Ministry Bumps
It's not all a bed of roses: ministry that is. There are the regular stresses of Vestry and a few personality, spiritual and liturgical clashes, but they are all normal parts of ministry as a leader. Sudden emergency pastoral issues arise, yet they are not bumps.
The particular bumps I speak of are those of a new minister trying new things a well established parish. Many know I changed the times in Glassville and Greenfield. Within 24 hours I had already made some changes to the Greenfield schedule back in September. Over the past few weeks it became quite apparent that my changes in Glassville were tolerated and not really meeting the need. Everyone tried very hard to come out to service but it was a stress. It was very clear when only 9 people came out for Thanksgiving. I have recently changed again to something much discussed. Ministers have hits and misses.
I think I "hit" when moving to a weekly presence of the priest in Florencville. There seemed to be a slight increase in attendance and children's ministry has been very successful; up to tonight that is.
I had scheduled a Children's Service to celebrate St. Nicholas' Day way back in September. Tonight I went over to the church knowing that some could not make it, but I never thought that not one person would show up from all the parish: a big "miss."
A minister must talk, but needs to listen. My flaw was I had all these thoughts and I failed to discuss if this night was good, what would be an alternative. I did the cardinal sin of my Leadership class at my seminary where I did my thing and not leave it up to the people. It worked, over time, with the time changes, but little things like this have not and all because of the lack of consultation.
I experienced this type of aloneness in one particular point in my previous parish who consistently refused to come out to church just a minute away from their homes... while I traveled over 60 kilometers. But that was church, a regular weekly service, part of an established order of things: not my fault. In this case, my frustration is all on me for not asking what was needed for the children at Christmas and listening to the answer. I never asked if Santa needed to be put in a Christian context. Even though this is my second parish, and with the experience of a forty year old, I still learn the basic of leadership and ministry.
Thank the Lord it's only small bumps, and comparably, that is all it has been in the parish, Thank the Lord! I learn as I go, as we all do, yet it is my hope that as you read this you will understand the keenness of your ministers and understand their highs and lows, anticipate their bumps and guide them through it. Be patient, and if we don't ask, you ask us sooner than later.
The particular bumps I speak of are those of a new minister trying new things a well established parish. Many know I changed the times in Glassville and Greenfield. Within 24 hours I had already made some changes to the Greenfield schedule back in September. Over the past few weeks it became quite apparent that my changes in Glassville were tolerated and not really meeting the need. Everyone tried very hard to come out to service but it was a stress. It was very clear when only 9 people came out for Thanksgiving. I have recently changed again to something much discussed. Ministers have hits and misses.
I think I "hit" when moving to a weekly presence of the priest in Florencville. There seemed to be a slight increase in attendance and children's ministry has been very successful; up to tonight that is.
I had scheduled a Children's Service to celebrate St. Nicholas' Day way back in September. Tonight I went over to the church knowing that some could not make it, but I never thought that not one person would show up from all the parish: a big "miss."
A minister must talk, but needs to listen. My flaw was I had all these thoughts and I failed to discuss if this night was good, what would be an alternative. I did the cardinal sin of my Leadership class at my seminary where I did my thing and not leave it up to the people. It worked, over time, with the time changes, but little things like this have not and all because of the lack of consultation.
I experienced this type of aloneness in one particular point in my previous parish who consistently refused to come out to church just a minute away from their homes... while I traveled over 60 kilometers. But that was church, a regular weekly service, part of an established order of things: not my fault. In this case, my frustration is all on me for not asking what was needed for the children at Christmas and listening to the answer. I never asked if Santa needed to be put in a Christian context. Even though this is my second parish, and with the experience of a forty year old, I still learn the basic of leadership and ministry.
Thank the Lord it's only small bumps, and comparably, that is all it has been in the parish, Thank the Lord! I learn as I go, as we all do, yet it is my hope that as you read this you will understand the keenness of your ministers and understand their highs and lows, anticipate their bumps and guide them through it. Be patient, and if we don't ask, you ask us sooner than later.
posted by Douglas+ at
6:40 p.m.
3 Comments:
I know you remember here, some did travel, and it was well worth it. Sounds to me that you have learned and grown alot!
And God bless you both for it. My last months would have been very loney indeed.
Turns out I had a family with three children show up, but to save on heat I went downstairs and the church looked empty... also Sherry had the car, so it looked even worse.
I still stick with what I said, but, Me bad! :-)
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