work of the Spirit in the Moravian Church on August 13th, 1727 for the "Moravian Pentecost" how do I reclaim this calling and follow the movement of the Spirit? Where is God at work, transforming, renewing, and empowering us for mission and ministry? And what is my role in that? How can I care for souls, mine included, that will allow us all to be more open to the movement of the Spirit? How can we collectively place others in front of Christ and walk the journey together to see ourselves as part of God's greater story of faith? I'm open to the answers... I just don't have them all right now. But I guess... that's just part of the journey. I hope you'll join me!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Congreations Gone Wild-NY Times articles
This is an interesting article from today's NY Times...about clergy's calling vs. congregation's expectations related to sermons and preaching.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/opinion/08macdonald.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
In the article, Jeffery MacDonald says, "In this transformation, clergy have seen their job descriptions rewritten. They’re no longer expected to offer moral counsel in pastoral care sessions or to deliver sermons that make the comfortable uneasy. Church leaders who continue such ministerial traditions pay dearly."
What do you think? [Comment below...]
I know for me, in Seminary we were taught a few "slogans" related to preaching.
Examples:
"Preach with the newspaper in one hand and the Bible in the other."
"The Gospel comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable."
"Speak the Truth in Love."
[I know these are both famous quotes, but I don't know who they are attributed to. (Sorry.)]
But... actually preaching in this manner is often more difficult to do in real life than in Seminary classes. In my preaching classes, though we didn't all always agree, it was a safe space to speak the Truth in Love. But in a congregation, preaching is different. When you know people and know the things they are going through, it does make it easier at times, because I can sometimes see how maybe the words I have been given to speak can bring comfort to difficult situations. But at the same time, it's difficult to follow what we were taught in Seminary, because it often gets us in trouble. The Gospel's message is so radical, so inclusive, so pushing of social and political norms of the time (and of our times as well). It got many in trouble by sharing it, including Jesus himself.
As the article talks about, I understand how pushing the limits of what people are comfortable with becomes so very tiring and difficult at times.
I also came across this article as well this past week. It's also very true. So many clergy are tired, burned our, and/or unhealthy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/nyregion/02burnout.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp
Self-care, de-stressing, and taking care of ourselves was really emphasized in Seminary. But putting that to practice is tough. Days off, yoga, reading, watching TV, spending time with family and friends--these are a few ways I try to take care of myself. How do you feed your soul and fill your own well to take care of yourself?
What do you think of these articles?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/opinion/08macdonald.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
In the article, Jeffery MacDonald says, "In this transformation, clergy have seen their job descriptions rewritten. They’re no longer expected to offer moral counsel in pastoral care sessions or to deliver sermons that make the comfortable uneasy. Church leaders who continue such ministerial traditions pay dearly."
What do you think? [Comment below...]
I know for me, in Seminary we were taught a few "slogans" related to preaching.
Examples:
"Preach with the newspaper in one hand and the Bible in the other."
"The Gospel comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable."
"Speak the Truth in Love."
[I know these are both famous quotes, but I don't know who they are attributed to. (Sorry.)]
But... actually preaching in this manner is often more difficult to do in real life than in Seminary classes. In my preaching classes, though we didn't all always agree, it was a safe space to speak the Truth in Love. But in a congregation, preaching is different. When you know people and know the things they are going through, it does make it easier at times, because I can sometimes see how maybe the words I have been given to speak can bring comfort to difficult situations. But at the same time, it's difficult to follow what we were taught in Seminary, because it often gets us in trouble. The Gospel's message is so radical, so inclusive, so pushing of social and political norms of the time (and of our times as well). It got many in trouble by sharing it, including Jesus himself.
As the article talks about, I understand how pushing the limits of what people are comfortable with becomes so very tiring and difficult at times.
I also came across this article as well this past week. It's also very true. So many clergy are tired, burned our, and/or unhealthy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/nyregion/02burnout.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp
Self-care, de-stressing, and taking care of ourselves was really emphasized in Seminary. But putting that to practice is tough. Days off, yoga, reading, watching TV, spending time with family and friends--these are a few ways I try to take care of myself. How do you feed your soul and fill your own well to take care of yourself?
What do you think of these articles?
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