The call committee is now fully engaged in the formal search for the congregation's next senior pastor. In the weeks to come, all of you will have an opportunity to give input into what kinds of skills, interests, and values should be sought from that leader. It is vitally important that you take part in this process.
There are many impulses at play at this point in the process. There are two that are very strong, and very natural. The first is the desire to recapture all that was best and loved about the last pastor. “Find us someone just like him, only twenty-five years younger” is what some call committees hear. This is a way of extending the gratitude we feel to the former pastor for the faithful service given over that pastor's tenure.
The other impulse that just often comes into play is its opposite. Some of us may say, “We need a fresh start-- a new direction. We've done that before-- let's not do that again”. There are even situations in which the pastoral tenure has ended with tension and conflict which was not truly resolved. The “fight” gets carried over into the call process; persons with hurt feelings may tell the call committee, “Whatever you do, don't get someone like Rev. Smith. Calling her was a mistake”.
I want to invite you to prayerfully reflect on your expectations and hopes for the next pastor. Try to consider your needs, but also the needs of others throughout the congregation. Think about how the pastor will lead Bethlehem Lutheran in its ministry in the community, both locally and even globally. Remember how much this congregation has grown and changed over the last thirty years; try to imagine the challenges the years ahead will doubtlessly hold.
Finally, enjoy this little bit of “folk wisdom” on finding the 'perfect pastor':
The ideal pastor preaches exactly twenty minutes. She condemns sin, but never hurts anyone's feelings. He works from 8 A.M. to midnight, and also serves as the church janitor. He makes $100 a week, wears good clothes, and donates $30 a week to the church. She is twenty-nine years old and has forty years of experience. He is both, tall and short, thin and heavyset, and has one brown eye and one blue eye. She makes fifteen house calls a day and is always in the office.
If your pastor does not measure up to these criteria, send this list to six other churches that are also dissatisfied with their pastor. Then, bundle up your pastor and send him to the church at the top of the list. In one week you will receive 1,643 pastors. Surely one of them will be perfect. Have faith in this letter. One church broke the chain and got its old pastor back in three months.
Pray Hard,
P.S.: I want to thank all of you for your prayers, cards, and words of condolence and support on the death of my sister-in-law, Beatrice. Most of you know that her death came just at the beginning of my "staycation" with my wife Paula here in Fairport and Korey's time away. Our daughter Greer did go to be with the family in Texas. Paula wanted to let you know how much she appreciated the welcome she received here, too.Your kindness and witness of faith has helped us on the path of grief, healing, and hope.
What an August! It started with the wedding, then our honeymoon in Colorado, then back in town to try to orchestrate the emptying and selling of my house. Emptying my house means trying to fit everything into Alison’s house! Since we both had everything that we needed ourselves, it meant that combined, we often had double of everything we needed.
Not being a fan of putting the effort into a garage sale, we knew that we would be giving away what we don’t need. With a relationship made already with Saint’s Place (where Alison volunteers and who we gave our wedding registry) and with Goodwill (where Alison works), it was clear that we’d donate our extra items to them.
As I was sifting through my bacheloresque mishmash of silverware and cooking utensils, I was thinking about how little they are worth to me now. After all, I now have all of Alison’s uniform silverware! To me, this mishmash was little more than trash that I needed to get rid of.
I then got thinking about those refugees to whom Saints Place ministers to. They are people who for various reasons have to leave everything they own behind, and have to start all over. Someday, they too will hopefully get nicer utensils to use as they celebrate holidays around a set table, but in the meantime, that which is worthless to me will be invaluable to them.
It felt really good to know that I was able to give something that would help out another person. We often say it is better to give than to receive, and this is true not only at Christmas. By giving, we are able to see ourselves as generous and caring people. I think it is God’s grace that we receive joy out of giving to others. We are created to give of ourselves for our neighbors. And so often, what we have to give is something that we have in abundance; something another person needs, but we wouldn’t miss.
My gift is but a small gift in the process of putting my gift to use. Someone with available time has to receive and sort all that I have given. Someone with available space needs to house the donations and make them available for the refugees. Someone with a smile to share gives welcome and gives the personal interaction that is more important than all the rest. Everyone gives what they have to give, and everyone is blessed with the joy of doing it.
I come across so many excellent ministries that are in need of support. The Mission and Social Concerns committee always is aware of more ministry needs than we are able to support. I’m sure that each of us is aware of many others.
Part of the Christian life is to seek out ministries (in the church or otherwise) that we feel God is calling us to, and to get involved. Each of us has gifts that we are able to give, not to our detriment, but to our benefit. We are blessed as we are a blessing to others. We feel the joy of helping others. Isn’t God great for establishing it as such!
Blessings!
