Resources in Response to “Temptations in Ministry”
The November 16 Alban Weekly article, (“Temptations in Ministry“), drawn from Louis Weeks’s book, All for God’s Glory: Redeeming Church Scutwork, explores five critical attitudes or actions that can interfere with effective ministry in any congregation: trying to “do it all” alone; avoiding dissension or criticism; feeling and acting like you “own it all”; obsessing over minutiae (or “majoring in minor things”); and joylessness. Especially in day-to-day planning, administration, and follow-up, these attitudes and actions can loom as major temptations—they appear to offer relief, but are ultimately unsatisfying.
The stories and situations that illustrate such temptations will look and feel all-too-familiar to many. But how best to respond? Weeks suggests responding with the ancient but significant tools of prayer and other Christian practices. He also suggests examining—and learning from—faith communities that demonstrate joy, shared responsibility, open communication, and discernment.
What resources might support congregational leaders seeking to avoid the temptations of ministerial and administrative “scutwork”? In addition to the outstanding items listed at the end of the article, we suggest resources in the “Spirituality” and “Leadership” sections of the Congregational Resource Guide. You might especially consider From Nomads to Pilgrims, The Practicing Congregation, and The Leadership Labyrinth.
What are your stories and thoughts surrounding this topic? And what resources do you suggest? We look forward to hearing from you!
In response to the article, “Temptations in Ministry,” so much of the author’s insights ring especially true at my present parish. We’re in the midst of Pastor/Staff Relations evaluations. While I have tried to stay updated on my own pastoral leadership skills through such articles and other readings by authors like Gil Rendle, I continually find it difficult to assimilate my own education into the life of the laity. Educating lay leadership in the art of spiritual formation is essential to healthy congregations. Currently, I am finding such to be almost impossible. My present congregation has elevated tasking over intraspection. While the temptation to withdraw looms large for me as pastor(or launch “solo” when my defense mechanisms arise when in dialogue with Council and Committees), I really do want to keep us all on the same page in creative and inclusive ways of serving and celebrating Christ’s presence among us. The author is spot on when identifying ways laity go into survival mode and begin going solo and mounting an offensive to remove, in this case, a resident pastor. How can I be most affective in continuing to develop a culture or environment in which the joy and compassion of our congregation is robbed by what I call a “view of the few?” Your response would be most appreciated.
Rev. Mike Childress
The chapter, “Mass at Acoma,” in Willa Cather’s “Death Comes for the Archbishop” comes to mind.
Thanks for referencing the NRSV translation of the Sermon on the Mount from the confusing “Lead us not into temptation,” (why would an all-loving God lead us into temptation?) to the “And do not bring us to the time of trial.” That approach also helped to frame this article’s subject matter. Many of the problems we face are of our own creation. So we pray to God, “save us from the time of trial” (that we bring on ourselves.
Go with God,
Tim Rochte
To Mike Childress: Thanks for speaking of the temptation arriving from members and the ministerial reaction to become a “solo” responding to the negative “view of a few.” I had a member of the staff at one seminary who kept telling me, “All the people have the worst morale ever.” After too long, I determined to spend at least as much time with those whose opinions I did not know as with the one who volunteered a death knell all the time. I think all of us feel that frequently– the wish a few complainers would keep quiet, at least.
I wish there were a prescription for all congregations, but I find the situations vary so drastically that as I’ve gotten older, I know less (so to speak) trying to make generalizations. As a pastor you are privileged to frame the issues time and again and many will listen and learn. One generalization that seems appropriate still is that you possess “agency.” You have the obligation to keep inviting people to wider, deeper life in Christ. For a Sunday School lesson I’m to teach,I am re-reading Wayne Meeks, The First Urban Christians. It keeps speaking of the fluidity of the early gatherings (scarcely congregations at the time of the writing of the letters to young churches). Perhaps some of the examples in my Scutwork book will give you assistance, for those pastors and lay leaders are so constructive and healthy together.
To Jerry Kirkpatrick, I will have to read Willa Cather’s Death comes for the Archbishop before responding, and I will get back to you when I have read it.
and to Tim Rochte: Thanks. At this point I find the NRSV most accurate most of the time. Gracias. Louis
To Jerry Kirkpatrick: Thanks very much for your comment and your mentioning the chapter, “The Mass at Acoma” from Willa Cather’s Death Comes for the Archbishop. I had never read the book, and that allusion in your response led me to it. I’ve now read most of the fascinating story of Bishop Latour. My wife, the guy at the library, and a fellow patron at the check-out counter all expressed surprise I did not know the book.
The temptations of Fr. Martinez and others in that chapter, elsewhere in the book as well, are more “carnal,” to use Cather’s vocabulary. As I said in the beginning of my chapter about ministerial temptations: “Insightful books by others treat such major matters as sexual integrity, honesty in financial dealings, and other more obvious issues for pastors and lay leaders. I focus instead on some of the particular temptations connected with administration and organizational behavior.” p.66 Gratefully, Louis Weeks
It is an incredible issue from both perspectives to experience a “lead” goose. As a layperson, they must be the person who is visible and appears to manipulate and control most of the events and actions within the body. But often, they are usually the ones who has to prod everyone else into participation and gets burned out doing that alone.
On the otherhand, when those hardworking leaders are in a burnout stage, it appears to lay people that they have no sense of boundaries and need to go back to their cubby holes to just be still and know that God is God. While there may be checks and balances in place, it is not often implemented because of the respect for “the person of the cloth”.
From a pastors’ perspective, people have entrusted their pastor with an assumed understanding of who God is. The pastor represents all and demonstrates to many the image of God. So that pastor has to be at their best at all times. God help them if they dare make a mistake. They don’t just have to apologize to a secretary, child, wife or board member when something has gone awry openly. They have to present themsevles before an entire congregation of people for forgiveness. Unlike the president or CEO of a corporation, actions do not simply affect a small portion of the church, it affects people’s spiritual lives and views.
So if they must honk, and they honk inappropriately, it behooves us as their followers to exercise great grace and patience-because it was extended to us first through our salvation from God himself. God chooses us; we do NOT choose God!