Calvin Synod Herald, 1988 (88. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1988 / 1. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD-7-REFORMATUSOK LAPJA HOW TO: Minister to Your Minister by Paula D'Arcy, Waterton, Connecticut For months my discontent with my church had been growing. There was still no adult Sunday school, which 1, among others, wanted. 1 had questions about our mission support and outreach. And as Í grew more disappointed, it became easy to blame my minister. Then he and his wife happened to invite me to their house for dinner. I knew he wanted me there to discuss the nomination of officers to our women's group, but 1 wondered if this was my opportunity to talk to him about the things that had been bothering me. I prayed all day for guidance, and during dinner that evening, to my surprise, 1 suddenly told him what 1 thought. And in a wonderful, open conversation, he told me how he felt. For the first time, I realized how lonely the ministry could be. I’d never thought how difficult it is to deal with the diverse demands of a congregation. That evening I learned that my minister wanted some of the same changes in our church that I did, but he was often up against obstacles I had failed to consider. Most of all, 1 was reminded that he was human, like me, capable of making mistakes, needing support and encouragement. He was obviously relieved to be able to talk about some of my reservations. "Keep being honest with me like this,” he said at the evening’s end. "Keep giving me feedback.” I have, and in doing so I’ve come to see what a congregation can do to help its clergy. Here are a few suggestions to help you minister to yours. 1. Be an advocate. After our conversation I was sorry to think of the times when others had voiced complaints about our minister in committee meetings and "informal chats,” and I had not spoken up in his defense. 1 hadn’t even suggested asking him what he thought. Now when I hear a gripe, 1 try to get the complainer to consider the minister’s point of view. Then I ask the person to talk directly to him. Rumors and gossip in a church can abound. If a criticism is legitimate, it should be addressed to the person who can do most about it. If not, it should be stopped. 2. Be a supporter. One thing I discovered in getting to know our minister is how important approval and encouragement are. If you like a sermon, why not write your preacher a note? Or if you liked his idea for the Lenten study series, or found his Sunday morning prayer helpful, why not give him a call? Just remember... 3. Respect his time. Don’t choose the hectic moment after the service to talk to him. Most issues can wait until the calm of Monday or Tuesday. And just because he’s on call 24 hours a day, don’t call him at all hours, Try to speak to him during his office hours, and if you must see him at home, call before your drop in. Finally, if your minister doesn’t take a regular day off, encourage him to. He needs it as much as you do. 4. Be a giver. 1 know of one parish where the minister hadn’t had a weekend away with his wife in six years. A group got together, found a mountain cabin for him to use, found families to care for his children, invited a guest preacher for that Suneay, and gave him a richly deserved, much appreciated rest. What can you give your pastor? Babysitting time, casseroles during Holy Week, maybe support for advanced schooling? The gifts can vary as much as the gifts God has given your congregartion. 5. Pray for him. After all, he prays for you. Pray for him while he preaches, or when he’s visiting a sick parishioner, or during an important meeting. You can help him bear his burden, as he helps you bear yours. Reprinted with permission from Guideposts magazine. Copyright (C) 1987 by Guideposts Associates, Inc. Carmel, New York 10512. UCC Missions/Ministries In Action Calvin Synod churches are urged to include in their yearly budgets or appeals the various United Church of Christ appeals also. One arm of our UCC is the Board for World Ministries, which is the overseas mission board of our denomination. The 1988 budget for the Board for World Ministries is set at $12,612,556.00, up $705,313.00 from 1987. The budget is set based on known costs and anticipated needs for 1988. The cost of supporting just one missionary in the field is currently $22,736.00 per year. The Board for World Ministries has more than 240 people working in 40 countries in agricultural, medical, social, educational and church programs. The UCC Board for World Ministries is the oldest overseas mission society in the country, founded in 1810, and countinuously serving throughout the unions of our predecessor churches, most recently the 1957 merger of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church, which formed the United Church of Christ. As the fourth largest denomination in the United States, with 1.7 million members, we have great possibilities - working together - to witness for Christ through our missionary organization.
